Court Opinion

ID: 9850396
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 04:56:29.638441+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:20:36.265155
License: Public Domain

WILLIAM A. BABLITCH, J.
(dissenting). Two policemen from the City of Milwaukee Police Department were potential jurors in a criminal case. One of their colleagues from the same police department sat at counsel table with the prosecutor, was the functional equivalent of an assistant prosecutor in the eyes of anyone watching, and was also going to be a witness on behalf of the State of Wisconsin in attempting to prove the criminal charges against the defendant.
The majority concludes that the circuit court was correct in not striking the two police officers. I disagree and accordingly dissent.
I have no doubt that these police officers were sincere in their assertions that they could be impartial. That is not the point. It is the appearance of partiality that gives great pause. Jurors must not only be fair and impartial; they must also not have a relationship to either side which leaves doubt about their impartiality. Crawford v. United States, 212 U.S. 183 (1909).
Police officers are not, and should not be, neutral in their pursuit of criminal activity. Solving crimes, as has often been pointed out, is a very competitive enterprise. We insist that neutral and detached magistrates issue search and arrest warrants, not police officers. Police officers are intricately involved in nearly every aspect of a criminal prosecution. Prosecutors could not do their job without them. They are partners in prosecution.
*487Thus, no matter how completely impartial in fact police officers may be, they should not be allowed to sit on criminal juries. The appearances are simply not right.
It is unnecessary to put the police in this position. It is unnecessary to create any impression of unfairness.
Ask any member of the public: you are the defendant in a criminal action. You were arrested by the police, booked by the police, questioned by the police, and a policeman will testify against you. The jury may have to weigh your testimony against that of the testifying police officer. Should police officers be allowed to sit on the jury that will determine your guilt or innocence? The answer would be overwhelming.
I conclude that the defendant was denied his rights under the Sixth and Fourteenth amendments to the United States Constitution and art. I, secs. 7 and 8 of the Wisconsin Constitution. I therefore dissent.
I am authorized to state that Chief Justice Nathan S. Heffernan joins in this dissent.