Opinion ID: 787816
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Use of Confidential Arrest Records

Text: 47 During voir dire, the prosecution used records of outstanding warrants and convictions of prospective jurors. Hicks's counsel raised the issue during voir dire but the prosecution responded that it had obtained these records through its investigators and Hicks could have done the same. The prosecution acknowledged that it was its practice to have investigators or police officers conduct record checks of prospective jurors, particularly in high profile cases. Based upon the information in these records, during voir dire the prosecution twice made reference to the non-felonious criminal history of prospective jurors and, after the prosecution's challenge for cause was denied, exercised a peremptory challenge to remove one juror. While Hicks concedes that it is difficult to say that the prosecution'[s] use of this information to strike certain potential jurors effected the verdict or sentence, it is clear that the inability to access the information jeopardized [his] right to a fair trial. 48 This claim fails. Convictions are public record. State v. Cook, 83 Ohio St.3d 404, 700 N.E.2d 570, 579 (1998). Although the prospective jurors' arrest records may or may not constitute confidential law enforcement investigatory records, see State ex rel. Outlet Communications, Inc. v. Lancaster Police Dep't, 38 Ohio St.3d 324, 528 N.E.2d 175, 178 (1988) (in context of O.R.C. § 149.43(A)(2)(a)), outstanding warrants are not public record. Nevertheless, any distinction is irrelevant — while Hicks makes the general allegation that he was deprived of the kind of fact-finder to which he [is] constitutionally entitled[,] Taylor v. Louisiana, 419 U.S. 522, 526, 95 S.Ct. 692, 42 L.Ed.2d 690 (1975), and references two cases from other jurisdictions indicating that the prosecution must disclose prospective jurors' arrest records to the defense, he cannot demonstrate how this prosecutorial impropriety deprived him of a fair trial. Considering the overwhelming evidence of Hicks's guilt, the fact that no evidence was presented indicating that the prosecution obtained the records in violation of either state or federal law, his failure to show that the records affected the jury's verdict or sentencing recommendation, and his own concession, the prosecution's conduct was not so egregious as to render [his] trial fundamentally unfair. Buell v. Mitchell, 274 F.3d 337, 364 (6th Cir.2001) (citations omitted); see also Weatherford v. Bursey, 429 U.S. 545, 559, 97 S.Ct. 837, 51 L.Ed.2d 30 (1977) (There is no general constitutional right to discovery in a criminal case....).