Opinion

Commonwealth v. Torres

  • 71 Mass. App. Ct. 723
  • 886 N.E.2d 732
  • 2008 Mass. App. LEXIS 538
Court
Massachusetts Appeals Court
Filed
May 19, 2008
Status
Published
Author
Brown
On the bench
Brown, Cowin
Cited by
1 cases
Authority
More cited than 11.0%

The opinion

Brown, J.

(dissenting). I am of opinion that the judge, in rul *736 ing on the defendant’s motion for a mistrial, was obliged to consider the totality of the juror’s actions and comments. The juror’s oft repeated statement — “I want to go home” — coupled with her “Not guilty,” manifest confusion, frustration, or lack of concern. When those statements are put in context with her previous indications that she was prepared to vote either guilty or not guilty — apparently whichever vote would allow her to go home more quickly — I cannot confidently conclude that the jury’s deliberative process met constitutional muster. See Commonwealth v. Webster, 391 Mass. 271, 277 (1984). What happened here is no way to run a railroad. This train was off the tracks, and the judge should have allowed the motion for a mistrial. See Commonwealth v. Reinstein, 381 Mass. 555, 561 (1980).

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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