### J - S83040 - 17

NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Appellee v. DARNELL DOGAN

Appellant : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 2878 EDA 2016 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence September 6, 2016 In the Court of Comm on Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at No(s): CP - 51 - CR - 0000557 - 2014 BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., OLSON, J., and DUBOW, J. MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.: FILED APRIL 09, 2018 Appellant, Darnell Dogan, appeals from the judgment of sentence entered in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, follo wing his jury trial conviction of possession with intent to distrib ute (“PWID”). 1 

### We affirm. In its opinion, the trial court fully and accurately sets forth the relevant facts and procedural history of this case . Therefore, we have no need to restate them. We add the court sentenced Appellant on September 6, 2016, t o twenty - one (21) to forty - two (42) months’ incarceration, plus five (5) years’ probation. On September 13, 2016, Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal. The court ordered Appellant on September 20, 2016, to file a concise statement of errors complain ed of on appeal per Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b);

_________________ ____________________ _______ 1 

### 35 P.S. § 780 - 113(a)(30).

### J - S83040 - 17

- 2 -

Appellant complied on Februar y 24, 2017 , following an extension. Appellant raises one issue for our review: DID NOT THE TRIAL CO URT ERR IN DENYING A PPELLANT’S CHALLENGE, PURSUANT TO BATSON V. KENTUCKY , [476 U.S. 79 , 106 S.CT. 1712, 90 L.ED.2D 69 (1986)] , TO THE COMMONWEALTH’S RACIA LLY DISCRIMINATORY U SE OF PEREMPTORY STRIKES[? ] (A ppellant’s Brief at 3 ). “The decision whether to disqualify a juror is within the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be reversed in the absence of a palpable abuse of discretion.” Commonwealth v. Stevens , 559 Pa. 171, 197, 739 A.2d 507, 521 (1999). “A challenge fo r cause to service by a prospective juror should be sustained and that juror excused where that juror demonstrates through his conduct and answers a likelihood of prejudice.” Commonwealth v. Ingber , 516 Pa. 2, 7, 531 A.2d 1101, 1103 (1987). “The trial co urt makes that determination based on the prospective juror’s answers to questions and demeanor.” Stevens, supra at 197, 739 A.2d at 521.

The challenge of a juror for cause is addressed to the trial judge, and much weight must be given to his judgment i n passing upon it. In exercising his discretion as to the fitness of a juror to serve, he has the juror before him, and much latitude must be left to him; and the weight to be given to the answers of a juror when examined on his voir dire is not to be det ermined exclusively by his words as we read them in the printed record. They are first to be weighed by the trial judge who sees and hears the juror, and, in the exercise of a wide discretion, may conclude that he is not competent to enter the jury box fo r the purpose of rendering an impartial verdict, notwithstanding

### J - S83040 - 17

- 3 - his words to the contrary.... Commonwealth v. Robinson , 581 Pa. 154, 204, 864 A.2d 460, 490 (2004), cert. denied , 546 U.S. 983, 126 S.Ct. 559, 163 L.Ed.2d 470 (2005) (quoting Commonwealth v. Sushinskie , 242 Pa. 406, 413, 89 A. 564, 565 (1913)). “[A] finding regarding a [venireperson’s] impartiality ‘is based upon determinations of demeanor and credibility that are peculiarly within a trial judge’s province.... The trial judge is of course app lying some kind of legal standard to what he sees and hears, but his predominant function in determining juror bias involves credibility findings whose basis cannot be easily discerned from an appellate record. ’ ” Commonwealth v. Smith , 518 Pa. 15, 37, 540 A.2d 246, 256 (1988) (quoting Wainwri ght v. Witt , 469 U.S. 412, 428 - 29 , 105 S.Ct. 844, 854 - 55 , 83 L.Ed .2d 841, ___ (1985)). “A juror’s bias need not be proven with unmistakable clarity.” Commonwealth v. Carson , 590 Pa. 501, 573, 913 A.2d 220, 262 (2006) , cert. denied , 552 U.S. 954, 128 S.Ct. 384, 169 L.Ed.2d 270 (2007). Applying the rationale of Batson to a claim of purposeful discrimination based on race and/or gender as it applies to jury selection/elimination requires the following under Pennsylvani a law:

To establish...a prima facie case, a defendant must show that he is of a cognizable racial group, and that the prosecutor has exercised peremptory challenges to remove from the venire members of the defendant’s race. Second, the defendant is entitled to rely on the fact...that perempt ory challenges constitute a jury selection practice that permits those to discriminate who are of a mind to discriminate. Finally, the defendant must show that these

### J - S83040 - 17

- 4 - facts and any other relevant circumstances raise an inference that the prosecutor used th at practice to exclude venire[persons] for the petit jury on account of their race. This combination of factors in the empanelling of the petit jury, as in the selection of the venire, raises the necessary inference of purposeful discrimination. Common wealth v. Hill , 727 A.2d 578, 581 - 82 (Pa.Super. 1999), appeal denied , 561 Pa. 653, 747 A.2d 898 (1999) (internal quotations omitted) (emphasis in original) . After establishing this record, the trial court must consider the totality of the circumstances to determine whether the defendant has made a prima facie case of purposeful discrimination. Id. After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the applicable law, and the well - reasoned opinion of the Honorable Charles A. Ehrlich, we conclude Appellant’s issue merits no relief. The trial court opinion comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of the question presented. ( See Trial Court Opinion, filed May 17, 2017, at 3 - 7) (finding: record does not demonstrate Commonwealth purposefully discriminated against African - American venirepersons; during Batson hearing , Commonwealth offered credible, specific, and race - neutral explan ations for striking each African - American venireperson at issue ). The record supports the trial court’s rationale, and we see no reason to disturb it. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of sentence. Judgment of sentence affirmed. Judge Dubow joins this mem orandum. Judge Olson concurs in the result.

### J - S83040 - 17

- 5 -

Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 4/9/18

## . - C i r c u l a t e d 0 3 / 1 9 / 2 0 1 8 0 4 : 5 3 P M 

### IN T HE C O URT O F C O M M O N P L E A S O F P H IL AD E L P H I A C O UN T Y F I R S T JU D I C I A L D I S T RI C T O F P ENN S Y L VA NI A TRI A L D M S I O N - C RI M INA L S E C T I O N 

## F I L E D M AY 

## 1 7 2 0 1 7 C o mm o nw e al th o f P e nns y l v ani a

v . 

### D arn e ll D o g an



### E hrl i c h , J . 

### O P IN I O N 

### Office o f J u di ci a l R ec o rd C P - 5 1 - C R - 0 0 0 0 5 5 7 - 2 0 1 4 

### A p p e a l s / P o s t T r l a l

S UP E RI O R C O U RT N O . 2 8 7 8 E D A 2 0 1 6 C P - 5 1 - C R - 0 0 00 5 5 7 - 2 0 1 4 C o m m . v : D o g a n , D arna ll Op i ni o n 

# H I I I I I H 

# I HI 111 1 1 7 9 48 1 7 7 4 3 1 D arn e ll 

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### c o ntr o ll e d s u b s tan c e 

### w i th int e nt t o d e li v e r h e r o i n an d/ o r 

### c r a c k c o c a i n e fo ll o w in g a j ury tr i al 

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### c h ar g e s s t e m fr o m a 

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### 2 9 0 0 b l o c k 

### o fGr an s b a c k 

### S tr e e t i n 

### N o rth P h i l a d e lp h i a o n 

### D e ce mb e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 3 . O n 

### S e p t e mb e r 6 , 2 0 1 6 , 

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### s e nt e n c e d t o an 

### a g gr e g at e te rm 

### o f tw e nty - o n e t o fo rty - tw o m o nth s o f i n c ar c e rati o n . A t im e l y a p p e al 

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### thr e e p o i nt s o f e rr o r : 1 . T h e c o urt 

### e rr e d i n 

### d e ny i n g th e d e fe n d ant' s c h al l e n g e p ur s u ant t o 

### B a t s o n v. K e n tu c ky , t o th e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s r a c i aJi y - d i s c r i m i n at o ry u s e o fp e r e mp t o ry s tri k e s . 2 . T h e c o urt e rr e d 

### in d e nyi n g th e d e fe n d ant ' s r e qu e s t t o h av e n e w c o uns e l a p po int e d , an d i n fa ili n g t o co n d u c t a s uffi c i e nt i n qu iry r e g ar d i n g th e d e v e l o p m e nt 

### o fi rr e co n c i l ab l e 

### d i ff e r e n c e s w i th th e att o rn e y/ c li e nt r e l at i o ns hi p . 3 . Th e c o urt e rr e d i n d e ny i n g 

### th e d e fe n s e m o t i o n 

### t o s e t a s i d e th e 

### v e r d i c t an d fo r a n e w 

### tri al wh e r e th e r e 

### w a s e v i d e n c e th at p ap e rw o rk u s ed d uri n g v o i r d i r e w a s 

### t ak e n an d u s e d 

### t o p as s a m e s s a g e r e l atin g t o p r e tri a l n e g o t i at i o n s , d e m o n s tr at in g 

### that o ut s i d e p art i e s 

### h a d in fo rm at i o n r e l at e d t o th e 

### inn e r w o rk i n g s 

# o f th e 

### c a s e , ra i s in g 

### th e s p e c t e r 

### o f j ur y t amp e ri n g , i mp r o p e r e x tri n s i c, , I i n fl u e n c e o n th e j ury an d a r e a s o n a b l e li k e l ih o o d o f

p r e j u d i c e , th e r e b y imp u g ni n g th e int e gri ty o f th e v e r d i c t an d d e nyi n g th e d e fe n dant hi s ri g ht t o a f ai r tri al . Ap p e ll ant ' s P a . R

A P . 1 9 2 5 ( b ) S tate m e nt. A s d i s c u s s e d b e l o w , th e s e c l a i m s ar e w i th o ut m e ri t . A c c o r d i n g l y , n o r e li e f i s d u e . T h e E v i d e n c e O n D e c e mb e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 3 at a p p ro x i m at e l y 1 : 0 0 p . m . , O ffi c e r L o ui s H ar dy an d O f fi c e r C arl S t ub b s s e tu p s urv e ill an c e i n th e ar e a o f 2 9 0 0 Gr an s b a c k S tr e e t. N o t e s o f T e s t im o ny (' 'N . T . " ) , 6 / 1 6 /2 0 1 6 , at 4 5 . O ffi c e r H ar dy s urv e y e d th e ar e a us i n g 2 0 b y 

### 5 0 b i n o c ul ar s fr o m th e p as s e n g e r s e at o f a v e h i c l e . I

d . Th e b in o c ul ar s amp l i fi e d hi s fi el d o f v i e w t o tw e nty t i m e s th at o fth e n ak e d e y e . I d . O ffi c e r H ar dy o b s e rv e d Ap p e ll ant w a l k b a c k an d fo rth o n th e b l o c k whi l e c o unt i n g m o n e y . I d . at 5 0 . O ffi ce r H ar dy h as b e e n a P hi l a d e lp h i a p o l i c e o ffi c e r fo r 2 6 y e ar s . I d . at 4 3 . H e w as a m e mbe r o f

· th e N ar c o t i c s S tri k e F o r c e fo r thr ee y e ar s . I d . F o r the l a s t 1 6 y e ar s , h e h as b e e n a m e mb e r o f th e N ar co t i c s Fi e l d Uni t. I d . at 4 3 . B as e d o n hi s tr ai ni n g an d e xpe ri e n c e i n th e E a s t D i v i s i o n , h e s t at e d th e ar e a i s a p o p ul ar dru g tr af fi c ki n g se c t i o n o f th e c i ty an d i s " i nf e s t e d wi th dr u g s . " I d . at 4 8 . Wh e n p o li ce c o n d u c t s urv e ill an ce o f th i s p arti c ul ar ar e a, O ffi c e r H ar dy sai d 

### it , " i s n o t a que s t i o n o f i f th e r e i s a d e al e r s e ll in g dru g s o n th e b l o c k , i t [ ' ] s [ a ] m atte r o f wh e n th e d eal e r i s g o i n g t o s h o w [ s i c ] o n th e b l o c k se lli n g dru g s . " I d . at 4 6 . F ro m a b o ut 1 : 0 0 p . m . t o 1 : 5 0 p . m . , O ffi ce r H ar dy o b s e rv e d fo ur s e p ar at e dr u g tr ansa c ti o n s be tw e e n Ap p e ll ant an d o th e r s o n Gr an s b a c k S tr e e t. I d . D urin g e a c h tran s a c ti o n , th e i n d i vi d u a l s w o u l d e n g a g e in a b ri e f c o nv e r sati o n wi th Ap p e ll ant be fo r e h an di n g hi m m o n e y . I d . Ap p e ll ant w o ul d th e n w a l k t o a g ar a g e o n Gr ans b ac k S tr e e t , be n d d o wn o ut o fv i e w , s t an d u p an d w a l k b a c k t o th e s e s am e i n d i v i d

u al s . I d Ap p e ll ant h an d e d an un i d e nt i fi ed o b j ec t t o e ac h o f

th e m . I d . at 5 8 . Duri n g e a c h i n c i d e nt , n o o n e w a s p r e s e nt o th e r th an Ap p e ll ant an d th e b uy e rs . I d . I n th e fi rs t 2thre e in c i d e nt s , th e s us p e c t e d b uy e r s w e r e s t o p p e d b y p o l i c e fo ll o wi n g th e o b s e rv e d tr an s a c t i o n s .

I d . E a c h o f

th e s e b uy e r s t e s t e d p o s i ti v e fo r n ar c o t i c s o n c e s t o p p e d b y p o li c e . I d . at 6 0 . Ap p e ll ant w a s arr e s t e d b y O ffi ce r S tub b s fo ll o win g th e fo urth tr an s a c ti o n . I d . O ffi ce r S t ub b s r e c o v e r e d $ 1 2 0 fr o m Ap p e ll ant ' s p e r s o n . I d . O f fi c e r S t ub b s ' b a c k - u

p , O f fi c e r K uhn , w e nt t o th e g ar a g e ar e a th at Ap p e ll ant fr e que nt e d d uri n g th e tr an s a c t i o n s . I

d . H e re c o v e r e d a c e ll o p h an e p a c k e t c o nta i n i n g t e n p a c k e t s o f h e r o i n . I d . T h e p a c k e t s m atc h e d wh at w a s r e c o v e r e d fr o m tw o o f th e i n d i v i d

ual s . I d . at 6 1 . F o ll o w i n g a tw o- d ay tri al , Ap pe ll ant w as fo un d gu i l ty o f p o s ses s i o n wi th i nt e nt t o d i s tri b ut e ill e g al dr u g s b y a j ury o f

h i s pee rs . D i s c us s i o n 

### B a t s o n C h a lle nge Ap p e ll ant' s fi r s t c o nt e nt i o n o n a p pe al i s th at th e co urt e rr e d i n d e ny i n g th e d e f en d ant ' s c h al l e n g e p ur s uant t o , 

### B a t

s o n v. K e n tu c ky , r e g ar d i n g th e C o mm o nw e al th ' s r a c i a ll y d i s c rim i n at o ry us e o f p e r e mp t o ry s tri k e s . 4 7 6 U . S . 7 9 (1 9 8 6 ) . I n 

### B a t s o n , th e U . S . S u

p r e m e C o urt h e l d th at " th e E qu a l P r o t e c t i o n C l au s e fo r b i d s [ a ] p ro se c ut o r t o c h a ll e n g e p o t e nti a l j ur o r s s o l e l y o n a cco unt o f th e i r ra c e . " 

### I d. at 8 9 . Th e fr am e w o rk fo r an al y zi n g a 

### B a t

s o n c l ai m i s as fo ll o w s : · [ F j i r s t , th e d e fe n d ant mu s t m ak e a 

### p r im a fa c i e s h o wi n g th at th e c i r c um s tan c e s gi v e ri s e to an in fe r e n c e th at th e p r o s ec ut o r s tru c k o n e o r m o re p r o s p ec ti v e j ur o r s o n a c c o unt o fr a c e , s e co n d , i f th e 

### prim a f a_c i e s h o w i n g i s m a d e , th e b ur d e n s h i ft s t o th e p ro s e c ut o r t o art i c ul at e a r a c e - n e utr al e xp l an at i o n fo r s tri ki n g th e j ur o r ( s ) at i s s u e , an d th i r d , th e tri a l c o urt mu s t th e n m ak e th e ul t im at e d e t e rm i n ati o n o f wh e th e r th e d e fe n s e h as c arri e d i t s b ur d en o fp r o v i n g p ur po se fu l d i s c ri m i n ati o n . 3

### I

d . at 9 7 . T o e s t ab l i s h a 

### prim a

f a ci e c a s e o f p urpo s e fu l d i s c ri m i n at i o n .. . th e d e fe n d ant mus t s h o w th at h e [ i ] s a m e mbe r o f a c o gn i zab l e r a c i al gr o u p , th at th e p ro s e c ut o r e x e r c i s e d a pe r e mp t o ry c h al l e n g e t o r e m o v e fr o m th e v e n i r e m e mb e r s o f th e d e fe n d ant' s ra c e an d th at o th e r r el e v ant c i r c um s t an c e s c o mb i n e t o ra i s e an i nf e r e n c e th at th e p r o s e c ut o r r e m o v e d th e j ur o r ( s ) fo r r ac i a l r e as o n s . 

### I d . at 9 6 . Th e s e co n d p r o n g o f th e 

### B a t s o n t e s t , inv o l v i n g th e p ro s e c ut i o n ' s o b li g at i o n t o co m e fo rw ar d wi th a r a c e - n e utr al e xp l an ati o n o f th e c h al l e n g e s o n c e 

### a

p r im a f a ci e c a s e i s p r o v e n , " d o e s n o t d e m an d an e xp l an ati o n th at i s p e r s u as i v e , o r e v e n p l aus i b l e . " 

### Pu r ke tt v. Ele m , 5 1 4 U. S . 7 6 5 , 7 6 7 - 6 8 (1 9 9 5 ) . Rath e r , th e i s s u e at th at s ta g e " i s th e fa c i a l v a li di ty o fth e p r o s e c ut o r ' s e xp l an at i o n . Unl e ss a d i s c ri m in at o ry i nt e nt i s i nh e r e nt i n th e p r o s e c ut o r' s e xp l an ati o n , th e r e a s o n o ff e r e d wi ll 

### be d e e m e d r a c e n e utr a l. " 

### I d . If a ra c e - n e utr a l e xp l an at i o n i s t e n d e r e d , th e tri a l c o urt mu s t th e n p r o c e e d t o th e th i r d p ro n g o f th e t e s t , 

### i. e . , th e ul ti m at e d e t e rm i n at i o n o f wh e th e r th e o p po n e nt o fth e s tri k e h as c arri ed h i s b urd e n o f

p ro v i n g p urp o s e ful di s c ri mi n ati o n . 

### I d at 7 6 8 . I t 

### is at thi s s ta g e th at th e p e r s uas i v e n e s s o f th e fa c i a ll y - n e utr a l e xp l an ati o n p r o ff e r e d b y th e C o mm o nw e al th i s r e l e v ant. 

### I d . " Th e tri al c o urt ' s d e c i s i o n o n th e u l t i m at e qu e s t i o n o f d i s c r im in at o ry int e nt r e p r e s e nt s a fi n d i n g o f fa c t o f th e s o rt a cc o r d e d g r e at d e fe r e n c e o n a p pe a l an d wi ll n o t be o v e rturn e d un l e s s c l e arl y e rr o n e o us . " 

### M

ille r - El v. C

o c kre ll , 5 3 7 U . S . 3 2 2 , 3 4 0 ( 2 0 0 3 ) ( qu o ti n g 

### H e rn a n d e z v. N e w Y o r k, 5 0 0 U. S . 3 5 2 , 3 6 4 ( 1 9 9 1) (p lur a li ty ) ) . Th e r e 

### w ill s e l d o m b e mu c h e vi d e n c e b e ari n g o n that i s s u e , an d th e b e s t e v i d e n c e o ft e n wi ll b e th e d e m e an o r o f th e att o rn e y wh o e x er c i s e s th e c h al l e n g e . 

### I d . A s wi th th e s tat e o f m i n d o f a j ur o r , e v a luat i o n o f th e p r o s e c ut o r ' s s t at e o f m i n d b a se d o n



### 4d e m e an o r an d c r e d ib i l i ty l i e s ' p e c u l i arl y wi th i n a tri al j u d g e ' s p ro v i n c e . ' 

### H e rn a n d e z v. N e w Y o r k , 5 0 0 U . S . 3 5 2 , 3 6 5 (1 9 9 1) . P ur s u ant t o P e nn s y l v an i a R u l e o f C ri m i n al P r o c e d

ur e R ul e 6 3 4 , " I n tri al s i nv o l vi n g a n o n c a p i t a l fe l o ny an d wh e n th e r e i s o n l y o n e d e fe n d ant , th e C o mm o nw e a l th an d th e d e fe n dant s h al l e ac h b e e nt i t l e d t o 7 p e r e mp t o ry c h a ll en g e s . " 2 A W e s t ' s P a . P ra c . , R u l e s o f C ri m i na l P ro c e d

ur e R u l e 6 3 4 . Th e r e c o r d r e v e a l s th at , a p p ro x i m at e l y tw o - thi r d s o f th e w ay thr o u g h v o i r d i re , th e P ub l i c D e f en d e r r a i s e d a 

### B a t

s o n c h a ll e n g e in r e s p o n s e t o th e A s s i s t ant D i s tri c t A tt o rn e y ' s u s e o f p r e e mp t o ry s tri k e s . N . T . 6 / 1 5 /2 0 1 6 at 3 4 . T h e P ub l i c D e fe n d e r ar gu e d th e A s s i s t ant D i s tri c t Att o rn e y h a d u s e d e v e ry p r e e mp t o ry s tri k e , e x c e p t o n e , a g ai n st p ro s p e c t i v e A fri c an Am e ri c an j ur o r s . 

### I d . at 3 5 . I n r e s p o n s e , th e c o urt h e l d a 

### B a t s o n h e ari n g an d i n s truc t e d th e C o mm o nw e al th t o o ff e r an e xp l an at i o n fo r e a c h s tri k e . 

### I d . Th e A s s i s t ant D i s tri c t A tt o rn e y e xp l ai n e d h i s r e a s o n fo r s tri k in g th e A fri c an - Am e ri c an v enir e p e r s o n s , r e s p e c t i v e l y , a s fo ll o w s : M I C H A E L MAN A RA : Jur o r N o . 9 w as th e b l a c k fe m a l e . Th e i s s u e th e C o mm o nw e a l th h a d w i th s tri k e w as tw o i n c i d e nt s th at I b e li e v e s h e h ad wi th th e p o li c e . I b e l i e v e i t w a s s t o l e n c ar o r s o m e o f th o s e th i n g s wh e r e th e r e w e r e n o arr e s t s m a d e [ s i c ]. S o i t w a s twi c e s h e c a ll e d th e p o l i c e an d n o arr e s t s w e r e m a d e . . . Juro r N o . 2 1 y e s t e r d ay [ s i c ] i s a b l a c k m a l e . Th e r e a s o n fo r th e s trik e i s [ s i c ] wh e n h e w a s an s w e ri n g h i s qu e s t i o n s h e s e e m e d o ut o f i t. H e d i dn ' t ac tu a ll y kn o w wh at h i s w i fe d i d fo r a l i v i n g . I d o n ' t b e l i e v e h e kn e w wh at h e r a g e w a s . Jur o r N o . 2 7 y e s t e r d ay w a s a b l ac k m a l e . Th e w ay h e p u ll e d o ut h i s qu e s t i o nn a i r e , o n t o p o f th e fa c t th at.. . th e w ay i t w a s fi ll e d o ut w a s a p r o b l e m . A s 

### w e l l as t o d ay , Jur o r N o . 2

5th e re w a s [ s i c ] s o m e i s s u e s wi th [ a ] h e ari n g p ro b l e m . S h e d i dn ' t s e e m t o un d e r s tan d o r h e ar wh e n s h e fi r s t l o o k e d o ut [ s i c ] wh e n Y o ur H o n o r wa s t a l k i n g . S h e l o o k e d at m e . S o I w ant a j ur o r t o p ay att e nti o n . T h at w as th e re as o n fo r th e s tri k e . An d [ Jur o r N o . 7 ] d o e s n ' t h av e a j o b , n o t i n c o ll e g e . A l s o , th e fa c t th at d uri n g y o ur o p e n i n g v o i r d i r e . . . h i s e y e s w e r e cl o s e d . I a l s o wr o t e th e f ac t th at I b e l i e v e h e w a s s ni c k e ri n g d

uri n g o n e o f th e qu e s t i o n s . Th at i s th e r e a s o n fo r th e s tri k e . . N . T . 6 / 1 5 /2 0 1 6 at 3 5 - 3 7 . Un d e r th e b ur d e n - s h i ft i n g fr am e w o rk o f B a t s o n , Ap p e ll ant w as re qu i r e d t o e s tab l i s h a prim a fa c i e c a s e o f p urp o s e f u l d i s c ri m i n at i o n i n c e rtai n p ere mp t o ry c h a ll e n g e s b e fo r e th e C o mm o nw e a l th w as r e qui r e d t o p r o v i d e r a c e - n e utr a l r e a s o n s fo r th o s e c h a ll e n g e s . B a t s o n , at 9 7 . O n ce th e C o mm o nw e a l th p r o v i d e d s u c h r e as o n s , th e b ur d e n r e turn e d t o Ap p e ll ant t o d i s p ut e th e p e r s u as i v e n e s s o fth o s e r e a s o n s . I n d e t e rm i nin g wh e th er th e p ro s e c uti o n h a s s ati s fi e d i t s b ur d e n o f p ro d u c i n g a ra ce - n e utr a l e xp l an at i o n fo r a p e r e mp t o ry c h a ll e n g e , i t i s i mp o rt ant t o r e m e mb e r th at " th e u l t i m at e b urd e n o f p e r s u as i o n re g ar d i n g r a c i a l m o t i v at i o n re s t s wi th , an d n e v e r sh i ft s fr o m , th e o p p o n e nt o f th e s tri k e . " R i c e v. C

o lli n s, 5 4 6 U . S . 3 3 3 , 3 3 8 ( 2 0 0 6 ) ( qu o t i n g Pu r k e tt , 5 1 4 U . S . at 7 6 8 , 1 1 5 S . C t. 1 7 6 9 ) ( e mp h a s i s ad d e d) . C o m . v. C o o k , 9 5 2 A. 2 d 5 9 4 , 6 0 7 (P a . 2 0 0 8 ) . 

### In th e i n s t ant c as e , th e r e w as n o e v i d e n c e p r e s e nt e d o f p urp o s e fu l d i s c ri m i n at i o n . N e i th e r Ap p e ll ant ' s ar gum e nt o n a pp e al n o r o b

j e c t i o n d uri n g v o i r d i r e r e fe r t o any c i r c um s t an c e s wh i c h i n d i c at e d i s c ri m i n at o ry i nt e nt , o th e r th an th e pe r c e nt a g e o f A fri c an - Am e ri c an s s tri c k e n . A s d e m o n s tr at e d d

uri n g th e B a t

s o n h e ari n g , th e p ro s e c uto r o ff e r e d s p e c i fi c e xp l an at i o n s wi th r e s p e c t t o th e s e p art i c u l ar A fri c an - Am e ri c an v e ni r e p e r s o n s . H i s e xp l an ati o n fo r s tri ki n g e a c h Af r i c an Am e ri c anj uro r w e r e s p e c i fi c , c r e d i b l e an d r a c e - n e utr al . Th e ab i l i ty t o b e f ai r an d i mp arti a l , r e m a i n 6p hy s i c al l y an d m e nta ll y a l e rt an d fo ll o w s i mp l e c o urt i n s tru c ti o n s , c o n s t i tut e v al i d r e as o n s t o s tri k e

a p r o s p e c t i v e j ur o r . Th e s e r e a so n s o ff

e r e v i d e n c e as t o th e 

## state o f m in d o f th e p r o s e c ut o r i n v o ir d i r e . As s t at e d , an e v aluat i o n o f

th e p r o s e c ut o r' s s t at e o f

m i n d b as e d o n d e m e an o r an d c r e d i b ili ty li e s w i th i n a tri al c o urt ' s p r o v i n c e . F o r th e fo r e g o i n g r e as o n s , Ap p e l l ant ' s c l ai m th at th e c o urt e rr e d i n d e ny i n g Ap pe ll ant ' s c h al l e n g e p ur s uant t o B a t s o n mus t f

ai l A tto rn e y / Cli e n t R e l a ti o ns h i p Ap p e ll ant n e x t c o nt e n d s th e c o urt e rr e d i n d e nyi n g th e d e fe n d ant ' s r e qu e s t t o hav e n e w c o un s e l a p p o i nt e d an d fa i l e d t o c o n d uc t a s uf fi c i e nt i n qui ry i nt o th e d e v e l o p m e nt o f i rr e c o n c il ab l e d i ff e r e n c e s wi th in th e att o rn e y - cl i e nt r e l at i o n s h ip . Th i s c l ai m s h o u l d f ai l be c aus e " i rr e c o n c i l ab l e d i ff e r e n c e s w arr ant i n g a

p p o i ntm e nt o f

n e w c o un se l ar e n o t e s t ab l i s h e d wh e r e th e d e fe n d ant m e r e l y al l e g e s a s tr ai n e d r e l ati o n s h i p wi th c o un s e l , wh e r e th e r e i s a d i ff e r e n c e o f o p i ni o n i n tri a l s tr at e g y , wh e r e th e d e fe n d ant l a c k s c o n fi d e n c e i n c o un s e l' s ab ili ty , o r wh e r e th e r e i s b r e v i ty o f p r e - tri al c o mmuni c ati o n s . " C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v. Graz i e r

, 5 7 0 A . 2 d 10 5 4 , 10 5 5 - 5 6 (P a . S u pe r . 1 9 90 ) . Th e ri ght t o a

p p o i nt e d c o un s e l d oe s n o t i n c lu d e th e ri g ht t o c o unse l o f th e d e fe n d ant ' s c h o i c e . C

o m m o n w e a l t

h v . A l b re c h t , 7 2 0 A . 2 d 6 9 3 , 7 0 9 (P a . 1 9 9 8 ) . A s a g e n e r al ru l e , a d e fe n d ant mus t s h o w i rr e c o n c i l ab l e d i ff e r e n c e s b e tw e e n h i m s e l f an d h i s c o urt a p p o i nt e d c o un s e l be fo r e a tri al c o urt wi ll be r e v e r s e d fo r r e fu s in g t o a p p o int n e w c o un s e l. Wh e th e r t o g r ant a d e fe n d ant ' s p e ti t i o n t o r ep l a c e c o urt a p p o i nt e d c o un s e l i s a d e c i s i o n wh i c h i s l e ft t o th e s o un d d i s c r et i o n o f th e tri a l c o urt . Graz i e r

, at 10 5 5 . O n th e fi r s t d ay o f tri a l i n th e i n s tant c as e , th e P ub l i c D e fe n d e r i n fo rm e d th e c o urt th at App e ll ant wi s h e d t o r e m o v e h e r a s c o un s e l. N . T . 6 / 1 6 /2 0 1 6 at 9 . T h e P ub l i c D e fe n d er s t at e d Appe ll ant fe l t th e tw o w e r e " h av in g p r o b l e ms c o mmun i cat in g i n a w ay th at [ Ap pe ll ant ] fi n d s 7

### s at i s fa c t o r y . " I d . 

### at 1 0 . F urth e rm o r e , th e P ub li c De fe n d e r s t at e d Ap p e ll ant d i d n o t , " f e e l c o mf o rta b l e th at I am r ep r e s e nt in g hi m i n a w ay th at h e fe e l s i s i n h i s b es t i nt e r e s t. H e ' s c o n c e rn e d abo ut my p ro fe s s i o n al i s m . An d h e w ant s t o m ak e s ur e th at h e has an att o rn e y h e i s c o m fo rtab l e w i th t o try 

### hi s c as e . " I

d . 

### Ap p e ll ant e xp l a i n e d t o th e c o urt hi s i s s u e s wi th c o un s e l ' s r e p r e s e nt at i o n . I d . 

### H e s t at e d h e w a s c o n c e rn e d th at th e P ub li c D e fe n d e r d i s c u s s e d d e t a il s o f h i s c as e i n th e h a ll w ay b e fo r e c o urt th at d ay . I d . 

### Th e ir c o nv e r s at i o n w a s al l e g e d l y w i th in e ar s h o t o f th e p o li ce o f fi ce rs an d A s s i s tant D i s tri c t Att o rn e y . I d . 

### F urth e rm o r e , Ap p e ll ant s t ate d th e P ub l i c D e f e n d e r t o l d h i m th e r e w o u l d be " n o m o r e d i s c u s s i o n o f [ h i s ] c as e " b e fo r e tri a l. I d . 

### at l l . T h e c o urt c a ll e d o n th e Pub l i c D e fe n d e r t o r e s p o n d . Th e P ub li c D e fe n d e r s tat e d s h e d i d n o t d i s c us s any fa c t s o f th e ca s e , o r anyth i n g r e l at e d t o Ap pe ll ant ' s c as e , in th e h a ll w ay . I d . It 

### w as s i mp l y a c o nv e r s at i o n r e g ar d i n g wh e th e r th e tw o w o ul d di s c us s th e c a s e furth e r . I d . 

### S h e t o l d Ap p e ll ant , " i f

h e h a d s p e c i fi c qu e s t i o n s fo r m e , I' d be h a p p y t o an s w e r th e m , b ut ri ght n o w I n e e d t o fo c u s o n be i n g m e nta ll y p r e p ar e d fo r o p e n i n g an d cl o s i n g . " I d . 

### at 1 2 . Th e c o urt fo un d th e P ub li c D e fe n d e r was 

### r e a dy , wi lli n g an d ab l e t o p ro v i d e Ap p e ll ant w i th e ff e c t i v e r e p r e s e nt at i o n g i v e n h e r e xp e ri e n c e an d p r e p arat i o n . I d . 

### Th e c o urt a dv i s e d App e ll ant th at h e h a d a ri g ht t o e ff

e c t i v e r e p r e s e nt at i o n - n o t any p art i c ul ar r ep r e s e nt at i o n o f h i s c h o i c e . I

d . 

### A lth o u g h Ap pe ll ant m ay n o t h av e fe l t c o mf o rt ab l e w i th th e P ub li c D e fe n d e r , th e c o urt h e l d hi s gri e v an c e w as an i n s uffi c i e nt b a s i s t o a p p o int n e w co un s e l. I

d . 

### Thi s c a s e i s s i m i l ar t o th e fa c ts o f 

### C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. C h e w . 4 8 7 A. 2 d 13 7 9 (P a . S u p e r . 1 9 8 5 ) . I n 

### C

h e w , th e d e fe n d ant be c am e di s sat i s fi e d wi th a p p o i nte d co un s e l d

u e t o a di ff

e r e n c e o f o p i ni o n i n tri a l s tr at e gy an d wh at th e d e fe n d ant p e r c e i v e d as c o un se l ' s i n ad e qu at e p r e p ar at i o n fo r tri al . T h e d e fe n d ant w as s o d i s grunt l e d th at h e s p i t i n co un s e l ' s f ac e o n th e fi rs t d ay o f

tri a l. I d . 

### H o w e v e r , th e tri a l c o urt h e l d c o un s e l w a s b o th wi lli n g an d ab l e t o r e p r e s e nt th e d e fe n d ant an d th e 8m o t i o n fo r a p p o i ntm e nt o f c o un s e l w a s d e n i e d . 

### I d . O n a p p e a l , th e S u

p e ri o r C o urt h e l d th e tri al c o urt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s c r e t io n . T h e c o urt n o t e d , 

### " An i n d i g e nt d e fe n d ant d o e s n o t h av e a ri g ht t o c o un s e l o f

h i s o wn c h o o s i n g , an d m e r e d i ff e r e n c e s o f o p i ni o n co n c e rn in g s tr at e g y o r th e b r e v i ty o f p r e - tr i a l co mmuni c at i o n s d o e s n o t c o mp e l th e a p p o i ntm e nt o f

n e w c o un s e l. " 

### I

d . at 1 3 8 3 . H e r e , Ap p e ll ant ' s c o uns e l i nf o rm e d th e c o urt th at Ap p e ll ant fe l t th e tw o w e r e s t ill " h av i n g p ro b l e m s c o mmuni c at i n g i n a w ay th at [ th e Ap p e ll ant ] fi n d s s at i s f a c t o ry . " Ap p e ll ant d i d n o t " fe e l c o mf o rt ab l e th at [ th e P ub li c D e fe n d e r w as ] r e p r e s e nt i n g hi m i n a w ay th at h e fe e l s i s in hi s be s t i nt e r e s t. " Ap p e ll ant s t at e d b e w as c o n c e rn e d ab o ut th e p ub li c d e fe n d e r ' s p ro fe s s i o n a l i s m an d want e d " an att o rn e y h e i s c o m fo rtab l e wi th t o try h i s c as e . " Th e c o urt d i r e c t e d Ap p e ll ant t o d e s c ri b e s p e ci fi c i s s u e s h e w as h av i n g wi th th e P ub l i c D e fe n d e r . Ap p e ll ant p r o c e e d e d t o e xp l a i n h i s c o n c e rn wi th c o un s e l ' s l a c k o f p ri v a c y g i v e n th at s h e s p o k e ab o ut h i s c as e wi th i n e ars h o t o f th e p o l i c e an d m e mbe r s o f th e D i s tri c t A tt o rn e y ' s O ffi c e . 

### In r e b uttal , th e P ub l i c D e fe n d e r st at e d s h e d i d n o t d i s c u s s any fa c t s o f th e c a s e , o r anyth i n g r e l at e d t o th e c a s e , in th e h a ll w ay . S h e s ai d s h e w as s imp l y tr

yi n g t o d i s c u s s th e s tatu s o f Ap pe ll ant ' s c a s e an d d i s s ua d e hi m fr o m m aki n g o ut b ur s t s i n th e c o urtro o m . T h e c o urt qu e s t i o n e d c o uns e l r e g ar di n g h e r p r e p arat i o n an d fami l i ari ty wi th th e c a se an d c o n c lu d e d s h e w a s a d e qu at e l y p r e p ar e d . T h e c o urt fo un d s h e w a s b o th wi ll in g an d ab l e t o d e fe n d th e c h ar g e s a g ai n s t Ap p e ll ant. A s a r e s u l t , th e c o urt d e ni e d Ap p e ll ant ' s r e qu e s t fo r a p po i ntm e nt o f

n e w c o un s e l. S im il ar t o 

### C

h e w , i t w as n o t an a

b us e o fd i sc r e t i o n fo r th e c o urt t o d e ny Ap pe ll ant ' s r equ e s t fo r n e w c o un s e l. Th e c o urt h e l d a h e ari n g t o d i s c us s Ap pe ll ant' s i s s u e s , h e ar d fr o m th e r e s p e c t i v e p arti e s an d c o n fi rm e d th e P ub l i c D e fe n d e r wa s r e a dy , wi lli n g an d a b l e t o p r o c e e d o n Ap p e ll ant ' s be ha l f . Aft e r s u f

fi c i e nt i n qu i ry th e c o urt c o n clu d e d th e P ub li c D e fe n d e r w a s an e xpe ri e n c e d an d c o mp e t e nt tri a l att o rn e y wh o c o u l d r e n d e r e ff e c t i v e r e p r e s ent at i o n i n th i s cas e . As s tat e d , 9Ap p e l l ant ' s l a c k o f c o n fi d e n c e i n c o un s e l ' s ab i l i ty , o r c o n c e rn r e g ar d i n g th e b r e v i ty o f p r e - tri al

c o mmuni c at i o n s , c o ns t i tut e an i n s u ffi c i e nt b as e s o n wh i c h t o a p p o int n e w c o un s e l. T h e r e fo r e , Ap p e ll ant ' s m o t i o n fo r a p p o i ntm e nt o f c o un s e l w a s p ro p e rl y d e n i e d an d Ap p e ll ant ' s cl ai m mus t fa i l. 

### J u r y T a m p e r i ng F i n al l y , Ap p e ll ant a s s e rt s th e tri al c o urt e rre d in d e ny i n g th e d e fe n s e m o t i o n t o s e t as i d e th e v e rd i c t an d fo r a n e w tri a l b as e d o n th e p a p e rw o rk d i s c o v e r e d b y App e ll ant' s wi fe o n th e d ay o fth e v e r d i c t. T h e d e ni al o f a m o t i o n fo r a m i s tr i al i s as s e s s e d o n a p p e ll at e re v i e w a c c o r d i n g t o an ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n s tan d ar d . 

### S

e e C o m m o n w e a l t

h v. S a v age, 6 0 2 A . 2 d 3 0 9 , 3 1 2 ( P a . 1 9 9 2 ) . Up o n th e m akin g o fa m o t i o n , th e c e ntra l t a s k c o n fr o nt i n g th e tri al c o urt i s t o d e t e rm i n e wh e th e r m i s co n d u c t o r p r e j ud i c i a l e rro r a c tu a ll y o c c urr e d , an d i f s o , t o as s e s s th e d e gr e e o f any r e s ul t i n g p r e

j u d i c e . 

### S e e ge n e ra ll y C o m m o nw e a lt

h v. B o c zko wski , 8 4 6 A . 2 d 7 5 , 9 4 ( P a . 20 0 4 ) ( c h ar a c t e ri z i n g a m i stri al as an e x tr e m e r e m e dy th at n e e d s o n l y b e gr ant e d wh e r e a p r e j u d i c i a l e v e nt may re as o n ab l y b e s ai d t o h av e d e p ri v e d th e d e fe n d ant o fa fa i r tri al ) . 

### C o m m o n w e a lt

h v. S a n c h e z , 9 0 7 A . 2 d 4 7 7 , 4 9 1 (P a . 2 0 0 6 ) . A d e fe n d ant h as th e ri g ht t o hav e h i s o r h e r c as e h e ar d b y a f ai r , i mp art i a l , an d unb i as e d j ury an d e x p art e c o nt a c t b e tw e en j ur o r s an d w i tn e s s e s i s v i e w e d w i th d i s fav o r . 

### C o m m o nw e a lt

h v. B ro w n , 7 8 6 A . 2 d 9 6 1 , 9 72 (P a . 2 0 0 1 ) . A tri al c o urt n e e d o n l y gr ant a m i s tri al wh e r e th e al l e g e d p re j ud i c i a l e v e nt m ay r e a s o n ab l y b e s a i d t o h av e d e p ri v e d th e m o v i n g p arty o f a f ai r an d i mp art i a l tr i al . 

### C o m m o n w e a l t

h v. F le t c h e r , 7 5 0 A. 2 d 2 6 1 , 2 8 2 (P a . 2 0 0 0 ) . 

### In th i s c as e , tri al l a s t e d fo r tw o d ay s . O n Jun e 2 0 , 2 0 1 6 , at ab o ut 1 1 : 1 6 a . m . , th e j ur y r e a c h e d a v e r d i c t. N . T . 6 /2 0 /2 0 1 6 at 4 . Th e j ur y e nt e r e d th e c o urtro o m at 1 1 : 2 2 a . m . 

### I d . S h o rtl y 10a ft e r th e c o urt c ri e r a s k e d th e fo r e p e r s o n t o ri s e an d d e li v e r th e v e r d i c t , Ap p e ll ant s t at e d , " my wi fe

w as j u s t p r e s e nt e d w i th a s t at e m e nt wi th th e j ur o rs n am e s . .' ' 

### I d . Th e j ury p r o c e e d e d t o d e li v e r th e v e r d ic t an d fo un d Ap p e ll ant gu il ty o f a ll c h ar g e s . 

### I d . at 5 . Th e j ury th e n e x i te d th e c o urtro o m . 

### I d . at 9 .A ft e r th e j ury e x i t e d , th e P ub li c D e fe n d er i n fo rm e d th e c o urt th at Ap p e ll ant' s wi fe w as j u s t h an d e d a " v e ni r e p an e l li s t. . wi th s o m e thi n g wri tt e n o n i t. " 

### I d . O n th e b o tt o m o f

th e p a p e r w as an an o nym o u s m e s s a g e : " Y o u s h o u l d h av e t ak e n th e d e al . " 

### I d . at 1 0 . Th e p a

p e r c o nt a i n e d . a p p r o x i m at e l y 2 0 - 3 0 n am e s o f p r o s p e c ti v e j uro r s s umm o n e d fo r th e fi r s t d ay o f j ury s e l e c ti o n . 

### I d . at 1 7 . Ap p e ll ant ' s wi fe s tat e d s h e w a s h an d e d th e p a pe r i n a b athr o o m tw o fl o o rs b e l o w th e c o urtro o m . 

### I

d . T h e c o urt c a ll e d Ap p e ll ant ' s w i fe , S h e n i y a P e ars o n , t o th e s t an d . 

### I d . M s . P e ar s o n s t at e d s h e w as i n th e b athr o o m , ab o ut 2 0 - 1 5 m i nut e s b e fo r e th e j ury d e li v e r e d th e v e r d i c t , wh e n an unkn o wn i n d i vi d

u a l kn o c k e d o n th e s t al l d o o r . M s . P e ar s o n re s p o n d e d , " I' m i n h e r e . " 

### I d . T h e an o nym o u s in d i v i d

ual s a i d , " I kn o w , " an d s li d a s h e e t o f th e v e n i r e p an e l un d e rn e ath . 

### I d . M s . P e ar s o n o p e n e d th e d o o r b ut n o o n e e l s e w a s i n th e b athr o o m . 

### I d . at 1 7 . Th e P ub li c D e fe n d e r th e n m o v e d fo r a m i stri a l wh i c h w a s d e n i e d . 

### I d . T h e P ub li c D e fe n d e r an d th e A s s i s t ant D i s tri c t A tt o rn e y s t ate d th e y e a c h p a s s e d th e i r c o p y o f th e v e n i r e p an e l s h e e t t o th e c o urt c ri e r o n th e d ay th e j ury w a s fi n a li z e d . 

### I d . Th e c o urt c ri e r s tat e d th e P ub li c D e fe n d e r ' s c o p y w as s ub s e qu e nt l y d e s tr o y ed . 

### I d . Th e c o urt d i r e c t e d th e C o mm o nw e al th t o i nv e s t i g at e th e m att e r , s pe c i fi c a ll y wh o w as w i th th e j ury o n th e d ay o f th e v e r d i c t. 

### I d . O n S e p t e mb e r 6 , 2 0 1 6 , th e C o mm o nw e a l th s ub m i tt e d th e i r fi n d i n g s . A w e e k o r tw o aft e r th e v e r d i c t , th e D i s tr i c t A tt o rn e y ' s O ffi c e invi t e d M s . P e ar s o n i nt o th e o ffi c e t o di s c u s s th e p a p e r . N . T . 9 / 6 /2 0 1 6 at 4 . Y e t , s h e f ai l e d t o a

p p e ar . 

### I d . at 5 . · T h e C o mm o nw e al th d e s c ri b e d h o w 

### 11

### d e t e ct i v e s att e mp t e d t o l o c at e M s . P e ars o n b ut w e r e un a b l e t o o b ta in a s t at e m e nt. I d . 

### Th e Co mm o nw e a l th in d i c at e d that n o s t at e m e nt o r a d d i t i o n a l i nv e s ti g at i o n h ad tr an s p i r e d . I d . 

### T h e P ub l i c D e fe n d e r r e qu e s t e d th at th e c o urt gr ant a n e w tri al , g i v en th e c i r c um s t an c e s an d p o ss i b l e thr e at t o th e i nt e gri ty o f th e v e r d i c t. T h e c o urt h e l d a h e ari n g . T h e c o urt c ri e r w a s c al l e d t o th e s t an d r e g ar d in g th e j ury s e l e c t i o n p ro c e d ur e . T h e c o urt c ri e r d i r e c ts p ro s p e c t i v e j ur o r s thr o u g h th e s e l e c t i o n p ro c e s s i n th e Ju ani ta Ki d d S t o ut C ri m i n al Ju s t i c e C e nt e r . S h e i d e nti fi e d th e p a pe r h an d ed i n b y M s . P e ar s o n as th e l as t p a g e o fth e j ury p an e l p a

p e rw o rk. I

d . 

### at l 0 . P e r th e c o urt c ri e r , d uri n g v o i r d i r e ,

j uro r s ' n am e s ar e l i s ted o n tw o s e p ar at e s h e e t s o f p a pe r , an d co p i e s ar e m a d e fo r he r se l f, th e s t e n o g r a p h e r , th e co urt c l e rk , co un s e l fo r e a c h p arty an d th e Ju d g e . I d . 

### at 1 8 . Jur o r s wh o pr e s e nt i n di vi d ual h ar d s hip s ar e di s m i ss e d fir s t. I

d . 

### T h e r e m ai n i n g j ur o r s ar e s e p ar at e d i nt o tw o gr o u p s b as e d o n th e i r an s w e r s o n th e " Jur o r I n fo rm at i o n Q u e s ti o nn ai r e . " In d i vi d u al s wh o an s w e r " y e s ' , t o c e rtai n qu e s t i o n s r e g ar di n g i mp art i a l i ty ar e c ir c l e d o n th e v e nir e p an e l s h e e t. T h e c o urt i s th e o n l y p arty th at k e e p s a c o p y o f th e c ir c l e d p an e l s h e e t. I d . 

### P e r s t an d ar d p r a c t i c e , th e c o urt c ri e r k e e p s tw o c o p i e s o f th e v e n i r e p an e l s h e e t at h e r d e s k d uri n g v o i r d i r e . I

d . 

### O n thi s p art i c u l ar d ay , s h e s t at e d s h e l e ft th e s h e e ts o n h e r d e s k wh il e s h e wa s at lun c h an d th e c o urtro o m d o o r s r e m a in e d o p e n d ur in g th e b r e ak . I

d . 

### A ft e r s h e re tur

n e d fr o m lun c h , s h e d i d n o t n o ti c e anyth i n g s u s p i c i o us abo ut th e s t ate o f h e r d e s k. I

d . 

### at 1 9 . S h e s tat e d th e p a p e r s w e r e d e s tr o y e d i mm e d i at e l y aft e r j ury s e l e c ti o n w as c o mp l e t e . I d . 

### at 2 5 . D ur i n g o p e n in g i n s tru c ti o n s , th e c o urt i n s tru c t e d th e j ur y t o n o t i fy th e co urt i mm e d i at e l y i f any o n e att e mp ts t o c o nta c t th e m r e g ar d in g th e c as e . I d . 

### O n th e d ay o f th e v e r d i c t , th e c o urt c ri e r s tat e d th e j ury w a s es c o rt e d t o th e s e c o n d fl o o r o f th e b ui l d in g i n an e ff o rt t o i s o l ate th e m f ro m th e p ub l i c . I

d . 

### at 1 3 . A c o urt o ffi c e r th e n e s c o rt e d th e m t o th ej ury d e li b e r at i o n r o o m a d j a c e nt

1 2t o th e c o urtr o o m o n th e s i x th fl o o r . I d . at 1 2 . Th e j ury s tart e d d e li b e r at i n g o n F ri d ay , Jun e 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 an d r e a c h e d a v e r d i ct o n M o n d ay , Jun e 2 0 , 2 0 1 6 . I d . N o j ur o rs i n fo rm e d th e c o urt at any ti m e th at th e y w e r e c o nt a c t e d ab o ut th e c as e . I d . A t th e c o n c l u s i o n o f t e s t i m o ny , th e C o mm o nw e a l th a s k e d th e c o urt t o d e ny Ap p e ll ant ' s m o ti o n fo r a m i s tri a l. I

d . T h e C o mm o nw e a l th argu e d th e p a p e r w as o f

n o s i g n i fi c an c e s i n c e n o n e o f th e j ur o r s o n th e s h e e t w e r e e v e n s e l e c t e d fo r th e fi na l j ury p an e l. I d . Th e s e i n d i v i d

u al s ha d n o kn o w l e d g e o f

th e fa c t s o f th e c a s e an d c e rt ai n l y n o i n fo rm at i o n r e g ar d i n g p r e tri a l n e g o t i at i o n s . I d . Th e p l e a d e al w as c o nv e y e d t o th e d e fe n d ant b a c k i n Ju l y 2 0 1 5 - a l m o s t a y e ar b e fo r e tri a l. I d . at 2 8 . F urth e rm o r e , o n th e d ay M s . P e ar s o n w as al l e g e d l y h an d e d th e v e ni r e p an e l s h e e t , a ll j ur o rs w e re a c c o unt e d fo r . C o urt s taf fm o ni t o re d e a c h p r o s p e c t i v e j uro r cl o s e l y , b e fo r e an d d uri n g tri a l. I d . Th e o n l y t i m e a j ur o r w as un s u p e rv i s e d w a s wh e n h e o r s h e we nt t o lun c h o r us e d th e r e s tr o o m . I d . Th e P ub l i c D e fe n d e r ar gu e d fo r a m i s tri a l. I d . H e r ar gum e nt w as l ar g e l y b as e d o n th e amb i gui ty s urr o un d i n g th e p a p e r ' s c h ai n o f c u s t o dy . I d . H e r c o n c e rn w a s s o m e o n e c o u l d h av e o b ta i n e d th e v e ni r e p an e l s h e e t d uri n g j ury s e l e ct i o n , k e p t i t an d fo ll o w e d th e d e fe n d ant ' s w i fe i nt o th e fo urth fl o o r b athr o o m i n an e ff o rt t o t ai nt th e v e r d i c t. I

d . B a s e d o n th e s e fa c t s , s h e ar gu e d th e v e r d i c t s h o u l d b e s e t as i d e . I d . at 3 3 . Ap p e ll ant ' s cl a i m t o s e t a s i d e th e v e r d i c t mu s t 

### fa il fo r s e v e r a l r e as o n s . F i rs t , Ap p e ll ant p r e s um e s p r e

j u d i c e fr o m th e tri a l c o urt ' s d e n i a l o f th e m o t i o n 

### to s e t a s i d e th e v e r d ic t. H o w e v er , th i s i s n o t th e t e s t. T h e b ur d e n i s o n th e m o v i n g p arty , h e r e Ap p e ll ant , 

## to p r o v e h e s uf fe r e d p r e j u d ic e . S e c o n d , o n c e th e m o v i n g p arty s h o w s p r e j u d i c e , th e tri a l c o urt mu s t as s e s s th e e x t e nt o f th e p r e j u d i c e o f th e e x tr an e o us i nfl u e n c e . Ap p e ll ant n e v e r m a d e thi s s h o w i n g b e c au s e h e fa i l e d t o s h o w h o w th i s i n fo rm at i o n r e g ar d i n g p r e tri al n e g o t i at i o n s h a d any i n fl u e n c e o n th e j ury . Th e 

### 1 3

# . �

c o urt fo un d th e r e w as n o w ay fo r th e j ur y t o h av e b e e n c o nt a c t ed . A ft e r b e i n g a s s e mb l e d o n th e s e c o n d fl o o r , th e y w e r e e s c o rt e d d i r e c t l y t o th e j ury d e l i b e r at i o n r o o m . N o t ab l y , n o t j u s t a j ur o r , any o n e c o u l d h av e p o s s e s s e d th e p a p e r . G i v e n th e s u

p e rv i s i o n o fth e j ury , th e p o s s e s s o r w as m o s t l ik e l y n o t a j ur o r . F urth e rm o r e , n o e v i d e n c e d e m o n s tr at e d th e p a p e r h a d an i mp a c t o n th e j ury an d th e i r d e l i b e r at i o n s . Th e o n l y e v i d e n c e p r o ff e r e d w a s a p a

p e r w i th an an o nym o u s m e s s a g e r e g ar d i n g a y e ar - o l d p l e a d e al . O n l y Ap p e ll ant an d th o s e c l o s e t o h i s c as e w o u l d b e p r i vy t o th i s typ e o f i nf o rm at i o n . T o th i s e n d th e c o urt n o t e d :

" W e h a d 

### a j ury d e l i b e r at i n g [ . ] [ S o ] wh at y o u ' r e t e ll in g m e i s th at s o m e unkn o wn p e r s o n . . . g o t th at s h e e t th e fi r s t d ay , k e p t i t an d o n th e d ay o f th e v e r d i c t fo un d th e d e fe n d ant ' s w i fe i n an o th e r 

### fl o o r l ' s ] b athr o o m , o n th e fo urth fl o o r , an d s li p p e d un d e r th e s t a ll t o h e r . . [ th e p a p e r c o nt ain i n g ] j uro r s wh o w e r e n e v e r c h o s e n an d n e v e r inv o l v e d i n th e c a s e [ . ] [ H ] o w d o e s th at i n any w ay i mp l i c at e th e v e r d i c t i n th i s c a s e ? B e c au s e th e j ur o r s i n th i s c a s e h a d n o kn o w l e d g e o fi t , h ad n o c o nta c t s .

. . n o thi n g w as r e p o rt e d . " N . T . 9 / 6 /2 0 1 6 at 3 2 - 3 3 . Th e c o urt d e n i e d Ap p e ll ant' s m o ti o n gi v e n th e l ac k o f e v i d e n c e . N o e v i d e n c e w as p r e s e nt e d th at any j ur o r w as c o nt a c te d o r ta i nt e d wi th o ut s i d e inf o rm at i o n - i n c l u d i n g any p r e tri al n e g o ti at i n g b e tw e e n Ap p e ll ant an d th e C o mm o nw e al th . N o e v i d e n c e e v e n s li g ht l y s u p p o rt e d th e i d e a th at p r e tri al n e g o t i at i o n s w e r e m a d e av a il ab l e to j ur o r s . N o c o urt s ta ff w as c o nt a c t e d an d n o j uro r w as r e p o rt e d l y i nv o l v e d . T h e r e w a s n o ar gum e nt m a d e a s t o wh at i mp a c t , i f any , th i s e x tr an e o u s i n fo rm at i o n h a d o n th e v e r d i c t. A ll th at App e ll ant o ff e r e d w as a p i e c e o fp a

p e r w i th an an o nym o u s m e s s a g e r e g ar d in g a y e ar o l d p l e a d e a l. A s th e c o urt s t at e d , n o n e o f th e j uro r s o n

1 4th e p a

p e r a ll e g e dl y h an d e d to Ap p e ll ant ' s wi fe w e r e e v e n s e l e c t e d fo r th e fi n al j ury p an e l. E v e n i f thi s in fo rm at i o n w a s r e l ay e d t o th e j ur o r s th e y w o u l d h av e n o w ay o f kn o w i n g wh o M s . P e ars o n w a s o r h e r r e l at i o n t o Ap p e ll ant . Ap p e ll ant ' s ar gum e nt e s s e nt i al l y s t ate s b e c au s e th ere i s amb i g u i ty s urr o un d i n g wh at , i f any , i n fl u e n c e th e p a p e r h a d o n th e j ury , th e v e rd i ct s h o u l d b e s e t as i d e . H o w e v e r , Ap p e ll ant fa i l e d t o s h o w h e s u ff e r e d any p r e

j u d i c e in c o nn e ct i o n t o th i s d o c um e nt. Th e c o urt c o n c l u d e d Ap p e ll ant tri e d t o s ub v e rt th e j ury ' s v e r d i c t b y h avi n g h i s wi fe fr au d u l e nt l y c l ai m an unkn o wn i n d i v i d u al g av e h e r a n o t e c o ntain i n g i n f o rm at i o n r e l at e d t o p l e a n e g o t i at i o n s . Ap p e ll ant an d h i s wi fe c o n s p ir e d t o un d e rmi n e th e j ury ' s v e r d i c t an d thr e at e n th e i nt e gri ty o f

th e c o urt . B a s e d o n o b s e rv at i o n s an d a r e v i e w o f hi s r e c o r d , th e c o urt fo un d Ap p e ll ant w a s a m an i p u l at i v e li ar wh o h a s c o n s i s t e ntl y f ai l e d t o r e s p e c t th e j u d i c i a l s y s t e m . D u e t o th e l a c k o f e v i d e n c e , th e c o urt fo un d th e s h e e t d i d n o t i mp a c t th e j ury . Thr o u gh o ut tri a l th e j ury w as c o n fi n e d t o th e s e c o n d an d s i x th fl o o r s o f th e Juan i t a Ki d d S t o ut C ri m i n a l Ju s t i c e C e nt e r . T h e j ury w a s c l o s e l y s u p erv i s e d an d al l r e a s o n ab l e st e p s w e r e t ak e n t o e ns ur e th e s e i n d i v i d u a l s w e r e s h i e l d e d fr o m any o ut s i d e i nfl u e n c e . I t w o u l d h av e b e e n n earl y i mp o s s ib l e fo r any in di v i d

u al o n th e fi n al j ury p an el t o h av e h a d a c c e s s t o thi s typ e o f inf o rm at i o n . F o r th e fo r e g o in g r e as o n s , App e ll ant ' s c l aim th at th e c o urt err e d i n d e ny i n g th e m o t i o n fo r a mi s tri a l mu s t f

ai l.

1 5: e C o n c lu s i o n

I n s umm ary , thi s c o urt h as c ar e fu ll y r e v i e w e d th e e nti r e r e c o r d an d fi n d s n o h arm fu l , p r e j u di c i al , o r r e v e r s i b l e e rr o r an d n o thi n g t o j us t i f y th e g r ant i n g o f

Ap p e ll ant ' s r e qu e s t fo r r e li e f. F o r th e r e a s o ns s e t fo rth ab o v e , th e j u d gm e nt o f th e tri al c o urt s h o ul d b e a ffi rm e d .

J.

1 6