In the SUPERIOR COURT for the COUNTY OF IRWIN, STATE OF GEORGIA STATE OF GEORGIA, 1 I Indictment # 2017CR027 ~vs- I | RYAN ALEXANDER DUKE, | Defendants | 1 MOTION FOR INDIVIDUAL, SEQUESTERED VOIR DIRE Comes now the State of Georgia, by and through Paul Bowden, District Attorney for the Tifton Judicial Circuit, and hereby moves the Court to enter its order allowing individual sequestered voir dire of the jury in the above styled and numbered case, showing the Court the following: A The defendant named above, is charged in connection with the disappearance and murder of Tara Grinstead in 2005. -2- The disappearance of Tara Grinstead, a former beauty queen and popular high ‘school teacher, and the mystery surrounding her disappearance, prompted enormous interest in the case, not only on a national basis, but also on an international level. 3 As evidence of the level of interest in the case and the degree of traditional and social media attention to the case is demonstrated by the evidence filed by the defendant at the hearing concerning the “gag” order which is already in the rédki@MHOFFICE THIS 15" DAY OF AUGUST, 2018 Page of 4 TIME, ‘SHERRY DEPUTY CLERKthis case. The State would incorporate into this motion the exhibits and other evidence produced by the defendant at that hearing concerning the “gag” order. 4 Obtaining a fair and impartial jury, will be an arduous task considering the attention given to Tara's disappearance and murder and the strongly held opinions both in favor of and against the defendant as a result of massive conventional and social media attention given to Ms. Grinstead’s disappearance. 5 The State shows that the response to Tara's murder in social media is highly indicative of a significant segment of the public, and hence potential jurors, having formed and / or expressed opinions regarding the defendant's guilt or innocence in connection with the murder. It is imperative that such opinions, as well as any basis therefor, be fully explored in voir dire. 6 Parties are entitled to conduct voir dire examination of potential jurors in the jury box in panels of 12. OCGA § 15-12-131. 7 The State is entitled to a “fair trial designed to end in a just judgement” equally with the defendant. State v. Battaglia, 221 Ga. App. 283, 286 - 287 (1996). See also: Vamer v. State, 285 Ga. 334, 336 (2009). Our Supreme Court has stated: “The best test of jury impartiality is the examination of prospective jurors on voir dire.” Jarrell v. State, 234 Ga. 410, 416 (1975). Page 2of 4Wherefore, the State prays that the Court inquire into this its MOTION FOR INDIVIDUAL, SEQUESTERED VOIR DIRE and, in its exercise of sound discretion, enter its ORDER allowing the State to conduct sequestered voir dire examination in panels of 12 and individual, sequestered voir dire of jurors as to matters which may be sensitive to the juror or potentially prejudicial to the State or the defendant. Respectfully submitted, this 15" day of August, 2018. Paul Bowden District Attorney Tifton Judicial Circuit State Bar #: 070525 P.O. Box 1252 Tifton, GA 31793-1252 (229) 386 - 7900 Page 3 of 4