The People of the State of Colorado, Petitioner v. Emmett Andrew Larsen, Respondent

Summary

The court held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by declining to poll jurors after a prejudicial news report about the case was published online and in a local newspaper. Although the report contained inadmissible and prejudicial information, its limited distribution and the trial court’s repeated, specific admonitions made juror exposure unlikely. The court reversed the court of appeals and affirmed Larsen’s convictions; Justice Hood, joined by Justices Márquez and Gabriel, agreed with the result but would have found the refusal to poll erroneous and harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.