Opinion ID: 796176
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Failure to Report Juror Misconduct

Text: 30 In an affidavit submitted during the state court post-conviction proceeding, Garcia's family friend Jill Johnson-Danielson stated that she had observed one of the jurors socializing and smoking with non-jurors outside the entrance to the courthouse during breaks on two days of the trial. She claimed she informed Garcia's trial counsel about what she had observed and, to her knowledge, he took no action. The state submitted an affidavit from Garcia's trial counsel in which he stated that he did not recall the conversation with Johnson-Danielson, but that, if it occurred, he probably would have told her she should keep an eye on it and he would also. 31 During the state post-conviction evidentiary hearing the court allowed Garcia's counsel to make an offer of proof that Garcia's aunt, Ms. Alexander, was prepared to testify that she observed two or more members of the jury talking to members of the Tendeland family during a break. She stated that she had informed Garcia's trial counsel and requested that he bring it to the court's attention and that he did not do so. Garcia's trial counsel testified that he did not report the contact claimed by Johnson-Danielson but that he had talked to the bailiffs about it. This statement was inconsistent with his earlier affidavit. He also testified that he did not recall having any conversations with Alexander about juror misconduct. 32 Garcia argues that his trial attorney's performance was ineffective because he failed to report alleged juror misconduct. The North Dakota Supreme Court properly identified Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984), as the controlling case, and decided Garcia's claim on prejudice grounds. Garcia II, 678 N.W.2d at 574, 577; see also Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697, 104 S.Ct. 2052 (If it is easier to dispose of an ineffectiveness claim on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice . . . that course should be followed.). We will limit our discussion to the prejudice issue as well, and we affirm. 33 Garcia relies on Remmer v. United States, 347 U.S. 227, 74 S.Ct. 450, 98 L.Ed. 654 (1954), to argue that prejudice must be presumed in this case. The Court in Remmer held that [i]n a criminal case, any private communication, contact, or tampering directly or indirectly, with a juror during a trial about the matter pending before the jury is, for obvious reasons, deemed presumptively prejudicial. Id. at 229, 74 S.Ct. 450. In Remmer, a juror reported to the judge that a person unnamed had remarked to him that he could profit by bringing in a verdict favorable to the defendant. Id. at 228, 74 S.Ct. 450. The Court vacated the defendant's conviction and remanded the case for a hearing to determine whether the incident complained of was harmful to the [defendant], and if after hearing it is found to have been harmful, to grant a new trial. Id. 230, 74 S.Ct. 450. 34 The North Dakota Supreme Court correctly distinguished Remmer from the facts of this case because, unlike Remmer, Garcia presented no evidence that any conversations that took place involved communication about a matter pending before the jury. Additionally, we find no suggestion in the record that persons who allegedly took part in prohibited discussions were unavailable for interviews or to sign affidavits. The North Dakota Supreme Court's decision that Remmer does not apply and that actual prejudice must be proved in this case is not objectively unreasonable. 35 Similarly, the North Dakota Supreme Court's determination that Garcia did not prove actual prejudice is not objectively unreasonable. There is no evidence that the jurors were influenced in any way by their contact with non-jurors. Garcia had an opportunity to put forth such evidence, and again, we find nothing in the record indicating that those participating in prohibited discussions were unavailable. Further, the state trial court's verdict was supported by ample evidence, including the testimony of Guler and Guerrero at trial. We agree with the district court that without any proof, any claim that the outcome of the trial would have been different amounts to nothing more than utter speculation. 36