Summary: Nilgün Aykent Zahour analyzes the juror misconduct issues in Martz v. State, No. 13-17-00382-CR, 2018 WL 3655437 (Tex. App. Aug. 2, 2018). The issues we’re going to discuss are whether an alternate juror’s presence in the jury room during deliberations amounts to improper communications and juror misconduct, the importance of considering less drastic alternatives before moving for a mistrial and issue preservation.
