Opinion ID: 3158526
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Supplemental Instruction Procedures

Text: In a related argument, Daves asserts the trial court violated his due process rights by (1) failing to ensure his presence at a conference on the supplemental jury instruction; and (2) providing the jury with a written supplemental instruction, rather than instructing the jury in open court with Daves in attendance. “[T]he presence of a defendant is a condition of due process to the extent that a fair and just hearing would be thwarted by his absence, and to that extent only.” Snyder v. Com. of Mass., 291 U.S. 97, 107-08 (1934), overruled in part on other grounds by Malloy v. Hogan, 378 U.S. 1 (1964). Citing this general rule, we have declined to find a due process violation when (1) the defendant wasn’t present during a jury instruction conference at which counsel and the court discussed purely legal matters; and (2) the court subsequently submitted a written response to the jury’s question outside of the defendant’s presence. See Esnault v. People of State of Colo., 980 F.2d 1335, 1336-37 (10th Cir. 1992). Citing Esnault, the federal district court concluded Daves’ due process claim did not entitle him to relief. Because reasonable jurists wouldn’t find this conclusion debatable or wrong, we deny a COA on this claim.