Opinion ID: 2613228
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Defendant's absence from hearing

Text: (1) Before examining the propriety of discharging Solano, we must determine whether the court erred in refusing to allow defendant personally to attend the in-chambers hearing regarding possible discharge of the juror. The defendant has a constitutional (Cal. Const., art. I, § 15) and statutory (§§ 977, subd. (b), 1043, subd. (a)) right to be personally present at his trial. (See also United States v. Gagnon (1985) 470 U.S. 522, 526 [84 L.Ed.2d 486, 490, 105 S.Ct. 1482], and cases cited [defendant has federal due process right to attend court proceedings if his presence has a reasonably substantial relation to his ability to defend himself].) Under section 977, subdivision (b), the defendant shall be present at certain proceedings (arraignment, plea, preliminary examination, sentencing, and those portions of the trial when evidence is taken before the trier of fact), and shall also attend all other proceedings, unless he or she files a written waiver of the right to be present at such proceedings. Although the broad language of the foregoing section appears to grant the defendant an unqualified right to attend all in-chambers conferences, we have held that the defendant's absence from various court proceedings, even without waiver, may be declared nonprejudicial in situations where his presence does not bear a `reasonably substantial relation to the fullness of his opportunity to defend against the charge.' ( People v. Garrison (1989) 47 Cal.3d 746, 782 [254 Cal. Rptr. 257, 765 P.2d 419], quoting from People v. Bloyd (1987) 43 Cal.3d 333, 359-360 [233 Cal. Rptr. 368, 729 P.2d 802], italics added; see also People v. Hardy (1992) 2 Cal.4th 86, 177-178 [5 Cal. Rptr.2d 796, 825 P.2d 781] [absence from portion of voir dire and some in-chambers discussions]; People v. Wharton (1991) 53 Cal.3d 522, 602-603 [280 Cal. Rptr. 631, 809 P.2d 290] [absence from various in-chambers proceedings]; People v. Medina (1990) 51 Cal.3d 870, 902-903 [274 Cal. Rptr. 849, 799 P.2d 1282] [absence from in-chambers conferences and in-court reading of testimony]; People v. Douglas (1990) 50 Cal.3d 468, 517-518 [268 Cal. Rptr. 126, 788 P.2d 640] [absence from reading of testimony]; People v. Lang (1989) 49 Cal.3d 991, 1025-1028 [264 Cal. Rptr. 386, 782 P.2d 627] [absence from jury view of murder scene, from conference regarding jury request for clarification, and from reading of testimony]; People v. Bittaker (1989) 48 Cal.3d 1046, 1079-1080 [259 Cal. Rptr. 630, 774 P.2d 659] [absence from various hearings and conferences]; People v. Robertson (1989) 48 Cal.3d 18, 59-62 [255 Cal. Rptr. 631, 767 P.2d 1109] [absence from penalty-reduction hearing and sentencing]; People v. Hovey (1988) 44 Cal.3d 543, 585-586 [244 Cal. Rptr. 121, 749 P.2d 776] [absence from reading of testimony].) We initially reject defendant's assertion that the Solano hearing was one involving the presentation of evidence to the trier of fact within the meaning of section 977, subdivision (b), thereby compelling his presence under the terms of that section. It seems clear the foregoing evidence presentation provision has no application to in-chambers hearings on collateral matters held outside the jury's presence. Accordingly, under the foregoing cases, in determining whether defendant was prejudiced by being excluded from the Solano hearing, we must inquire whether defendant's presence bore a reasonably substantial relation to the fullness of his opportunity to defend against the charges against him. Defendant fails to explain in what manner his presence at the in-chambers hearing could have enhanced his opportunity to defend against the charges. He suggests that had he been allowed to attend the hearing at issue, he might have helped his counsel in questioning Juror Solano. The point seems unduly speculative, especially in light of defense counsel's own decision, previously discussed, to absent himself from the hearing rather than risk alienating the juror. (See Medina, supra, 51 Cal.3d at p. 903; Hovey, supra, 44 Cal.3d at p. 585.) In situations similar to the present case, although occurring prior to the enactment of section 977, subdivision (b), we have indicated that the defendant would have no right to attend such hearings. ( In re Lessard (1965) 62 Cal.2d 497, 506 [42 Cal. Rptr. 583, 399 P.2d 39] [absence from private conference with juror asking to be excused]; People v. Abbott (1956) 47 Cal.2d 362, 372 [303 P.2d 730] [absence from hearing regarding juror's qualifications]; see also United States v. Gagnon, supra, 470 U.S. at p. 527 [84 L.Ed.2d at pp. 490-491] [absence from hearing to determine juror's impartiality].) Defendant relies on various federal and sister-state cases which indicate a criminal defendant has a right to attend in-chambers conferences regarding a juror's impartiality, qualifications or possible misconduct. (E.g., Walker v. Lockhart (8th Cir.1988) 852 F.2d 379, 381-382; United States v. Gay (9th Cir.1975) 522 F.2d 429, 435; People v. Medcoff (1955) 344 Mich. 108 [73 N.W.2d 537, 543].) Respondent cites other cases which find no prejudicial error in excluding the defendant from such conferences. (E.g., U.S. v. Patterson (9th Cir.1987) 819 F.2d 1495, 1507, and cases cited; United States v. Lustig (9th Cir.1977) 555 F.2d 737, 745-746 [46 A.L.R.Fed. 714], cert. den. (1978) 434 U.S. 1045 [54 L.Ed.2d 795, 98 S.Ct. 889].). As respondent observes, many of defendant's cited cases preceded the decision of the United States Supreme Court in United States v. Gagnon, supra, 470 U.S. at pages 526-527 [84 L.Ed.2d at pages 490-491], wherein the high court made it clear that due process principles do not entitle the defendant to appear at every encounter between judge and jurors. As Gagnon explains, the central inquiry in such situations is whether the defendant's presence at the hearing reasonably could have assisted his defense of the charges against him. ( Ibid. ) As we have discussed, defendant fails to convince us that his presence could have assisted his defense in any way. Thus, we conclude that, although defendant may have had a statutory right to attend the Solano hearing, his exclusion therefrom did not amount to prejudicial error because it is unlikely his presence would have enhanced his opportunity to defend against the charges. Moreover, several cases have observed that if, as a result of the hearing in question, the affected juror is discharged and an alternate juror is picked to replace him, prejudice to the defendant will not be presumed. (See United States v. Lustig, supra, 555 F.2d 737, 746; People v. Dell (1991) 232 Cal. App.3d 248, 256-257 [283 Cal. Rptr. 3610] [court excused sick jurors without hearing]; Peckham v. State (Alaska Ct. App. 1986) 723 P.2d 638, 640 [defendant excluded from inquiry into juror misconduct].) As stated in People v. Dell, supra , appellant does not claim she was actually prejudiced from the substitution of jurors nor does it appear she could reasonably make such an argument. Alternates are selected from the same source, in the same manner, with the same qualifications and are subject to the same challenges. Alternates have an equal opportunity to observe the entire proceedings and take the same oath as regular jurors. [Citation.] In this case, appellant had ample opportunity to voir dire the alternates and use her allotted peremptory challenges. [Citation.] Nor is there any allegation the alternates were either incompetent or biased. (232 Cal. App.3d at pp. 256-257.) The foregoing authorities seem apposite here. Accordingly, we conclude that no prejudicial error occurred by reason of defendant's exclusion from the Solano hearing.