Opinion ID: 867592
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Trial issuejury selection

Text: ¶ 11 Defendant called no witnesses at trial. The only trial issue raised on appeal is whether the trial judge should have granted Defendant's motion to strike all members of the jury because of their knowledge ofand discussion aboutadverse publicity concerning Defendant's trial counsel. ¶ 12 Defendant contends that the judge abused his discretion when he denied her motion to strike the entire jury panel after it became clear the panelists had been infected by lurid publicity concerning defense counsel's public sexual conduct with a defendant she represented in a previous murder case.
¶ 13 Defendant was represented by Carmen Fischer (Fischer), who had been the subject of extensive publicity concerning her romantic and possible sexual relationship with a prior client in the high-profile bounty hunter murder case. There was widespread publicity in the media, up to and including the day before jury selection in the present case. Among other things, it was alleged both in newspapers and on television that Fischer had sexual contact with her client in a lawyer's visiting room at the Maricopa County Jail. On television, Fischer could be seen kissing her client. This publicity, however, contained no reference to Defendant or her pending case. ¶ 14 At the beginning of jury selection, the judge asked if the state and Defendant were ready, and the lawyers, including Fischer, identified themselves to the court. At this point, before the panelists were sworn and before the lawyers were formally introduced to them, several of the panelists recognized Fischer, although none mentioned it at the time. Immediately following this, the panelists were sworn and there was a recess for lunch. During this recess, there was at least one conversation about Fischer between several of the venire members. ¶ 15 After the recess, in the course of voir dire, Fischer asked whether any of the panelists had seen anything in the newspapers or on television about anyone involved in the trial. Eleven of the panelists, including those involved in the lunchtime conversation, raised their hands. There was then another recess, and these eleven plus two others who later identified themselves were questioned in chambers about the extent of their exposure to the publicity surrounding Fischer and how it might affect their impartiality in this case. Seven of the thirteen panelists indicated that what they had seen or heard of the allegations did not lead them to form a negative opinion of Defendant's attorney. Three potential jurors indicated that reports of the relationship between Defendant's attorney and one of her clients led them to form a negative opinion concerning the attorney, but they would be able to put aside their feelings and serve impartially. Three others indicated that their negative opinion of Defendant's attorney either would not, or might not, allow them to serve impartially. These three were discharged for cause by the judge. ¶ 16 After the first nine prospective jurors had been questioned in chambers, Fischer reminded the judge that none of the panelists had been ordered to refrain from discussing this matter with other panel members. One man revealed in chambers that before voir dire commenced, he had learned about the controversy over lunch from some of the other venire persons who were talking about the television broadcast of Fischer kissing her client in the other murder case. The judge then ordered the man not to discuss this topic with anyone. Fischer then moved to strike all of the panel members who had been exposed to the media coverage. The judge refused to discharge any prospective juror other than the three he had already discharged. In the course of subsequent questioning in the courtroom, another panelist said that while the remainder of the panel was waiting in the jury room during in-chambers voir dire, he had overheard other prospective jurors talking about Fischer's bad judgment. This reminded him that he had read of Fischer's sexual relationship with a prisoner and that he thought she had used very poor judgment. Fischer again moved to strike all panel members due to their continuing discussion of this topic, but the judge denied the motion.
¶ 17 Defendant alleges that the Arizona Constitution affords greater protection than the federal constitution to the right to jury trial. She submits that if article II, §§ 23 and 24 are read together, they promise an inviolate right to a trial by an impartial jury. Because inviolate is not found in the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the Arizona right is broader than the federal guarantee. She further contends that errors affecting juror impartiality cannot be shrugged off as harmless or waived and that courts should protect juror impartiality at every opportunity. ¶ 18 However, our courts have held that Arizona's right to an impartial jury is no broader than the Sixth Amendment. State v. Wiley, 144 Ariz. 525, 536, 698 P.2d 1244, 1255 (1985) (We ... will interpret defendant's right to a trial by an impartial jury, Ariz. Const. Art. § 24, as co-extensive with the sixth amendment to the United States Constitution.), overruled on other grounds by State v. Superior Court (Gardner), 157 Ariz. 541, 544, 760 P.2d 541, 544 (1988). Furthermore, when determining whether pretrial publicity resulted in a violation of a defendant's right to an impartial jury, we have consistently cited federal cases. See, e.g., State v. Jones, 197 Ariz. 290, 307 ¶ 44, 4 P.3d 345, 362 ¶ 44 (2000) (citing Nebraska Press Ass'n v. Stuart, 427 U.S. 539, 554, 96 S.Ct. 2791, 2800, 49 L.Ed.2d 683 (1976) (courts rarely presume prejudice due to outrageous pretrial publicity)); State v. Stokley, 182 Ariz. 505, 514, 898 P.2d 454, 463 (1995). The facts of this case give us no reason to read the Arizona Constitution more broadly than the federal in determining issues of pretrial publicity.
¶ 19 Defendant argues that she was denied a fair trial because the jury panel was prejudiced by explosive media coverage of trial counsel's alleged sexual conduct, buttressing her claim with copies of two newspaper articles about Fischer's alleged escapades. The trial judge's ruling on this issue is reviewable for abuse of discretion. State v. Bible, 175 Ariz. 549, 566, 858 P.2d 1152, 1169 (1993). Arizona has adopted a two-step inquiry to determine the effect of pretrial publicity: (1) did the publicity create a presumption of prejudice, or (2) has the defendant shown actual prejudice? State v. Murray, 184 Ariz. 9, 26, 906 P.2d 542, 559 (1995).
¶ 20 For prejudice to be presumed, the defendant must show that the publicity was so unfair, so prejudicial, and so pervasive that we cannot give any credibility to the jurors' answers during voir dire affirming their ability to decide the case fairly. Bible, 175 Ariz. at 565, 858 P.2d at 1168. This burden is extremely heavy and rarely met. Id. at 564, 858 P.2d at 1167 (citing Nebraska Press Ass'n, 427 U.S. at 554, 96 S.Ct. at 2800). ¶ 21 To establish a presumption of prejudice based on pretrial publicity, a defendant must establish that the publicity manipulated the jurors or otherwise distracted them from their duty to decide the case based solely on the evidence presented, making the trial little more than a mockery of justice or a mere formality. Stokley, 182 Ariz. at 513, 898 P.2d at 462 (quoting Bible, 175 Ariz. at 563, 858 P.2d at 1166; State v. Atwood, 171 Ariz. 576, 613, 832 P.2d 593, 648 (1992), disapproved on other grounds by State v. Nordstrom, 200 Ariz. 229, 241 ¶ 25, 25 P.3d 717, 729 ¶ 25 (2001)). In making this inquiry, the reviewing court examines the entire record, without regard to the panelists' avowals of impartiality. Stokley, 182 Ariz. at 513, 898 P.2d at 462; Bible, 175 Ariz. at 565, 858 P.2d at 1168. This is because we must find that the publicity was so extreme and influential that no credibility can be given to the jurors' claims of impartiality. Bible, 175 Ariz. at 565, 858 P.2d at 1168. ¶ 22 While some of the panelists appeared to be interested in Fischer's so-called notorious relationship and the attendant publicity, there is no indication that after voir dire the jurors were distracted from their duty to decide the case based solely on the evidence presented. Although thirteen of the thirty-four prospective jurors on the panel had some knowledge of Fischer's alleged behavior, the record shows only that four of the eventual twelve jurors had any knowledge of the allegations against her. This tends to refute Defendant's contention that the pretrial publicity was so widespread that it infected the entire panel. ¶ 23 Of course, a trial panel containing any prejudiced juror would violate Defendant's rights, but there is nothing in the record to suggest that because of pretrial publicity, the trial was little more than a mockery of justice so that we must disregard the jurors' averments of impartiality. Rather, the jurors heard uncontested evidence that Defendant, who was in desperate need of money, offered Dan $20,000 to kill Lynne, provided money for Dan and Scott to buy gloves, transported Dan and Scott to Lynne's apartment, and gave them a key to Lynne's door. Thus, the verdicts are strongly supported by overwhelming and undisputed evidence presented at trial. There is nothing in the record to demonstrate that any of the twelve jurors failed in their duty to serve impartially. ¶ 24 Reviewing the record as a whole, we do not conclude that the trial was utterly corrupted by publicity such that prejudice must be presumed. Id. While admittedly the publicity was uncomfortably close to the commencement of Defendant's trial, it must be remembered that it was about Defendant's counsel, not Defendant, and did not concern Defendant's case. Nothing indicates that the publicity prevented the jurors from considering only the evidence in the case before them. This case, for example, is markedly different from one of the leading cases on the subject, in which the jurors were subjected to newspaper, radio and television coverage of the trial.... They were allowed to go their separate ways outside of the courtroom, without adequate directions not to read or listen to anything concerning the case.... Moreover, the jurors were thrust into the role of celebrities by the judge's failure to insulate them from reporters and photographers. The numerous pictures of the jurors, with their addresses, which appeared in the newspapers before and during the trial itself exposed them to expressions of opinion from both cranks and friends. Sheppard v. Maxwell, 384 U.S. 333, 353, 86 S.Ct. 1507,1517, 16 L.Ed.2d 600 (1966) (citation omitted); see also Rideau v. Louisiana, 373 U.S. 723, 726-27, 83 S.Ct. 1417, 1419-20, 10 L.Ed.2d 663 (1963) (inadmissible televised confession seen by many potential jurors). These cases demonstrate the kind of publicity that makes a mockery of justice and gives rise to a presumption of prejudice. Clearly, the record in this case fails to disclose outrageous circumstances that would justify such a presumption of prejudice.
¶ 25 Even if a defendant fails to prove that prejudice should be presumed, she can still obtain relief if she can prove actual prejudice-that the jurors had preconceived notions concerning her guilt that they could not disregard. Jones, 197 Ariz. at 307 ¶ 44, 4 P.3d at 362 ¶ 44. ¶ 26 Prior knowledge alone is not sufficient to prove actual prejudice in light of the fact that the four jurors with such knowledge all said, without qualification, that they were able to keep an open mind with regard to the case at hand and to be fair and impartial toward Defendant. See State v. Eastlack, 180 Ariz. 243, 253, 883 P.2d 999, 1009 (1994) (no finding of actual prejudice, even though ten jurors had prior knowledge of case, when all jurors expressed the ability to determine guilt from evidence presented at trial); Bible, 175 Ariz. at 566, 858 P.2d at 1169 ([T]he relevant inquiry is the effect of publicity on a juror's objectivity, not the mere fact of publicity.); Atwood, 171 Ariz. at 632, 832 P.2d at 649 (no prejudice where none of the jurors gave even the slightest indication during voir dire that prior knowledge of the case would impede their ability to serve as objective jurors.). ¶ 27 To prove actual prejudice, Defendant must show that the jurors have formed preconceived notions concerning [her] guilt and that they cannot lay those notions aside. State v. Chaney, 141 Ariz. 295, 302, 686 P.2d 1265, 1272 (1984). The appropriate inquiry focuses on the effect of pretrial publicitymere knowledge of the case is insufficient to disqualify a juror. Id. As noted, moreover, the pretrial publicity was only about Defendant's counsel. The record does not show that any of the twelve jurors had any preconceived notion of Defendant's guilt. There is nothing in the answers to voir dire to indicate that any of the jurors were actually biased against Defendant. While four [2] of the twelve jurors who actually deliberated were aware of the allegations about Fischer, there is no indication that any of those four had even seen either of the newspaper articles of which Defendant complains. [3] Furthermore, only one of the four jurors had formed a negative opinion of Fischer due to the publicity, and that juror assured the judge that he had no doubt he could decide the case on its merits. ¶ 28 The three panelists who admitted they could not set aside their negative image of Fischer and therefore could not be fair were struck. Because prospective jurors were not initially instructed to refrain from discussing Fischer's sexual relationship, and at least one prospective juror learned of it through these discussions, it might well have been appropriate to have questioned and cautioned them further. However, this issue is not raised on appeal. [4] Nor does the record show whether any panelist who may have heard lunch-time or jury room gossip about Fischer's escapades actually served on the jury. Moreover, all twelve jurors indicated that they could decide the issues solely on the basis of the evidence presented at trial. ¶ 29 On balance, we conclude only that the judge did not abuse his discretion in denying the motion to strike the jury panel.
¶ 30 Judge Voss' dissent makes a strong argument. Our disagreement is narrow. The dissent argues that the trial judge should have granted the motion to strike the panel. We disagree for the reasons stated in the previous section. The dissent also argues that the judge should have granted Defendant's request for further voir dire. Dissent at ¶ 79. Had there been a motion or even such a request, we would agree. But what happened is this: the prosecutor said he was kind of thinking that maybe we ought to check the prospective jurors to see if they were going to answer yes, so we don't have to return to chambers. To these ruminations, Fischer's cocounsel said, I agree, because he had a feeling that some of the people from the original 36 may raise their hand. Thus, he thought the safe way to go was to ask the question of the entire panel. The prosecutor replied that he guessed it did not make any difference if they were going to go back into the courtroom. Reporter's Transcript, July 17, 1999, at 80-81. ¶ 31 It is impossible to find either a motion or even a request for additional voir dire in these Proustian dream sequences. While a motion would have been correct, we have no desire to be hypertechnical, and a request would have sufficed. Whatever the label, anything would have sufficed if it had raised a question on which the judge could have and should have ruled. We would then be able to say the judge was correct or erred in his ruling. But what was there to rule on here? At best, there was the prosecutor's comment that maybe they ought to have more voir dire. There was no more voir dire on this issue, [5] but the prosecutor is not the one complaining. As the dissent notes, additional voir dire would have been appropriate had Defendant moved or asked or requested the judge to undertake or allow it. If the judge had then declined, we would agree with the dissent. But Defendant did not ask and did not request a ruling, so we must disagree. ¶ 32 On appeal, Defendant is even less definitive. She complains the judge should have struck the entire jury panel or granted a mistrial because of the biased jury panel. Even setting aside the fact that the judge was never asked to grant a mistrialno motion or request was madeit is impossible to say the judge abused his discretion by failing to grant the motion to strike the entire panel or in failing to mistry the case. There is no way to know whether any of the panelists in addition to those subjected to in-chambers voir dire heard any further conversation about Fischer or, if they did, whether they sat on the jury. If they sat, we have no way of knowing what they had heard, so we would have to speculate on whether the juror or jurors were unable to set aside whatever information they might have heard and try the case fairly. Finally, when defense counsel was asked if she had made any record she intended to make, she twice stated that she had nothing further. ¶ 33 To reverse a case on the basis of such an inadequate record, we would have to speculate as to what would have been learned had counsel followed or come close to following the correct procedure and required the judge to rule. We are unwilling to speculate as a basis for reversal. Of course, any issue of ineffective assistance of counsel will abide post-conviction proceedings.