Opinion ID: 2570148
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Discussions Outside the Jury Room

Text: Defendant contends the amended declarations of Jurors L.M. and G.C. disclosed improper discussions outside the deliberations. Juror L.M.'s declaration stated, The cost of bringing witnesses was mentioned but not in deliberations. I couldn't believe [defense counsel] Katz was bringing in all these witnesses from out of state to say the same thing repeatedly. Defendant evidently relies on Juror G.C.'s passing reference to the things in my [original] declaration [that] were only briefly mentioned, and not part of our deliberations. The trial court made no specific finding on this claim, but it is plainly meritless. Defendant's argument is not directed at the substance of any discussions. He asserts that because they took place outside the collective deliberative process, they violated the court's instruction not to discuss the case individually and were beyond the reach of curative instruction or admonition. However, the declarations do not reflect discussions outside the jury room. Neither L.M. nor G.C. indicates where the matters in question were mentioned. The amended declarations of these two jurors explain statements made in their original declarations, and the original declarations pertained to discussions during the penalty deliberations. Thus, defendant's claim that the jurors engaged in improper discussions outside the deliberations of the full jury finds no support in the record.