Court Opinion

ID: 9577116
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:31:55.651917+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:20:00.203129
License: Public Domain

*628Springer, J.,
with whom Rose, J., agrees, dissenting:
The majority correctly notes that the decision to declare a mistrial is within the discretion of the district court, citing Owens v. State, 86 Nev. 880, 620 P.2d 1236 (1980). That discretion is not unlimited, however. Where, as here, there is a possible implication of the double jeopardy clause because a mistrial was declared over the objection of the defendant, this court has scrutinized the district court’s decision more closely than the majority’s analysis would suggest. E.g., Hylton v. District Court, 103 Nev. 418, 743 P.2d 622 (1987); Carter v. State, 102 Nev. 164, 717 P.2d 1111 (1986); State v. Helm, 66 Nev. 286, 209 P.2d 187 (1949). In such a case, “[t]he prosecutor has a heavy burden of justifying the mistrial in order to avoid the double jeopardy bar.” Hylton, 103 Nev. at 422, 743 P.2d at 625.
“A trial judge properly exercises his discretion to declare a mistrial if an impartial verdict cannot be reached, or if a verdict of conviction could be reached but would have to be reversed on appeal due to an obvious procedural error in the trial.” Illinois v. Somerville, 410 U.S. 458, 464 (1973). The question before this court, then, is whether events at trial would have necessarily meant a reversal on appeal, had petitioner been convicted.
I note that the district judge, by asking Jardine if she was mouthing words to Despain, did not comment on the credibility of Despain, but on the actions of a spectator. Further, the incident was very brief and would not appear to have made much of an impression on the jurors. In fact, after Jardine was asked to leave the courtroom, cross-examination of Despain continued and the state conducted redirect examination. It was not until the following morning that the district court declared a mistrial.
In my view, the district judge acted properly by simply excluding Jardine from the courtroom; and the exchange which occurred between the district judge and Jardine would not have mandated a reversal on appeal. If the district court felt that further action was necessary to cure any perceived tainting of Despain’s credibility, an admonition to the jury would surely have been sufficient. I cannot conclude, therefore, that declaration of a mistrial was a “manifest necessity.” I conclude that the case against appellant should be barred by the prohibition against double jeopardy and the petition should be granted.