Opinion ID: 697383
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Jury Request for Testimony Transcripts to be Read Back

Text: 84 Hernandez argues the district court abused its discretion in denying the jury's request to read back portions of the transcripts--which would have shown Hernandez was absent from a meeting where the final cocaine pick-up was planned--and in instructing the jury to rely upon its own collective recollection. We disagree. 85 During deliberations, the jury posed the following question: 86 Your Honor: We would like to know if we have access to the transcripts to verify certain testimony; if not, can we verify who was identified by the witnesses as being present at the evening of May 19th, 1989, at [a certain restaurant]? 87 (R. 14:1784). If read back, the testimony would have shown Hernandez and the fifth defendant were not at the meeting, Albelo and Riverol were at the meeting, and Delgado came to the restaurant parking lot but never entered the restaurant. 88 The district court invited counsel to suggest a response to the jury's query. Id. Initially, counsel for the government, Albelo, and Riverol suggested instructing the jury to rely on their own collective memories. Counsel for Hernandez, Delgado, and the fifth defendant wanted the testimony read back. (R. 12:1784-85). Because the lawyers could not agree on whether the testimony should be read back, the judge urged them to stipulate to a list of who was present at the meeting in question. Eventually, the government, Hernandez, and the fifth defendant were willing to stipulate; Delgado, Albelo, and Riverol refused. (R. 12:1794-1800). In addition, Delgado, Albelo, and Riverol opposed any stipulation as to who was absent from the meeting because it would necessarily imply the remaining defendants were present. Id. Finally, after much discussion between the lawyers and the court, the judge instructed the jury to rely on its collective memory. Id. 89 The district judge has broad discretion when responding to a jury request that evidence be reread. United States v. Alfonso, 552 F.2d 605, 619 (5th Cir.1977). Here, he was faced with two defendants who might benefit from the rereading or a stipulation, and three defendants who, according to their lawyers's own arguments, probably would be harmed by any rereading or stipulation. The judge did his best to reconcile their positions and craft a compromise to no avail. This is one of those cases where the trial court, having given the matter proper consideration, could have been right on either course of action. United States v. Quesada-Rosadal, 685 F.2d 1281, 1283 (11th Cir.1982) (finding no abuse of discretion in refusing to read back testimony and instead instructing the jury to rely on their own recollection). Accordingly, we find the district court did not abuse its discretion in this matter.