Opinion ID: 2538155
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Alleged misconductmotion for new trial

Text: Meyer alleges that two instances of juror misconduct properly evidenced by the juror affidavits denied him a fair trial: (1) the juror's statement during deliberations that the small bumps on the victim's head could have been caused by hair pulling; and (2) the second juror's independent research on the side effects of Accutane, and her report of the same to the other jurors. [37] As to the hair-pulling incident, the district court found the juror's actions were not misconduct because she used her everyday experience as a nurse, not extrinsic information, to evaluate Catrina's testimony. We agree. In reaching their verdict, jurors are confined to the facts and evidence regularly elicited in the course of the trial proceedings. [38] A juror is prohibited from declaring to his fellow jurors any fact relating to the case as of his own knowledge. [39] However, jurors may rely on their common sense and experience. [40] If a juror has personal knowledge of the parties or of the issues involved in the trial that might affect the verdict, the communication of that knowledge to other jurors is considered extrinsic evidence and a form of misconduct. [41] Likewise, if a juror considers and communicates a past personal experience that introduces totally new information about a fact not found in the record or the evidence, this would constitute extrinsic evidence and improper conduct. [42] Personal experiences are to be used only to interpret the exhibits and testimony, not as independent evidence. [43] Here, the juror's statements are not the product of everyday common experience, that is, an observation based on matters generally experienced by people in their everyday lives. Her statements are more akin to a form of expert opinion. Analysis of the evidence by a juror with professional expertise does not fall squarely within the prohibitions against considering facts or evidence not in the record. Courts that have considered this issue are split on whether quasi-expert opinion statements by a juror constitute misconduct. In People v. Maragh, [44] the New York Court of Appeals held that the defendant was entitled to a new trial where a nurse expressed her expert opinion on a material issue in the case, and that opinion was distinct from and in addition to the medical evidence introduced at trial. The court noted that recent jury reform measures were designed to eliminate exemptions for professionals and broaden the jury pool. Thus, it was expected that such individuals would bring a certain amount of their professional experience to the deliberative process. [45] Nevertheless, the court held that substituting a juror's professional opinion for that of the experts who testified at trial violates the right of a litigant to have the case decided only upon the evidence adduced at trial. [46] The New York court did note, however, that jurors who are professionals could still use their expertise in arriving at their own decisions regarding credibility or their vote on a verdict. [47] Finally, the court suggested that trial courts modify their standard preliminary instructions so that jurors who are professionals would be advised that they could not use their professional expertise to supplement the record on material issues. [48] In contrast, the Supreme Court of New Mexico, in State v. Mann , [49] has held that jurors can rely on their professional experience and educational experiences when deliberating, and that the communication of their opinions based upon those experiences does not constitute extrinsic evidence. The New Mexico court expressed concern at trying to distinguish between a juror's opinions and experiences as improper extraneous information and permissible deliberation based on life experiences. [50] The court further noted that any problems related to this issue could be addressed on voir dire. Prospective jurors who expressed that their education or professional background would affect their ability to be unbiased could be removed for cause. Otherwise, such jurors would still be subject to strategic removal through the peremptory challenge process. [51] California has taken an approach that seems to be a middle ground between the Maragh and Mann cases. In the case of In re Malone, the California Supreme Court stated that: It is not improper for a juror, regardless of his or her educational or employment background, to express an opinion on a technical subject, so long as the opinion is based on the evidence at trial. Jurors' views of the evidence, moreover, are necessarily informed by their life experiences, including their education and professional work. [52] The California High Court stressed, however, that an opinion could not be based on specialized information not admitted into evidence. If the juror introduced information from an outside source, rather than relying on the evidence or testimony elicited during trial, this would constitute misconduct. [53] Having considered the views expressed by these and other courts, [54] we adopt the approach taken by the New Mexico Supreme Court in Mann. A juror who has specialized knowledge or expertise may convey their opinion based upon such knowledge to fellow jurors. The opinion, even if based upon information not admitted into evidence, is not extrinsic evidence and does not constitute juror misconduct. However, a juror is still prohibited from relating specific information from an outside source, such as quoting from a treatise, textbook, research results, etc. During voir dire, prospective jurors may be questioned regarding any knowledge or expertise they may have on an issue to be tried and, based upon their responses, may be the subject of peremptory or for cause challenges. Jurors who fail to disclose information or give false information during voir dire commit juror misconduct, which, if discovered after the verdict, may be grounds for a new trial under the standards established for juror misconduct during voir dire as opposed to misconduct that occurs during deliberations. Turning now to the issue of the nurse's statements regarding hair pulling in this case, we conclude that the juror's statements did not constitute the imposition of specialized knowledge from an outside source. The juror did not refer to any texts, treatises, or other facts in conveying her observations about the source of the scalp bumps. She analyzed the evidence presented in court regarding Catrina's injuries, domestic violence, and Meyer's proffered explanations for the injuries and concluded, based on her professional experience, that such bumps were caused by violence, possibly hair pulling. This is a permissible inference based upon her experience and the evidence. Accordingly, we conclude that the juror did not bring extrinsic evidence into the jury deliberations. Thus, the district court did not abuse its discretion in finding that the juror's actions were not misconduct. We now address the second instance of alleged misconduct, the independent research, and the introduction of that research to the jury, on the effects of Accutane. A juror told fellow jurors during deliberations that she worked in a dermatologist's office and that Accutane only causes easy bruising in one percent of users. According to the affidavit, she consulted the Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) on the side effects of Accutane during trial and then discussed it with other jurors at the beginning of deliberations. The district court found that this juror's actions constituted juror misconduct because this was the introduction of extrinsic evidence. [55] We agree. Jurors are prohibited from conducting an independent investigation and informing other jurors of the results of that investigation. [56] Here, the juror admitted in her affidavit that she consulted the PDR during trial and then reported her findings to fellow jurors during deliberations. Even if she had simply relied on her own memory, this would be outside information beyond the scope of the evidence. This clearly amounted to an extraneous influence upon the jury, and the district court correctly concluded that the second juror's actions constituted misconduct. Having concluded that the PDR incident introduced impermissible extrinsic evidence and constituted independent research, we also conclude that Meyer has established that misconduct occurred. We now consider whether Meyer established prejudice. To demonstrate prejudice, Meyer must prove that there is a reasonable probability that the PDR reference affected the jury's verdict. Because the misconduct involves extrinsic evidence, the Confrontation Clause is implicated and de novo review of the district court's findings relating to prejudice is appropriate. [57] Applying some of the factors cited above, we note that the misconduct involved both extrinsic information as well as intrinsic communications (disregard of jury instruction prohibiting independent research). The jury's exposure to the information was brief and it occurred at the beginning of the deliberations. We do not know the length of time it was discussed. However, the side effects of Accutane was a material issue in the case, and the information tended to undermine Meyer's theory that the victim's physical marks were caused by a reaction to medication or falling. Considering all of the circumstances, we conclude that the average, hypothetical juror could have been affected by this extraneous information, and there is a reasonable probability that the PDR information affected the verdict. Thus, Meyer met his burden of establishing prejudice. Accordingly, we conclude that the district court erred in denying the motion for a new trial. We therefore reverse the judgment of conviction and remand this matter for a new trial. ROSE, J., with whom LEAVITT, J., agrees, concurring. I generally agree with the court's method in determining claims of juror misconduct. However, I would prefer to adopt the California approach when dealing with a juror who has specialized knowledge or training, and I believe that the court should have considered the juror affidavits of improper discussions concerning the possible sentence Meyer might receive. The jurors improperly discussed the sentence Meyer would receive if convicted of sexual assault. I do not agree with the court's prohibition on scrutinizing intra-jury or intrinsic misconduct when it concerns jurors applying an improper legal standard or jurors considering evidence or facts they were instructed not to consider. Instead, I would apply the same standard in reviewing instances of this type of intrinsic misconduct as we do with extrinsic misconduct. Jurors are specifically instructed to disregard the sentence to be assessed for any verdict returned, as it is solely the province of the court to assess such punishment. [1] The affidavit of one juror stated that she was the last holdout juror and that another juror advised her not to worry about convicting Meyer because the punishment for sexual assault was only a couple of years. This information, which was apparently accepted as true, was patently false. Sexual assault is a non-probationable offense that carries a sentence of ten years to life, with a mandatory minimum of ten years in the state penitentiary. [2] Upon receiving this information, the holdout juror changed her mind, resulting in a guilty verdict of sexual assault. I consider this misinformation on the law, given in violation of the jury instructions, to be every bit as harmful as consulting a reference book about the effects of a medication. Thus, I conclude that the penalty discussion constituted intra-jury misconduct that also could justify a new trial. [3] In prohibiting a district court from considering any intra-jury misconduct presented in a juror affidavit, the court logically concludes that intra-jury misconduct will rarely justify a new trial. Certainly, the district court will not be aware of many instances of jury misconduct if it is unable to consider the jurors' statements or discussions in the jury room. As in this case, the court holds that information about sentencing was improperly contained in a juror's affidavit. But what if the jurors all acknowledge that they returned a first-degree murder conviction primarily because they believed the mandatory sentence was five years instead of twenty years; or if the jurors admitted that they considered beyond a reasonable doubt to be the same as a preponderance of the evidence, and returned a conviction on that faulty basis. There are some instances of intrinsic juror misconduct that should be considered in a juror's affidavit even without extrinsic influences being involved, but the rule that the court adopts prevents the consideration of this type of misconduct, even though it can be every bit as harmful as extrinsic misconduct, and effectively denies a defendant a fair trial. I would not limit this court's ability to review juror misconduct simply because it involves only intra-jury activity. I concur in the reversal of Meyer's conviction, with only the reservations as expressed. LEAVITT, J., concur. MAUPIN, J., concurring. I agree that the juror affidavits concerning outside juror research from the Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) and discussion of the research with the juror's colleagues established a reasonable probability that the research materials affected the verdict, thus mandating reversal for a new trial. I write separately to note that our embrace of the New Mexico approach to claims of juror misconduct based upon consideration of extrinsic evidence will substantially and beneficially reduce the scope of posttrial attacks upon jury verdicts. The New Mexico approach, set forth in State v. Mann , [1] allows jurors to consider their specialized knowledge and to communicate views based upon that knowledge. This approach holds that the communication of such views does not constitute the transmission of extrinsic evidence, but does prohibit reliance upon or discussion of information from outside sources such as treatises, textbooks or research not in evidence. Thus, the New Mexico method will eliminate the vast majority of post-verdict relitigation of cases based upon claims of misconduct through reliance on extrinsic evidence where, as here, a juror is possessed of specialized knowledge that may bear on an issue in the case. Also, the New Mexico approach implicitly acknowledges the policy that parties that leave such jurors in place during jury selection take their chances with the use of the specialized knowledge. However, I remain of the view that a doctor, lawyer, engineer or any other person with particularized special knowledge that is relevant to the case is subject to a challenge for cause. I therefore agree that the specialized knowledge concerning Accutane imparted to the jury does not require reversal. However, I conclude with the majority the PDR research constituted extrinsic research prohibited under the New Mexico approach. Accordingly, in my view, the use of the PDR research by the jury mandates reversal in this very close case of guilt or innocence. [2] BECKER, J., with whom SHEARING, J., and YOUNG, Sr. J., agree, concurring in part and dissenting in part. I concur in the court's adoption of the reasonable probability test for determining when juror misconduct warrants a new trial. I also concur in the court's adoption of the New Mexico standard concluding that expert or quasi-expert opinions given by a juror during deliberations are not misconduct. I dissent, however, from the court's conclusions that Meyer established a reasonable probability that the introduction of the PDR materials regarding Accutane affected the jury's verdict and that a new trial is warranted. In my opinion, the court places too much emphasis on the inclusion of the PDR materials in the deliberation. While it did tend to undermine Meyer's theory that Catrina's bruises or bumps could have been side effects of Accutane use, other admissible evidence already cast doubts on this contention. The PDR reference was, in part, cumulative of other evidence at trial; namely, experts indicated Accutane was not responsible for the bruises visible on Catrina's body when the police arrived and/or when the sexual assault evaluation was performed. The jury carefully considered the evidence as demonstrated by the questions to the district court on at least two occasions during deliberations and its ultimate decision to convict Meyer of sexual assault and acquit him of kidnapping. The fractured verdict suggests that the jury carefully delineated between the offenses and undertook its duties with care and diligence. [1] The fractured verdict does not, as suggested by Meyer, indicate the jurors had reservations about the prosecution's case as a whole; there was substantially less evidence to support the kidnapping charge than the sexual assault charge. Thus, even if the jury accepted all of the State's evidence regarding kidnapping, the jury could still conclude that the State had not met its burden of proving kidnapping beyond a reasonable doubt. The same cannot be said of the sexual assault charge. The evidence of Meyer's guilt as to sexual assault was substantial. In particular, Catrina's boyfriend testified that Meyer called him and told him that he was digitally penetrating Catrina's anus as it occurred. The boyfriend could hear Catrina pleading for Meyer to stop. A police officer testified that Catrina told him shortly after the alleged incident that Meyer had digitally penetrated her anus without her consent. Additionally, the officer testified to seeing Catrina's emotional state and various bruises on her person. Although Meyer testified that the incident was consensual, and his expert characterized Catrina's recantation as consistent with an alcohol blackout, a sexual assault nurse testified that Catrina's anal injuries were consistent with sexual assault. Additionally, the State offered an explanation via expert testimony on Battered Woman Syndrome for Catrina's recantation of her initial allegation of sexual assault. In addition, while Meyer attempted to attribute some of Catrina's bruises to the side effects of Accutane, he conceded that many of her injuries could not be explained by the medication. As to these other injuries, Meyer's experts testified that falls, acne, or minor blunt force trauma could have caused the injuries. Thus, the importance of the PDR reference diminishes when compared to the other significant injuries Catrina sustained. Finally, none of Meyer's experts attributed Catrina's bruising to Accutane. The only evidence admitted to support this theory was Catrina's statements. In contrast, the State produced expert testimony indicating that the bruising was not caused by minor injuries or side effects of Accutane. Moreover, the jury's finding of guilt suggests that it rejected Meyer's expert testimony on all of the issues, not just the side effects of Accutane. In light of the totality of the State's evidence that the jury must have accepted as true to sustain a verdict of guilty, and the relatively minor role the bruises played in comparison to Catrina's other injuries, I conclude Meyer did not demonstrate that there was a reasonable probability that the misconduct contributed to the verdict, and the district court did not err in denying the motion for a new trial. I would affirm the conviction. SHEARING, J., and YOUNG, Sr. J., concur.