Opinion ID: 587570
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Inquiry During Trial

Text: 39 Appellants contend that after his mid-trial investigation the district judge erred in determining that Sczymecki qualified as an impartial juror and in ordering them not to conduct any further investigation until a verdict was returned. As we have said previously, however, where as here, a colorable claim of jury misconduct surfaces, the district court has broad discretion to determine the type of investigation which must be mounted. United States v. Boylan, 898 F.2d 230, 258 (1st Cir.1990). 40 In exercising that discretion, the district judge's primary obligation is to fashion a responsible procedure for ascertaining whether misconduct actually occurred and if so, whether it was prejudicial. Id. In discharging this duty, the court should attempt to assure that jurors will not be subjected to undue impositions. Id. This is, in part, because an inquiry concerning possible juror misconduct can itself affect the attitude of a juror and the dynamics of a jury. Thus, the scope of any inquiry  'should be limited to only what is necessary to determine the facts with precision.'  Id., quoting United States v. Ianniello, 866 F.2d 540, 544 (2d Cir.1989). 41 Where the district judge has adopted an appropriate procedure to address an issue of juror bias or misconduct and has explained his findings with sufficient specificity to permit informed appellate review, his decision not to disqualify a juror should not be disturbed in the absence of a patent abuse of discretion. Id.; Angiulo, 897 F.2d at 1186 (Because the trial court's determination regarding continued juror impartiality is a question of fact, this enhances the deference due its ultimate finding on the issue.). 42 In this case, the district judge fully satisfied these standards in investigating the implications of Bernier's information concerning Sczymecki and in explaining his reasons for finding Sczymecki continued to qualify as an impartial juror. Thus, we find the district judge acted within his discretion in reaching this conclusion. 43 More specifically, when the question concerning Sczymecki arose, the district judge promptly and thoroughly questioned him, Bernier, and the jury foreman under oath, addressing Sczymecki both before and after hearing from Bernier. That inquiry indicated that Bernier did not have any specific information indicating bias or misconduct by Sczymecki. Her testimony was generally vague and confused. Sczymecki denied any bias or misconduct, including discussing the case with Walker or anyone else, or reading about the case in the newspaper after becoming a juror. The inquiry of the jury foreman did not suggest any impropriety by Sczymecki. In view of the responses to his inquiry, the district judge was entitled to rely on Sczymecki's assurances of impartiality in deciding not to disqualify him. Angiulo, 897 F.2d at 1186 (district judge properly could rely on [jurors'] assurances of impartiality, given in response to his questions.) 44 The district judge also properly explained his reasons for this decision. The district judge stated that Sczymecki gave every indication of telling the truth. He also noted that he was not persuaded to disqualify Sczymecki based upon the testimony of Bernier because she was related to one of the plaintiffs and could provide only vague information, which was insufficient to overcome Sczymecki's specific, credible responses. Thus, the district judge properly made and explained a quintessential judgment concerning credibility, which deserves our deference. 45 The district judge also acted within his discretion in ordering plaintiffs' counsel not to conduct any further independent investigation, including questioning Walker, before a verdict was returned. See Mashpee Tribe v. New Seabury Corporation, 592 F.2d 575, 594 (1st Cir.1979). The district judge stated he was fully satisfied that there was nothing inappropriate about Sczymecki as a juror. He expressed, however, the legitimate concern that an investigation during trial by plaintiffs' counsel would create a risk that a juror might be improperly influenced. It would obviously have been improper for plaintiff's counsel to communicate directly with Sczymecki. The district judge was in a position to conclude reasonably that, given his satisfaction with Sczymecki's impartiality, it was not necessary or appropriate to incur the risk of an indirect communication during trial with Sczymecki, or another juror, by someone contacted in the investigation. Id. This exercise of discretion was particularly reasonable in view of the short length of the trial, the opportunity the appellants would have to interview Walker and others after trial, and the district judge's understandable interest in minimizing the possibility of a second mistrial provoked by plaintiffs' counsels' conduct. Accordingly, the court's order preventing until after trial further investigation of the relationship between Walker and Sczymecki was not an abuse of discretion.