Opinion ID: 898380
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Jury's Presence

Text: [¶12] Kruckenberg argues the district court erred by not bringing the jury to the courtroom to address its request to have a transcript of a witness's testimony. A defendant has a right to be present in the courtroom at every stage of the trial. State v. Fehl-Haber, 2007 ND 99, ¶ 11, 734 N.W.2d 770; N.D. Const. art. I, § 12. Section 29-22-05, N.D.C.C., governs a district court's procedures for handling jury questions after the jury has retired to deliberate: After the jurors have retired for deliberation, if they desire to be informed on a point of law arising in the cause, or to have any testimony about which they are in doubt or disagreement read to them, they, upon their request, must be conducted into the courtroom by the officer who has them in custody. Upon their being brought into the court, the information required must be given in the presence of, or after notice to, the state's attorney and the defendant or his counsel, or after they have been called. [¶13] Although N.D.C.C. 29-22-05 specifically refers only to jury questions on a `point of law' and jury requests to have testimony read, this Court has long construed the statute to require that all communications with the jurors, after a case has been submitted to them, must be made in open court and in the presence of the defendant. State v. Parisien, 2005 ND 152, ¶ 8, 703 N.W.2d 306. When a defendant fails to object to a district court's procedure, we review that procedure for obvious error under N.D.R.Crim.P. 52(b). State v. Clark, 2004 ND 85, ¶ 6, 678 N.W.2d 765. [¶14] Kruckenberg concedes he did not object to the district court's procedure when the jury asked to have a transcript of a witness's testimony. Rather, the district court asked the State and Kruckenberg's attorney if they had comments regarding the court's proposed response to the jury that the jurors were to rely on their collective memories, and both attorneys stated they had no comments or objections to that response. Because Kruckenberg did not object, this Court reviews the district court's error for obvious error. [¶15] To establish obvious error, the defendant must show: (1) error; (2) that is plain; and (3) affects substantial rights. State v. Wegley, 2008 ND 4, ¶ 14, 744 N.W.2d 284. If the error affects the accused constitutional rights, the prosecution must prove the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Faul, 300 N.W.2d 827, 833 (N.D. 1980). Because of the constitutional underpinnings of the defendant's right to be present, a violation of the right is subject to the harmless error standard for constitutional errors  harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Parisien, 2005 ND 152, ¶ 8, 703 N.W.2d 306 (citations omitted). When determining whether the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, we consider the probable effect of the error in light of all the evidence. State v. Smuda, 419 N.W.2d 166, 168 (N.D. 1988). [¶16] Kruckenberg argues the jury should have been brought into open court to discuss the question, receive a response from the court, and allow both attorneys to provide comments to the court's proposed response. Kruckenberg argues he was denied a fair trial because he was facing a mandatory twenty-year sentence and a possible habitual offender finding by the court. [¶17] We agree with Kruckenberg that the district court committed plain error in responding to the jury's question without calling the jury into open court. We do not, however, conclude this affected Kruckenberg's substantial rights, because he was not prejudiced by the error. Even if the district court had called the jury into open court, we are not persuaded the outcome of the trial would have changed. Based on this record, the failure to bring the jury into the courtroom does not raise a reasonable doubt as to Kruckenberg's guilt. Rather, the overwhelming evidence including the audio recording of the controlled buy, the testimony of the confidential informant, and the testimony of the investigating officer supports the verdict. Furthermore, Kruckenberg was not prejudiced merely because he faced a severe prison sentence. Thus, although the district court's failure to bring the jury into open court to respond to the jury's question in the presence of Kruckenberg was error, we conclude that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.