Court Opinion

ID: 9682298
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 08:09:08.452565+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:38.638311
License: Public Domain

BLACKMAR, Judge,
concurring.
Judge Donnelly persuades me, contrary to my initial impression, that there was no abuse of discretion in allowing the jury to deliberate for, at the most, 65 minutes after it had reported for a second time that it was unable to agree. The trial judge perhaps should treat the jury’s second report as an indication that it had complied with the directions of the hammer instruction, and should probably reassemble them in a *854reasonable time to determine whether there were any prospects for a complete or partial verdict. Judge Campbell was mindful of this responsibility and, 40 minutes after receiving the question, he announced a time limit for further deliberation to those present, but not to the jury. He had no purpose of leaving them out indefinitely. The record does not establish an impending snowstorm of such magnitude as to make further deliberations coercive. Under long established law we are not able to give any weight or consideration to the juror’s letter, written after the verdict was returned.