State v. Chambers

Summary

The Court held that a statute permitting substitution of an alternate juror after deliberations begin does not violate the state constitutional right to a jury of twelve when the jury is instructed to restart deliberations and no more than twelve jurors participate in the new deliberations. The Court also held that a challenge to the jury’s structural composition was preserved despite the defendant’s failure to object at trial. It reversed the Court of Appeals and remanded for consideration of the defendant’s remaining issues.