Opinion ID: 574322
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: alleged bias of a juror

Text: 47 Levine contends that he has been denied the right to a fair trial because the District Court failed to accord the defendant a hearing based on the defendant's claims of juror bias. This Court has held that, 48 [s]ince the trial judge is in the best position to determine the nature and extent of alleged jury misconduct, his decision on the scope of proceedings necessary to discover misconduct is reviewed only for an abuse of discretion. 49 United States v. Shackleford, 777 F.2d 1141, 1145 (6th Cir.1985), cert. denied, 476 U.S. 1119, 106 S.Ct. 1981, 90 L.Ed.2d 663 (1986). The Supreme Court, in Remmer v. United States, 347 U.S. 227, 230, 74 S.Ct. 450, 451, 98 L.Ed. 654 (1954), required a hearing in cases of jury bias to determine the circumstances, the impact thereof upon the juror, and whether or not it was prejudicial, in a hearing with all interested parties permitted to participate. 3 50 During the course of this trial, Juror Olenik approached Judge White with concerns related to Levine's drawing pictures of the jurors during the trial. She advised the judge that some of the other jurors were also uncomfortable. When questioned, several of the jurors admitted being anxious over the drawings and their appropriateness. The judge assured the jurors that drawings by the defendants were permitted. He also told Juror Olenik that the drawings did not resemble any of the jurors. The judge asked each juror whether the incident would have any impact on their ability to remain fair and impartial. All the jurors responded negatively. Although the judge asked the jurors the questions originally requested by defense counsel, he denied defense requests for additional questioning. He did not allow the defense attorneys to ask any questions directly to the jury. 51 This Court has articulated four points to be considered when determining jury impartiality. United States v. Zelinka, 862 F.2d 92 (6th Cir.1988). First, a hearing must be held. Second, the defendant bears the burden of proving bias. Third, no presumption of prejudice arises from the contact. And finally, fourth, juror testimony at the hearing to determine juror bias is not inherently suspect. Although no case since Remmer has addressed the right of the defense to question jurors, such questioning would normally be important to the defense in its effort to prove bias. However, when the questioning of the jurors occurs during the trial it is preferable it be done by the judge. Jurors may resent being questioned directly by counsel. 52 Even if direct questioning of the jurors by the defense is required by Remmer, the absence of such questioning in this case is harmless error. Each juror was asked separately what had occurred and its impact on them. The juror who approached the court about the issue appeared mainly concerned with whether the defendant's drawings were permissible. The court adequately assured the jurors that Levine had done nothing improper. The judge was justified in taking at face value the jurors' assurances of impartiality. This Court finds that any deficiencies in the juror bias hearing were harmless error and the defendant was not entitled to a mistrial.