Opinion ID: 2033799
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Was defendant denied a fair trial by reason of judicial and attorney misconduct?

Text: Defendant's appeal counsel asserts there was misconduct on the part of the prosecutor, the defense attorney, and the trial judge. We are urged to review the actions of the trial attorneys and the trial judge, under the totality of the circumstances, to determine whether defendant received a fair trial. See Kellogg v. State, 288 N.W.2d 561, 563 (Iowa 1980); State v. Larmond, 244 N.W.2d 233, 235-37 (Iowa 1976). Defendant concedes neither attorney established a respectable objection record against the other. It is apparent from the in-chambers record there was a personality clash between the trial judge and defendant's trial counsel. It may have been launched during jury voir dire when the court inquired of two bearded jurors if they were related to Fidel Castro and defense counsel responded with a reference to the court as Idi Amin. A juror, evidently influenced by the banter during the jury examination, was moved to write a poem and give it to the court. Although it was not reported, the record otherwise makes apparent when defense counsel started to examine the defendant the court stopped the proceedings and read the humorous poem to the jury. In chambers, defense counsel asked the court to consider the possibility that it may disqualify itself because of the timing of the incident. After both parties had rested their cases, this episode became a ground for defendant's motion for mistrial. In the process of making a record in chambers with reference to this motion, trial court expressed its policy of chiding jurors to make them feel more at ease. The in-chambers disagreements between defense counsel and the court became more numerous after counsel apparently made disgusted facial expressions when the court asked the bailiff to make certain the shotgun brought to the courtroom was not loaded. Counsel apologized for this conduct when trial court made reference to it in chambers. These incidents have caused us grave concern, but after carefully examining the transcript we conclude no reversible error occurred. Trial court's expressed skepticism, regarding several of defendant's contentions and the authenticity of the shotgun produced, occurred in chambers, not before the jury. While we believe humorous exchanges between trial court and jurors have no place in a criminal trial, we hold the record in this case does not indicate defendant was prejudiced. Nonetheless, we repeat what we wrote in Larmond, 244 N.W.2d at 235-36: A trial judge should project that atmosphere of austerity which should especially dominate a criminal trial and which is indispensable for an appropriate sense of responsibility on the part of court, counsel and jury. Offutt v. United States, 348 U.S. 11, 17, 75 S.Ct. 11, 15, 99 L.Ed. 11, 18 (1954); see United States v. Dellinger, 472 F.2d 340, 385-391 (7 Cir. 1972), cert. denied, 410 U.S. 970, 93 S.Ct. 1443, 35 L.Ed.2d 706 (1973). We have frequently said a presiding judge must avoid any conduct by which the jury could infer bias against either party, State v. Thornburgh, 220 N.W.2d 579, 585 (Iowa 1974); State v. O'Kelly, 211 N.W.2d 589, 596 (Iowa 1973), cert. denied, 417 U.S. 936, 94 S.Ct. 2652, 41 L.Ed.2d 240 (1974); State v. Kimball, 176 N.W.2d 864, 867 (Iowa 1970), noting jurors are particularly sensitive to a judge's views, and the revelation of his feelings toward the parties, counsel and witnesses might influence the jury more than the evidence. State v. Johnson, 243 N.W.2d 598 (Iowa 1976); State v. Grady, 183 N.W.2d 707, 711 (Iowa 1971); State v. Kimball, supra. In this jurisdiction a court presiding in a jury trial cannot comment on the facts. State v. Robinson, 165 N.W.2d 802, 806 (Iowa 1969); State v. Philpot, 97 Iowa 365, 370, 66 N.W. 730, 732 (1896). A defendant has a right to a jury verdict on the issue of his guilt, uninfluenced by any intimation, direct or indirect, of the presiding judge's views. See Bierkamp v. Beuthien, 173 Iowa 436, 440, 155 N.W. 819, 820 (1916). It follows a trial court may not telegraph to a jury, by purposeful exclamations, gestures or facial expressions, his approval or disapproval, belief or disbelief, in the testimony of witnesses or arguments of counsel. See Veal v. State, 196 Tenn. 443, 446, 268 S.W.2d 345, 346 (1954); Annot., 49 A.L.R.3d 1186, 1187 (1973); 75 Am.Jur.2d, Trial § 104, pp. 202-203. We likewise have examined the performance of defendant's trial counsel, and while we do not condone all of his conduct at trial, we hold defendant was not deprived of his constitutional right to effective counsel. We note defendant was acquitted on three out of four counts, despite substantial adverse evidence. Defendant further asserts he was prejudiced by the combined effect of a ruling on a motion in limine and a ruling sustaining a prosecution objection to testimony that would have disclosed he possessed the shotgun for protection from his wife's alleged boyfriend, not to threaten her. His motive may have been relevant to the terrorism counts, on which he was acquitted, but would have no bearing on the section 724.26 violation. We find no error requiring a reversal of defendant's conviction.