Opinion ID: 620466
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Ex Parte Conference with Juror 4

Text: Part of the ensuing ex parte exchange between the court and Juror 4 further deprived Collins of his right to be present. Before the court allowed Juror 4 to respond to the allegations against him, the court stated that his alleged conduct was not conducive to getting this matter resolved, and it is important to both parties that the matter be resolved. (Tr. 5411). This explicit emphasis on the importance of resolution amounted to a direct supplemental instruction. Indeed, such language is a staple of a modified Allen charge, delivered specifically to stress the importance of reaching a verdict. See Allen v. United States, 164 U.S. 492, 501, 17 S.Ct. 154, 41 L.Ed. 528 (1896); Smalls v. Batista, 191 F.3d 272, 275 n. 1 (2d Cir. 1999) ( Allen charge reminds the jurors about the importance of obtaining a verdict); see also 1 L. Sand et al., Modern Fed. Jury Instructions-Crim. Ch. 9-11. When a supplemental instruction is given ex parte, without first consulting counsel, it violates a defendant's right to be present. See Rogers, 422 U.S. at 38-39, 95 S.Ct. 2091; Shields, 273 U.S. at 588-89, 47 S.Ct. 478. To be sure, hindsight is 20/20. The difficulty of the circumstances the district court faced is not lost upon us. Indeed, this was a situation in which an able and experienced trial judge was trying in good faith to ease serious tensions in the jury room and deal with accusations of misconduct. Nonetheless, we conclude that the district court erred in not disclosing the contents of the Note to Collins and counsel before taking action and in engaging in an ex parte conversation with Juror 4.