Testimonio de Jurados en Juicios Criminales

Explicación Simple

En Georgia, si un jurado ha estado en un juicio, aún puede ser llamado a testificar si es necesario. Esto significa que su experiencia en el juicio no lo hace incapaz de dar su opinión como testigo.

Es como si un jugador de fútbol que está en el campo pudiera dar consejos sobre la jugada, porque ha visto todo desde adentro.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que en un juicio de robo, uno de los jurados, llamado Juan, se da cuenta de que vio al acusado en un lugar clave. Aunque Juan es jurado, puede ser llamado a contar lo que sabe, ayudando a que se haga justicia.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

JUDICIAL DECISIONS Juror as witness. - Juror is not incompetent to testify as a witness solely on account of having been impaneled and sworn in the case, if the juror is otherwise competent. Tumlin v. State, 88 Ga. App. 713 , 77 S.E.2d 555 (1953), commented on in 16 Ga. B.J. 346 (1954). Calling of juror as witness for state. - Defendant is not deprived of the right of trial by a fair and impartial jury merely because one of the jurors trying the case is called as a witness for the state. Tumlin v. State, 88 Ga. App. 713 , 77 S.E.2d 555 (1953), commented on in 16 Ga. B.J. 346 (1954). Duty to prevent improper acts and remarks and to caution jury. - When a statement is interfered with by improper acts and remarks, the jury should be prevented and the judge should at least caution the jury under this section that the jury cannot act upon outside information respecting the parties, the witnesses, or the facts in the case. Robinson v. State, 6 Ga. App. 696 , 65 S.E. 792 (1909). Unauthorized contact or communication between a witness and a juror does not vitiate an otherwise valid conviction unless the defendant was actually prejudiced. Clark v. State, 153 Ga. App. 829 , 266 S.E.2d 577 (1980). Cited in Garnett v. State, 10 Ga. App. 109 , 72 S.E. 951 (1911). <h4