Gilbert v. State

Defendant appeals his conviction for bribery of a public servant, § 838.015, Fla. Stat. (1991). Based upon the trial court’s erroneous refusal to excuse a juror for cause, we reverse and remand for new trial.

The object of the alleged bribery was an assistant director of the Metropolitan Dade County Police Department. The juror in question, the mother of two young children, was a friend and neighbor of several Dade County policemen. During voir dire, the prospective juror initially stated that she could sit as an impartial juror despite her friendship with county policemen. However, during the…