Opinion ID: 4564786
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Phase II of the Trial

Text: During the second phase of the trial—which took place beginning the afternoon of July 15, immediately after the verdicts were rendered on the first three counts—the government read into the record two stipulations: One established the fact of Walker’s prior felony conviction and the other that a cartridge casing recovered from the robbery scene constituted “ammunition” for purposes of the firearm-in-crime-of-violence count. The jury was charged that afternoon, but did not reach a verdict as to Count Four by the end of the day on Friday, so the District Court adjourned the jury’s deliberations until Monday, July 18. On Monday morning, one of the jurors wrote a note to the court explaining that she had a nightmare over the weekend about potential retribution for her jury service and describing how the trial was causing her fear and anxiety. This emotional reaction was tied to a robbery that happened some time ago, she said. The resulting fear was significant enough that she sought to be excused from the jury. The court determined to dismiss the juror. Walker then sought to have the jury’s verdict from the first phase of the trial set aside in light of the excused juror’s participation. The District Court denied the motion, noting that the juror had the nightmare over the weekend, after the jury delivered its verdict on the first three counts. Later on Monday afternoon, the remaining eleven members of the jury convicted Walker on Count Four.