Opinion ID: 733247
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Prosecutor's Applause Following Defense Counsel's Summation

Text: 39 After defense counsel concluded what was apparently a particularly emotional summation, 3 the prosecutor stood up, turned to the jury, and applauded in the direction of defense counsel. The prosecutor obviously applauded not out of admiration for the craftsmanship of a fellow advocate, but as a sarcastic commentary on defense counsel's summation. The district court, Burns, the government, and this Court all agree that the prosecutor's applause was inappropriate. 40 In considering the severity of the misconduct, the district court thoroughly analyzed this episode in the context of the entire trial. [A] criminal conviction is not to be lightly overturned ... for the [challenged] statements or conduct must be viewed in context; only by so doing can it be determined whether the prosecutor's conduct affected the fairness of the trial. United States v. Young, 470 U.S. 1, 11, 105 S.Ct. 1038, 1044, 84 L.Ed.2d 1 (1985). The district court concluded that the applause was an isolated incident of misconduct in an otherwise wholly fair trial. The district court correctly noted that Burns' failure to move for a mistrial at any point prior to the verdict supported its belief that the trial was a fair one. United States v. Melendez, 57 F.3d 238, 242-43 (2d Cir.1995) (Although no federal rule of procedure requires a mistrial motion in order to preserve the issue of prosecutorial misconduct for appeal, the absence of such a motion provides some indication that the improper remark was not perceived as rendering the trial unfair and may indicate that defense counsel preferred to have th[e] jury decide her client's fate.). 41 The district court also considered the effect of curative measures taken at trial, as our case law recognizes that contemporaneous curative measures are the most effective means of neutralizing otherwise prejudicial conduct by a prosecutor. See United States v. Modica, 663 F.2d 1173, 1184-85 (2d Cir.1981). Defense counsel objected immediately after the prosecutor's applause. The district court sustained the objection, and addressed the jury as follows: [The prosecutor's applause was] unprofessional, it's totally inappropriate and you should not consider that [demonstration], ladies and gentlemen, in any way, in your deliberations. The district court concluded that the curative instructions mitigated any damage that otherwise might have been caused by the improper demonstration. We see no reason to disturb this finding. 42 Finally, the district court analyzed the likelihood of conviction absent the applause. The district court determined that [e]ven absent the prosecutor's misconduct, the certainty of conviction on the counts found was substantial. Given the time sheets, travel vouchers, and the circumstantial evidence discussed above, we conclude that, absent the prosecutor's applause, the jury's verdict would have been the same.