State v. Meraz-Zamorano
State v. Meraz-Zamorano, 2025 UT App 110 (Mortensen, J.)
Criminal
The Utah Court of Appeals held:
- The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying for-cause challenges where challenged individuals did not sit on the jury.
- The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying a mistrial where improper testimony was relatively innocuous and where presence of victim advocate was proper.
- The district court did not err in granting State’s motion to play videos of CJC interviews where defense counsel used interview transcripts to support the defense theory.
- Practice tip: Defendants are required to show something beyond having to expend all their peremptory challenges to pursue a claim of jury bias.