Court Opinion

ID: 9486110
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 11:38:08.68943+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:51:31.950434
License: Public Domain

KEITH, Circuit Judge,
concurring.
I concur with the majority’s finding that the trial judge’s communication with the jury without contacting Harris’ counsel was harmless error without prejudice. I write separately, however, to express my pressing concern for the criminal defendant’s right to be present during all stages of the trial and to condemn the violation of this right, regardless of the absence of harm or prejudice.
The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure establish the right of defendants to be present at all stages of trial. Fed.R.Crim.P. 43(a). “[Ijnsofar as due process is concerned, th[is] statutory right is at least as far-reaching as the constitutional right.” United States v. Alessandrello, 637 F.2d 131, 138 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 461 U.S. 949, 101 S.Ct. 2031, 68 L.Ed.2d 334 (1980) citing 8B Moore’s Federal Practice ¶ 43.02(1), at 43-67 (2d ed. 1980). A trial judge severely imposes on this right by, as in this case, communicating with the jury without first contacting the defendant or his counsel. Rogers v. United States, 422 U.S. 35, 96 S.Ct. 2091, 46 L.Ed.2d 1 (1975).
Various rationales for this right aim at preventing unfair prejudice to defendants. Communication between a judge and jury without defense counsel present interferes with appellate review by preventing the parties from recording the context in which the judge’s remarks were made. Neither the parties nor the appellate court are apprised of important nuances such as the judge’s tone of voice and physical demeanor. Moreover, unconscious statements of a judge’s personal views, left unchallenged by counsel, may enhance the opportunity for miscommu-nication of the law. The judge may disturb “the delicate balance of legal principles set forth in the original instructions.” United States v. Burns, 683 F.2d 1056, 1059 (7th Cir.1982).
In the present case, these concerns are not as important because the trial judge sent jurors a typed copy of instructions previously given. Despite good intentions and the absence of prejudice, however, the communication blatantly violated the explicit right stated in Rule 43(a). Ignoring this right insults fundamental fairness, distracts from the appearance of justice and immeasurably damages public faith. A defendant’s right to be present for all aspects of the trial should not be outweighed by convenient procedure.