Opinion
No. 748SC208
Filed 15 May 1974
Jury 3 — trial by thirteen jurors — prejudicial error Defendants are entitled to a new trial where a thirteenth juror was selected and seated as an alternate, and participated in the deliberation of the case. G.S. 9-18.
APPEAL from Webb, Judge, 10 September 1973 Session of WAYNE County Superior Court. Argued in the Court of Appeals 16 April 1974.
Attorney General Morgan, by Associate Attorney Sloan, for the State.
W. Dortch Langston, Jr., for Thomas Lewis Alston, defendant appellant.
Cecil P. Merritt for Larry Battle, defendant appellant.
Defendants were tried jointly in identical bills of indictment with the offenses of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious bodily injury and armed robbery. Defendants pled not guilty to all charges, and twelve jurors were duly sworn and empanelled to try the case. A thirteenth juror was selected and seated as an alternate. Following the instructions given by the court, all thirteen jurors retired, deliberated and returned a verdict of guilty on all charges as to both defendants. All jurors, including the alternate, were polled and stated their acquiescence in the verdict. From the entry and signing of judgment defendants appealed.
Although defendants present several assignments of error, we limit our discussion to one of those assignments which, standing alone, entitles defendants to a new trial. G.S. 9-18 provides that alternate jurors shall be discharged upon the final submission of the case to the jury. The alternate juror in this case was not discharged at that point, although all twelve regularly empanelled jurors retired to the jury room. Examination of the appellate decisions reveals that this precise factual situation has rarely arisen. However, the Supreme Court in Whitehurst v. Davis, 3 N.C. 113 (1800), awarded a new trial where a caveat was tried by thirteen jurors.
"It may be said, if thirteen concur in a verdict, twelve must necessarily have given their assent. But any innovation amounting in the least degree to a departure from the ancient mode may cause a departure in other instances, and in the end endanger or prevent this excellent institution from its usual course." Id.
A decision that a deliberation by thirteen jurors is error is compelled both by the statute and by the appellate decisions of the State. Defendants are entitled to a
New trial.
Judges CAMPBELL and VAUGHN concur.