Opinion ID: 2357794
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Testimony of Geraldine Anne Johnson

Text: During petitioner's trial and at the time of her testimony at the reference hearing, Geraldine Anne Johnson was married to Worth Dikeman, one of the prosecutors at petitioner's trial. Ronald Bass was Dikeman's coprosecutor at that trial. Johnson, an attorney, was the first woman partner in a Humboldt County law firm. One evening during petitioner's trial, she and Bass went to Cafe Waterfront for dinner and drinks after playing racquetball. They sat at the bar and ordered drinks from the bartender, Robert McConkey. When Z.S. approached with menus, Bass sprang up from his seat, went behind Johnson, held up his hands, and said something like I can't talk to you. I've got to maintain propriety. Z.S. gave the menus to Johnson, suggested ordering crab cakes, and returned to the kitchen. Bass told Johnson that Z.S. was a juror in petitioner's trial. Johnson and Bass each had two drinks and some food. After they had finished, McConkey brought them the check, which was around $25 or $26. Bass put two $20 bills on the bar, leaned down fairly conspiratorially, and told McConkey to give one of the bills to Z.S. and tell her to vote guilty. Bass was smiling and they all laughed [b]ecause it was clearly a joke. McConkey took the two $20 bills to the cash register, bringing back around $15 in change. Bass left an appropriate tip, then he and Johnson departed. They had been in the restaurant an hour and a half to two hours. To Johnson's knowledge, Bass did not send any drinks to Z.S. in the kitchen. The next morning, Johnson told her husband, Worth Dikeman, everything that had happened at Cafe Waterfront. Before that evening, Johnson had never met Z.S., but afterward she saw her again at Cafe Waterfront and they waved hello to each other. They also met once in the courthouse. Johnson arrived for a hearing just after the jury in petitioner's case had been dismissed for the day. Z.S. saw Johnson and gave her a hug.