State v. Lord

¶1 The right to a fair trial by an impartial jury is a foundation of our criminal justice system. Today we must decide whether the courtroom presence of lapel buttons, showing a picture of the victim, deprived the defendant of this fundamental right. We conclude, as did the courts below, there was no inherent prejudice and affirm the conviction.

J.M. Johnson, J.

¶2 Our constitution also guarantees that a trial will be public, allowing the attendance of spectators who have an interest in the trial. Courts must presume that the jurors we entrust with determining guilt both understand, and have…