Opinion ID: 1349791
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Standard for Claim of Error for Extrinsic Influences on the Jury

Text: A defendant tried by jury has a right to a fair and impartial jury. People v. Tyburski, 445 Mich. 606, 618, 518 N.W.2d 441 (1994) (Mallett, J., plurality opinion), citing Duncan v. Louisiana, 391 U.S. 145, 88 S.Ct. 1444, 20 L.Ed.2d 491 (1968). During their deliberations, jurors may only consider the evidence that is presented to them in open court. See United States v. Navarro-Garcia, 926 F.2d 818, 820 (C.A.9, 1991). Where the jury considers extraneous facts not introduced in evidence, this deprives a defendant of his rights of confrontation, cross-examination, and assistance of counsel embodied in the Sixth Amendment. See Hughes v. Borg, 898 F.2d 695, 700 (C.A.9, 1990). In order to establish that the extrinsic influence was error requiring reversal, the defendant must initially prove two points. First, the defendant must prove that the jury was exposed to extraneous influences. See Marino v. Vasquez, 812 F.2d 499, 504 (C.A.9, 1987). See also United States v. Caro-Quintero, 769 F.Supp. 1564, 1573 (C.D.Cal., 1991). Second, the defendant must establish that these extraneous influences created a real and substantial possibility that they could have affected the jury's verdict. See Hughes, supra at 700. [10] Generally, in proving this second point, the defendant will demonstrate that the extraneous influence is substantially related to a material aspect of the case and that there is a direct connection between the extrinsic material and the adverse verdict. See Caro-Quintero, supra at 1574, citing United States v. Bagnariol, 665 F.2d 877, 885 (C.A.9, 1981). [11] If the defendant establishes this initial burden, the burden shifts to the people to demonstrate that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. We examine the error to determine if it is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt because the error is constitutional in nature. See People v. Anderson (After Remand), 446 Mich. 392, 406, 521 N.W.2d 538 (1994). The people may do so by proving that either the extraneous influence was duplicative of evidence produced at trial or the evidence of guilt was overwhelming. See Hughes, supra at 700.