State v. Sassen Van Elsloo

¶ 1 Adrian Sassen Van Elsloo appeals the midtrial dismissal of an impaneled juror who was excused because she had a minor connection to an important defense witness. The trial judge in this case erred by dismissing an impaneled juror after multiple days of trial testimony when there was no evidence that the juror was biased. We must now decide the remedy for an erroneous dismissal of an impaneled juror. We hold that the defendant is entitled to a new trial if there is any reasonable possibility that the erroneous dismissal stemmed from the juror's views on the merits of the case. However, if…