State v. Jones

¶1 This case presents questions regarding a defendant’s public trial right and right to be present as applied to the designation of alternate jurors by a random drawing performed after both sides have rested at trial. The random drawing in this case was done by the trial court’s judicial assistant at a brief recess during closing arguments. Defendant Martin Arthur Jones contends that this violated his constitutional rights to a public trial and to be present at all critical stages of trial proceedings.

¶2 Based on the specific facts presented by the record before us, we hold that the random…