Court Opinion

ID: 9603879
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 02:10:43.049675+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:12:12.674447
License: Public Domain

Shearing, J.,
with whom Springer, J., joins,
concurring:
I concur in the result of this case, but I do not agree that the courts of this state should refrain from using multiple juries. Our courts should be encouraged to be innovative in reducing time and expense of trials, as long as the basic rights of the defendants are preserved. Trials with multiple juries are particularly beneficial to the victims because they are not subject to repeated court appearances.
The majority opinion suggests that having multiple juries took more time and expense than three separate trials would have taken. I do not believe the appellate court is in the position to make that determination. The trial judge is in the best position to determine whether the advantages of multiple juries outweigh the benefits. The trial judge should be given maximum discretion to conduct trials in the most efficient manner possible.