Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. Daniel J. JONES
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 2006-02-22
Citations: 922 So. 2d 508
Docket Number: No. 2005-K-0226
Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. Daniel J. JONES.
Judges: WEIMER, J., concurs and assigns reasons.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 922
Pages: 508–517

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana v. Daniel J. JONES.
No. 2005-K-0226.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Feb. 22, 2006.
Fox & Lindner, John W. Lindner, II, for applicant.
Charles C. Foti, Jr., Attorney General, Walter P. Reed, District Attorney, Dorothy Ann Pendergast, Assistant District Attorney, for respondent.

Opinion:
TRAYLOR, J.
| An this case, we are presented with the issue of whether a criminal trial decided by a unanimous jury composed of a greater number of persons than constitutionally required, violates the criminal defendant's constitutional rights. Finding no prejudice to the defendant in this case, we remand to the Court of Appeal, First Circuit, for consideration of other issues raised, on appeal.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Defendant, Daniel Jones (hereinafter referred to as "Jones"), was charged by bill of information with one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated ("DWI"), fourth offense, a violation of La. R.S. 14:98(E). Jones was tried by a jury of twelve, who unanimously found him guilty as charged. The trial court sentenced Jones to twenty years imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
Jones appealed his conviction and sentence to the Court of Appeal, First Circuit, arguing that he was convicted based on insufficient evidence and that the trial court erred in refusing to sentence him under the 2001 amendments to La. R.S. 14:98. | aThe First Circuit, sitting en banc, issued a per curiam opinion. While reviewing the merits of the case, the court of appeal recognized ex proprio motu that the record revealed Jones had been tried before a jury of twelve rather than six jurors as required by La. Const. Art. I, § 17. Six of the twelve judges of the appellate court affirmed defendant's conviction. However, six judges pretermitted a determination on the merits, voting instead to reverse Jones' conviction based on patent error with regard to the composition of his jury.
Jones filed an application for writ of certiorari in this court, seeking review of the lower court's ruling. In his application to this court, Jones adopted the argument of the appellate court dissenters, and argued that his conviction and sentence should be reversed based on patent error. We granted this application to consider the propriety of that argument.
LAW AND DISCUSSION
This Court has previously held that trial by an incorrect number of jurors, either more than or less than required, renders the verdict and sentence null. State v. Smith, 367 So.2d 857 (La.1979); State v. Nedds, 364 So.2d 588 (La.1978); State v. Rabbas, 278 So.2d 45 (La.1973); State v. Bennett, 270 So.2d 840 (La.1972); State v. Hill, 171 La. 277, 130 So. 865 (La.1930); State v. Bailey, 154 La. 536, 97 So. 851 (La.1923); and State v. Reeves, 128 La. 37, 54 So. 415 (La.1911). Today we re-examine the correctness of this pronouncement where a greater than required number of jurors unanimously vote to convict a defendant.
Daniel Jones was charged with violation of La. R.S. 14:98(E), a felony for which the offender may be imprisoned with or without hard labor for not less than ten years. Jones pleaded not guilty to the charge and requested a trial by jury. A twelve ¡¿person jury unanimously convicted Jones.
Article I, Section 17 of the Louisiana Constitution required that Jones be tried before a jury of six persons, all of whom must concur to render a verdict. See also La.C.Cr.P. Art. 782. Based on the constitutional and statutory mandate, Jones was required to be tried by a six person jury. Jones, however, was unanimously convicted by a twelve person jury. Thus, we must determine whether this constitutional error is an inherently prejudicial structural error which automatically requires reversal, or whether it falls within the vast category of trial errors which are subject to harmless error analysis and which warrant reversal only where the defendant is actually prejudiced.
A structural error is one which affects the framework within which the trial proceeds. Arizona v. Fulminante, 499 U.S. 279, 307-311, 111 S.Ct. 1246, 1264-1265, 113 L.Ed.2d 302 (1991). Constitutional structural errors warrant automatic reversal. Arizona v. Fulminante, 499 U.S. at 307-311, 111 S.Ct. at 1264-1265. Structural defects are fatal and have been restrictively defined to include the complete denial of counsel, see Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 83 S.Ct. 792, 9 L.Ed.2d 799 (1963); adjudication by a biased judge, see Turney v. Ohio, 273 U.S. 510, 47 S.Ct. 437, 71 L.Ed. 749 (1927); exclusion of members of defendant's race from a grand jury, see Vasquez v. Hillery, 474 U.S. 254, 106 S.Ct. 617, 88 L.Ed.2d 598 (1986); the right to self-representation at trial, see McKaskle v. Wiggins, 465 U.S. 168, 104 S.Ct. 944, 79 L.Ed.2d 122 (1984); the right to a public trial, see Waller v. Georgia, 467 U.S. 39, 104 S.Ct. 2210, 81 L.Ed.2d 31 (1984); and the right to a jury verdict of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, see Sullivan v. Louisiana, 508 U.S. 275, 113 S.Ct. 2078, 124 L.Ed.2d 182 (1993).
However, all constitutional errors are not structural and indeed, most are amenable to harmless error analysis. Sullivan v. Louisiana, 508 U.S. 275, 278-79, 113 S.Ct. 2078, 2081, 124 L.Ed.2d 182 (1993), citing Arizona v. Fulminante, supra. While the Louisiana Constitution and La.C.Cr.P. art. 782 required that a six person jury hear Jones' case, we find that his conviction by a unanimous twelve person jury does not rise to the level of a structural error. Hence, we find defendant's unanimous conviction by a jury of twelve is subject to harmless error analysis.
In order to find an error harmless, an appellate court must be able to declare a belief that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Allen, 2003-2418, p. 19 (La.6/29/05), 913 So.2d 788, citing Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 87 S.Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1967). We hold that Jones' conviction by a unanimous twelve person jury did not result in any prejudice to Jones. Therefore, the constitutional error in this case is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
Although the Louisiana Constitution contains a provision setting forth the number of jurors required for crimes punishable by a certain length of time, we find the improper number of jurors who unanimously decided Jones' guilt was not a fatal flaw which denied Jones' right to a jury trial. The key feature of the right to a jury trial does not hinge on the number of jurors, but rather is to ensure fair deliberations:
Is"... the number should probably be large enough to promote group deliberation, free from outside attempts at intimidation, and to provide a fair possibility for obtaining a representatives cross-section of the community. But we find little reason to think that these goals are in any meaningful sense less likely to be achieved when the jury numbers six, than when it numbers 12-particularly if the requirement of unanimity is retained. And, certainly the reliability of the jury as a factfinder hardly seems likely to be a function of its size."
Williams v. Florida, 399 U.S. 78, 100, 90 S.Ct. 1893, 1906, 26 L.Ed.2d 446 (1970).
In Williams, the United States Supreme Court considered the issue whether the constitutional guarantee of a trial by jury necessarily encompasses a specific number of jurors. The Court reviewed a conviction of a defendant who had previously requested a twelve person jury rather than a six person jury as required by Florida law. After setting forth the history of the development of trial by jury in criminal cases as set forth in Duncan v. Louisiana, 391 U.S. 145, 88 S.Ct. 1444, 20 L.Ed. 491 (1968), the Court focused on whether any real significance should be afforded to the fixing of a specific number of jurors, described by the Court as an "accidental feature."
The Court found the essential feature of a jury lies in the interposition between the accused and his accuser of the commonsense judgment of a group of laymen, and in the community participation and shared responsibility that results from that group's determination of guilt or innocence. Williams, 399 U.S. at 100, 90 S.Ct. at 1906. The Court further stated that the performance of this role is not a function of the particular number of the body that makes up the jury. Id. Here, Jones was unanimously convicted by twelve of his peers. He received deliberation by a cross section of his community.
In State v. Nedds, 364 So.2d 588 (La.1978), this court held that a case tried by a jury composed of either more or less than the required number of jurors is null. | fjLike Jones, the defendant in Nedds was tried by twelve jurors and convicted but should have been tried by a six person jury. The court annulled and set aside the conviction, remanding to the trial court for a new trial. Justice Dennis' dissent in State v. Nedds, poignantly states the fundamental principle that a defendant is entitled to a jury trial of his peers and trial by more than the number of jurors constitu tionally required should not result in a nullity. The dissent suggests that the pivotal inquiry is whether the defendant was prejudiced by having more jurors hear the case than the number of jurors required by law. Justice Dennis stated:
Defendant was convicted of a relative felony by a jury of twelve persons. Prior decisions of this Court have held that such a defect in the proceedings requires remand, State v. Rabbas, 278 So.2d 45 (La.1973); and several decisions have even treated jury size as jurisdictional, State v. Reeves, 128 La. 37, 54 So. 415 (1911). This position would be justified in those cases where a defendant is convicted by a jury composed of fewer persons than the law znandates. However, where the defendant is convicted by a larger jury, he has, in effect, been provided greater protection than the minimum required by law. Defendant alleged no prejudice; and I am unable to perceive how the defendant could be prejudiced by a jury composed of twelve rather than six persons. Moreover, since the defendant could have waived the jury entirely, his going to trial before a twelve person jury instead of a six person jury should constitute a waiver of his right to a trial by the smaller jury. State v. Nedds, 364 So.2d at 589.
Justice Dennis' conclusion is instructive and supported by Williams v. Florida, 399 U.S. 78, 90 S.Ct. 1893, 26 L.Ed.2d 446 (1970). We find that Jones has not shown, nor do we find, that he was prejudiced by having his case decided by a unanimous jury of twelve. Twelve persons unanimously convicted Jones of DWI. Furthermore, we find that the empaneling of a jury composed of a greater number of persons than constitutionally required is no longer a non-waivable jurisdictional defect subject to automatic nullity. Hence, we find Jones' unanimous verdict by twelve jurors, when the constitution requires a unanimous jury of six persons, was harmless error.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, we find that a unanimous jury of twelve convicted defendant of violating La. R.S. 14:98(E). Furthermore, under the facts of this case, defendant's unanimous conviction by twelve jurors was harmless error and not fatally | .¡prejudicial to defendant's rights to trial by jury and of due process. Moreover, based on Louisiana's constitutional and statutory amendments, we no longer find that a jury composed of a greater number of persons than constitutionally required constitutes a non-waivable jurisdictional defect subject to automatic reversal. Our previous cases which may be construed to hold otherwise are hereby expressly overruled.
The Court of Appeal, First Circuit, did not render a majority opinion on the merits of defendant's conviction and sentence as required by La. Const. Art. V, § 8B. Six of the twelve judges pretermitted the merits based on their finding of patent error. Accordingly, we hereby remand this case to the Court of Appeal, First Circuit, for consideration of the merits of defendant's conviction and sentence.
DECREE
Case remanded to the Court of Appeal, First Circuit, for the reasons assigned in this opinion.
CASE REMANDED TO COURT OF APPEAL.
WEIMER, J., concurs and assigns reasons.
. State v. Jones, 2003-1345 (La.App. 1 Cir. 9/24/04), 888 So.2d 885.
. The per curiam issued by the court cited Louisiana Constitution Art. V, § 8(B) which requires a "majority of judges sitting in a case must concur to render judgment." Since six of the twelve judges agreed to affirm Jones' conviction, there was no majority. The per curiam states that Jones' "judgment of conviction and sentence stand."
. State v. Jones, 05-0226 (La.5/13/05), 902 So.2d 1000.
. La. R.S. 14:98(E) provides:
Except as otherwise provided in Subpara-graph (4)(b) of this Subsection, on a conviction of a fourth or subsequent offense, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary and regardless of whether the fourth offense occurred before or after an earlier conviction, the offender shall be imprisoned with or without hard labor for not less than ten years nor more than thirty years and shall be fined five thousand dollars. Sixty days of the sentence of imprisonment shall be imposed without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. The remainder of the sentence of imprisonment shall be suspended, and the offender shall be placed on supervised probation with the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, division of probation and parole, for a period of time not to exceed five years, which probation shall commence on the day after the offender's release from custody. [Emphasis added]
. Article I, Section 17 of the Louisiana Constitution provides:
A criminal case in which the punishment may be capital shall be tried before a jury of twelve persons, all of whom must concur to render a verdict. A case in which the punishment is necessarily confinement at hard labor shall be tried before a jury of twelve persons, ten of whom must concur to render a verdict. A case in which the punishment may be confinement at hard labor or confinement without hard labor for more than six months shall be tried before a jury of six persons, all of whom must concur to render a verdict. The accused shall have a right to full voir dire examination of prospective jurors and to challenge jurors peremptorily. The number of challenges shall be fixed by law. Except in capital cases, a defendant may knowingly and intelligently waive his right to a trial by jury, [emphasis added].
. La.Code Crim. Proc. Art. 782 provide?:
A. Cases in which punishment may be capital shall be tried by a jury of twelve jurors, all of whom must concur to render a verdict. Cases in which punishment is necessarily confinement at hard labor shall be tried by a jury composed of twelve jurors, ten of whom must concur to render a verdict. Cases in which the punishment may be confinement at hard labor shall be tried by a jury composed of six jurors, all of whom must concur to render a verdict.
. Fla. Stat. § 913.10(1) (1967) provided:
Twelve men shall constitute a jury to try all capital cases, and six men shall constitute a jury to try all other criminal cases.
. According to the Williams Court, the "question before us is whether this accidental feature of the jury has been immutably codified into our constitution." Williams, 399 U.S. at 88, 90 S.Ct. at 1900.
. Our holding here today does not guarantee the same result would be reached if a lesser number of jurors had been empaneled than required by law, or if there was no unanimity of verdict.