1.   An intermediate appellate court reversed his conviction on the ground of juror misconduct.

2.   But in May, the pandering conviction was overturned by a state appeals court on grounds of juror misconduct.

3.   But University of Southern California law professor Erwin Chemerinsky noted that juror misconduct never has met the standard of legal necessity.

4.   Legal observers say it is extremely rare and perhaps unprecedented that a judge has taken such an active role in investigating claims of juror misconduct.

5.   Ms. Smith was convicted of murder but a judge set aside the verdict because of juror misconduct.

6.   Outside the presence of the jury Friday morning, Judge Lance Ito met with lawyers from both sides to discuss an ongoing investigation of possible juror misconduct.

7.   The decision applies only to a very narrow range of cases where the juror misconduct is extreme and unambiguous.

8.   The move by prosecutors to bring up possible juror misconduct may show an effort to change the composition of the jury -- which includes eight African-Americans.

9.   The trial began in Fort Worth and ended abruptly in a mistrial over juror misconduct before testimony began.