Court Opinion

ID: 9569926
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:18:39.859873+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:04:17.673140
License: Public Domain

Carley, Judge.
Appellant was tried before a jury and convicted of burglary. His motion for new trial was denied and he appeals.
During a lunch recess on the day of appellant’s trial, a juror and a witness for the State left the courthouse together and drove to a nearby restaurant. Appellant, upon learning of this event, moved for a *890mistrial. Both the juror and the witness were questioned about the incident. It was established that they were “good friends.” Both denied having discussed the case at all during their lunch together. The juror stated that his social contact with the witness would have no effect on his status as an impartial juror. The motion for mistrial was denied, which ruling appellant enumerates as error.
Decided February 25, 1985
Rehearing denied March 15, 1985
R. David Carr IV, for appellant.
E. Byron Smith, District Attorney, Hugh D. Sosebee, Jr., Assistant District Attorney, for appellee.
The State relies upon Hardy v. State, 242 Ga. 702, 704 (3) (251 SE2d 289) (1978) as authorizing the trial court’s denial of appellant’s motion for mistrial. However, appellant contends that Hardy is distinguishable because, in the instant case, neither the witness nor the juror were administered an oath prior to being questioned. Appellant contends that, absent an oath, there was no “testimonial evidence ... to meet the burden cast upon the [SJtate, in such circumstances, to rebut by proof a presumption of harm. [Cits.]” (Emphasis supplied.) Hardy v. State, supra at 704.
Hardy is not distinguishable and its holding is applicable to the instant case. The witness had already been sworn, and had given his trial testimony prior to being questioned in connection with appellant’s motion for mistrial. Thus, the most that can be said is that the witness was not specifically reminded that he was still under oath when questioned at that later time. Cf. Smith v. State, 81 Ga. 479, 481 (2) (8 SE 187) (1888). The juror, on the other hand, was never specifically sworn as a witness. But see OCGA § 15-12-132. However, appellant in the trial court did not object to the failure to administer an oath to the juror and thus, he cannot raise this issue on appeal. See Rhodes v. State, 122 Ga. 568 (1) (50 SE 361) (1905).
Accordingly, under the circumstances, Hardy constitutes controlling authority for affirming the denial of appellant’s motion for mistrial.

Judgment affirmed.

Banke, C. J., Deen, P. J., McMurray, P. J., Birdsong, P. J., Sognier, Pope and Benham, JJ., concur. Beasley, J., dissents.