Opinion ID: 2585503
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Failure to Hold a Hearing for Alleged Juror Misconduct

Text: Following the penalty verdict, the prosecutor and both defense counsel joined the 12 jurors and discussed the case. All 12 jurors expressed concern that defendant's gang would retaliate against them as a result of the verdict. One juror in particular thought he may have been followed by a gang member or a member of defendant's family. The jury foreperson, however, stated that concern over retaliation did not affect the jury's deliberations. The attorneys related their experience with the jury in declarations filed with the court. Based on these declarations, defendant moved for a new trial based on jury misconduct. The trial court denied the motion and made two points. First, the court noted that defense counsel did not request a hearing. Second, the court explained: At this point, I do not believe there is enough here even for the Court to be concerned or feel an evidentiary hearing is anyway warranted or required. I have read [the declarations and] I am concerned; but I think, as I say, the declarations themselves belie any potential problem but the Court would be concerned about that. But, absent any declaration from jurors or other evidence based on what I have here, I find no reason to be concerned that if this [presumably, fear of retaliation from defendant's gang] was mentioned at some point that it played any part in the deliberations or was in any way prejudicial to the defendant as to the jury's decision. Defendant contends the trial court violated his rights under the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, as well as analogous provisions of the California Constitution, by failing to hold a hearing to investigate potential jury misconduct. We disagree. [W]hen a criminal defendant moves for a new trial based on allegations of jury misconduct, the trial court has discretion to conduct an evidentiary hearing to determine the truth of the allegations. We stress, however, that the defendant is not entitled to such a hearing as a matter of right. Rather, such a hearing should be held only when the trial court, in its discretion, concludes that an evidentiary hearing is necessary to resolve material, disputed issues of fact. ( People v. Hedgecock (1990) 51 Cal.3d 395, 415, 272 Cal.Rptr. 803, 795 P.2d 1260.) [A hearing] should be held only when the defense has come forward with evidence demonstrating a strong possibility that prejudicial misconduct has occurred. Even upon such a showing, an evidentiary hearing will generally be unnecessary unless the parties' evidence presents a material conflict that can only be resolved at such a hearing. (Id. at p. 419, 272 Cal.Rptr. 803, 795 P.2d 1260.) Applying this rule here, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in declining to hold a hearing into potential jury misconduct. Although defense counsel's declaration indicated the jury was concerned about possible retaliation, it also states that a police detective active in the case assured the jury that defendant was no longer active in the gangs in Compton, and in fact, was not welcome in Compton due to problems that developed between [defendant] and his gang. Moreover, when asked whether anger or fear connected with the jurors' concerns of retaliation affected their deliberations, the jury foreperson replied in the negative. The prosecutor's declaration, which also stated that defense counsel attempted to elicit contrary information but were clearly informed that any relationship he had with a gang played no part in reaching [the jury's] decision in the guilt or penalty phase, echoed this statement. Because defendant's evidence did not demonstrate a strong possibility that prejudicial misconduct has occurred ( People v. Hedgecock, supra, 51 Cal.3d at p. 419, 272 Cal. Rptr. 803, 795 P.2d 1260), and no material fact was in dispute, the court's decision not to hold a hearing was well within its discretion.