Opinion ID: 522249
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Directing the jury to continue deliberations

Text: 13 After the jury came back with the verdict, the court conducted a poll of the jury to determine if the verdict was unanimous. In answer to the court's question, Are the verdicts I just read your individual verdicts? the following exchange took place between the court and the foreperson of the jury, Mr. Glover: 14 Foreperson Glover: Well, I had a lot of difficulty with the entrapment and the first vote was-- 15 The Court: Mr. Glover, all I want to know is if the verdicts I just read are where you came out? 16 Foreperson Glover: Yes. 17 The Court: You may have had concerns through the deliberation process. A lot of folks may have been talked about. A lot of people may have expressed concern and problems and may have talked about it, but I just want to know if you believe that the government has proved the essential elements of each of these counts beyond a reasonable doubt. 18 Foreperson Glover: Truthfully, no. 19 Transcript at vol. II, p. 123. At this point William's attorney moved for a mistrial. The district court overruled the motion and ordered the jury to return to the jury room and continue their deliberations. Prior to the jury resuming their deliberations, the court instructed the jury as follows: 20 All right, folks, I am going to send you back to the jury room to consider this matter a little further. And I want to remind you that you cannot return a verdict of either guilty or not guilty on any of the counts unless all of you agree. In other words, to return a verdict of guilty or not guilty your verdict must be unanimous. Now, to return a verdict of guilty on any of the counts, each of you must be convinced that the government has proved the essential elements of each of these offenses beyond a reasonable doubt. 21 Transcript at vol. II, p. 127. After approximately an hour, the jury returned with guilty verdicts on four of the six counts. The district court again polled the jury. The poll was unanimous and the court accepted the verdict and discharged the jury. 22 Williams claims that the district court erred in ordering the jury to continue their deliberations because this may have resulted in coercion of the juror, Mr. Glover. Williams asserts that once Mr. Glover's doubts were known, the anonymity of the jury process was violated. Consequently, Williams is concerned that during the resumed deliberations Mr. Glover could have been subjected to pressure from the other jurors to conform his decision to that of the others. 23 Rule 31(d) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure provides in part: 24 When a verdict is returned and before it is recorded the jury shall be polled at the request of any party or upon the court's own motion. If upon the poll there is not unanimous concurrence, the jury may be directed to retire for further deliberations or may be discharged. 25 In a situation such as this, the trial court has the discretion to either discharge the jury or direct the jury to continue deliberations. United States v. Johnson, 720 F.2d 519, 521 (8th Cir.1983), cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1036, 104 S.Ct. 1310, 79 L.Ed.2d 707 (1984) (citation omitted). Our review of the record reveals no improper conduct on the part of the court in polling Mr. Glover and, accordingly, no error in directing the jury to continue deliberations.