Supreme Court reverses Vegas sex assault conviction
CARSON CITY — The Nevada Supreme Court reversed the sexual assault conviction of a Las Vegas man Thursday because a Clark County judge refused to swear in prospective jurors before jury selection began.
A three-judge panel remanded the case against Dustin James Barral back to District Court for a new trial.
Barral was convicted on two counts of sexual assault of a minor for molesting a 4-year-old relative in 2010. He was sentenced to two concurrent life terms behind bars.
In the opinion written by Justice Michael Cherry, the high court said District Judge Douglas Smith committed structural error by not administering an oath to potential jurors before questioning, despite urgings by both the defense and prosecuting attorneys.
Justices Ron Parraguirre and Michael Douglas concurred.
According to transcripts, lawyers reminded the judge that prospective jurors had not been sworn to tell the truth in questioning.
"I don't swear them in until the end," the judge said.
When pressed by the defense to admonish the panel to give truthful answers, the judge reiterated, "I won't swear them in."
The Nevada justices cited numerous case law that held structural errors compromise the framework of a trial.
Citing the U.S. Supreme Court, justices said, "we are persuaded that a defendant in a criminal case is denied due process whenever jury selection procedures do not strictly comport with the laws intended to preserve the integrity of the judicial process."
Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb.
