4.Alternate Juror Conduct Inquiry
32 linesTHE COURT: This is an issue regarding a Juror. Danny Remion, SLED agent, approached me when the jury left and he was really concerned about alternate Juror Donna Lee, the dark-complexioned girl with--
RICK HUBBARD: Outspoken.
THE COURT: -- very outspoken young lady. She is very unhappy because she didn't make it on the jury. She blames me. She's told him that. She's told him that she hopes I trip on my robe.
RICK HUBBARD: What?
THE COURT: Yeah.
RICK HUBBARD: Seriously?
THE COURT: Yeah, that's why he stopped and told me that. She's mad because -- now, I made this mistake. I was not aware that I didn't tell the alternate jurors what the verdict was. She also felt like they came in here and everybody was glaring at them, the jurors, because of something they done wrong, which they came in during a tense situation, period. It wasn't glaring at the jury's -- well, I'm concerned she's going to stir the pot with the other jurors being outspoken like she is. And I want to know what do y'all think about -- she's an alternate, but she's unhappy with me. She's mad because she didn't get in the jury, that she wanted to be on the jury, which tells me that's not a good idea. I'm glad she wasn't now looking back on it. She was unhappy that I didn't tell the six of them the verdict. She made comments to Remion that she hoped I tripped on my robe. And he said, Ma'am, you don't mean that. I said, he's really taken good care of y'all. I mean, Danny was very defensive of how good treatments that the Court and the lawyers and everybody had done with this jury and how patient they've been. The gist of it is she feels like she put her heart and soul in this, committed -- you know, emotional to it and do a good job and then she got excluded and now I'm getting the blame. I wanted to point that out to y'all.
RICK HUBBARD: I agree with Boyd, Your Honor. We've got five other alternates.
BOYD YOUNG: I'd just keep the first two and cut the other four loose and that way it's not specifically her, it's not like she's done anything.
RICK HUBBARD: I would cut her loose if she's your problem and here's why --
THE COURT: Well, the other lady back there is kind of like her teammate and that would be Ms -- what's the lady that called your office raising so much sand?
COURT CLERK: Ehrlich.
THE COURT: Ehrlich, Ms. Ehrlich. She is an alternate, too. She has lighter hair. She sits on the back row with glasses. She's an alternate, also. She would be one of the last four.
BOYD YOUNG: We have got two, that is all we are going to need, we have another week worth of work.
THE COURT: Yeah, she sat -- these two seats right here on the back row is where she sat.
RICK HUBBARD: I don't have my big board, but I know who you're talking about and if they teamed up --
THE COURT: Well, I like his idea of cutting four, that way, it looks like we're just lightening the load.
RICK HUBBARD: Well, I think you can do that. I'm just afraid as you get into the crunchy stuff--
THE COURT: Yeah.
RICK HUBBARD: -- that would be my only concern.
THE COURT: Who's the one you're talking about?
COURT CLERK: The lady, the one that grabs the bowl --
THE COURT: Oh, her.
RICK HUBBARD: She's a Juror. We're talking about alternates.
THE COURT: When we went to Hudson's, I went out there, also, and they were sitting on the outside on the porch and Joy and Whitney and I ate inside and we got the buffet. And I went and spoke to her, how you like it, it's good, oh, this was a great idea. This was Friday we went out there. She was sitting away from everybody and ordered a plate as opposed to getting the buffet.
COURT CLERK: She's complained about all the food from everywhere.
THE COURT: Anyway, she's a Juror, so I can't throw her away.
COURT CLERK: But she has informed me that -- she informed me and Whitney when we were coming out before deliberations to make sure you were aware that she has to be out of here by 3:00 o'clock Wednesday and Thursday.
THE COURT: I doubt she's going to get her wish Thursday. I got her covered today.
COURT CLERK: Yeah.
THE COURT: The two ladies, both alternates had kindergarten graduation or graduation this morning, so they were covered. All right. I just wanted to tell y'all about the Juror.
(WHEREUPON, a short break was taken.)