Court Opinion

ID: 4092872
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-26 15:07:47.845404+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:08.425170
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

                                   No. 15-1829
                             Filed October 26, 2016

STATE OF IOWA,
     Plaintiff-Appellee,

vs.

TYRONE R. WASHINGTON, JR.,
     Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________

      Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Worth County, Colleen D. Weiland,

Judge.

      The defendant appeals from his conviction for first-degree murder.

AFFIRMED.

      Mark C. Smith, State Appellate Defender, and Patricia A. Reynolds,

Assistant Appellate Defender, for appellant.

      Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Louis S. Sloven, Assistant

Attorney General, for appellee.

      Heard by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Potterfield and Bower, JJ.
                                           2

POTTERFIELD, Judge.

       Tyrone Washington Jr. appeals from his conviction for first-degree murder.

Washington maintains there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction

for murder in the first degree,1 and he claims the district court abused its

discretion in denying his weight-of-the-evidence challenge. He also claims trial

counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the admission of prior-bad-acts

evidence and for failing to introduce evidence of a text message sent to him by

the decedent. Last, he challenges the district court’s denial of his motion to strike

the second jury panel.

I. Background Facts and Proceedings.

       On August 19, 2013, Washington was charged by trial information with

murder in the first degree in the death of Justina Smith. Washington entered a

plea of not guilty and gave notice he would claim self-defense.

       The trial was initially set to begin on May 12, 2015.

       On May 5, 2015, Washington filed a motion to strike the jury panel,

arguing there was “a material departure from the statutory requirements” and “a

violation of the defendant’s rights under the 6th and 14th Amendments of the

Constitution.” In his motion, Washington noted that of the 137 potential jurors

who had returned responses, zero had indicated they were African-American.

Washington urged that the underrepresentation was “systemic and resulting in

prejudice to the defendant’s right to a jury made up of a ‘fair cross-section’ of the

community.”

1
  Alternatively, Washington argues that there was insufficient evidence to support any of
the lesser-included offenses except voluntary manslaughter.
                                        3

         A hearing was held on Washington’s motion. At the hearing, the clerk of

court and other employees from the clerk’s office testified about the process used

to empanel a jury, which started with groups of names of possible jurors from the

county from the master list of names compiled by court administration in Des

Moines. One of the employees testified that she and her coworkers were the

people who excused jurors. When she was asked if the requests to be excused

were “brought in front of a judge for them to decide on the deferral or the

excuse,” she stated, “No.” She later clarified that some are brought in front of a

judge.

         On May 14, the court granted Washington’s motion and discharged the

panel. In its order, the court noted that of the 117 questionnaires submitted and

the ninety-five panel members checked in, “there was no person of African-

American, black, mixed racial, or other non-white origin” except one person who

identified themselves as white and Native American. The court went on to state,

“From a population that is approximately 4% African-American and 10% non-

white [overall], that result could arise from standard deviation. But the sample

pools previously presented by the defendant show that underrepresentation is

consistent.”    Although the court did not find an action or inaction meant to

exclude racial minorities, the court found there was “sufficient departure from

statutory requirements and sufficient resulting prejudice to find the departure to

be material.”

         A second jury panel was summoned on July 7, and Washington again

moved to strike the panel. The court denied the motion, finding that of the 224

people that responded to the jury questionnaire, four had identified themselves
                                           4

as African-American—1.8% of the possible panel members. The court noted the

changed practices of the county’s clerk of court since the first jury was

empaneled, including “increased follow up at the undeliverable and non-

responded stages of the jury process” and allowing excuses only at “specific

judicial direction or by a judge.” The court found that the material departures

from the statute had been sufficiently cured, and although African-Americans

were underrepresented, Washington had not proved that it was the result of

systematic exclusion.

       Washington’s jury trial began the same day. At the trial, Deputy Dennis

Paulsen testified without objection that he first had contact with Smith and

Washington in his capacity as a police officer on July 6, 2013, when he was

called to Smith’s apartment for a “domestic in progress.”           When he arrived,

Washington told him that they had been fighting and both parties had shoved

each other, but that the incident was being blown out of proportion.              When

Deputy Paulsen spoke with Smith, she told him Washington had choked her and

slammed her down on the bed. The officer testified that he saw finger marks

around Smith’s neck and a bump or a bruise on the side of her head that he

believed corroborated her version of the events.2 Washington was arrested for

domestic abuse assault, and a no-contact order was entered preventing Smith

and Washington from having contact with each other.

2
  Photographs of Smith were taken and were admitted as exhibits at trial; Paulsen
testified that he did not believe they showed the marks as clearly as he had been able to
see them in person on July 6.
                                           5

       Officers again were dispatched to Smith’s apartment3 on August 1 after

receiving an anonymous call that someone had broken in. When officers arrived,

they found Washington hiding in an upstairs bedroom closet. He told the officers

that he had used his key to enter—a key which was found on his person and

later returned to him—and that he was meeting Smith at her request. Because

the no-contact order was still in place,4 the officers again arrested Washington.

       Tyrone Jones was with Smith on the morning of August 5, 2013.

According to Jones, Smith told him they needed to go to the park to meet

Washington so she could get her house key and some money that he owed her

for bills. Once they got to the park, Jones stayed in Smith’s car while she got out

to speak to Washington. Jones testified he did not see Smith with a knife when

she got out of the vehicle and he “did not know her to have [one].” Jones sat in

the car for a few minutes before he wondered what was taking so long and

looked back to see Smith and Washington. He saw what looked like Washington

swinging at Smith and then got out to help Smith. Once he was outside of the

car approaching the two, he saw that Washington had a knife in his hand. Jones

stated he yelled at Washington, and Washington then made a slicing motion at

Jones before running and getting in Smith’s car. Once Washington was in the

car, he drove towards Jones and Smith, in what Jones characterized as an

attempt to run them over. Smith had fallen to the ground by this time, and

Washington stopped the car, got out, and started kicking Smith. At this point,

3
  Washington testified that he was placed on Smith’s lease, so it was also his apartment.
4
  There was testimony that Smith dropped the no-contact order at some point and then
later had it reinstated. It is unclear on what dates those events occurred, but Deputy
Paulsen testified that the officers verified it was in place on August 1 before arresting
Washington.
                                          6

Jones called 911, and Washington again got in the car and then drove away.

Smith had called 911 two minutes earlier shouting, “Help me! Help me!

[unintelligible] at the park!”    Jones attempted to help Smith until medical

personnel arrived; he testified Smith was wheezing and unable to speak.5

       Washington led officers on a high-speed chase before they were

ultimately able to stop the vehicle and take him into custody. Photographs were

taken of Washington at the time he was taken into custody, showing he had

some blood on his clothing, but his clothes were not cut or stretched. Once he

was taken to the jail, more photographs were taken of his bare hands and chest,

showing that he had no injuries to his person, except one nick on his hand that

may have been a scar. These photographs were admitted into evidence and

shown to the jury.

       A DNA analyst from the department of criminal investigations testified that

of all the blood spots tested on Washington’s clothing and the knife, which was

recovered from the scene, only Smith’s blood was found.

       The medical examiner who performed the autopsy testified Smith had

sustained twelve “sharp force” injuries involving her head, chest, abdomen, upper

arms, lower legs, and both hands. Only two of the wounds were stab wounds 6;

one in the upper chest that went into her heart and lungs, and one in her upper

abdomen that went into her liver. Each of the two stabs wounds was potentially

fatal. Additionally, Smith had sustained blunt force injuries to her face and head,

and her nose was broken. The medical examiner described a cut on one of

5
  Smith was later pronounced dead at the local hospital.
6
  According to the medical examiner, a stab wound is a wound that is deeper than it is
long, while an incised wound is the opposite.
                                         7

Smith’s hands as consistent with a defensive wound.         He testified the other

wounds may have also been defensive but they were not “classic.”

      Washington testified in his own defense; he stated that he went to the park

to meet Smith at her request. When he got there, he told Smith he no longer

wanted to be in a relationship with her and asked her for money she owed him.

According to Washington, Smith then charged him with a knife that she had in

the front pocket of the sweatshirt she was wearing. At some point, Washington

was able to get the knife from Smith’s hand, but she continued to charge at him,

so he kept swinging the knife at her. Washington stated Jones then got out of

the car and held him around the midsection, leaving Washington “sandwiched” in

a two-on-one fight. During this ongoing struggle, Washington fell on top of Smith

and she was stabbed as a result. Washington left in Smith’s car because he

panicked; he stated, “I felt at the time they weren’t going to believe me because

they didn’t believe me before the incident that transpired with me and [Smith].”

Washington denied kicking Smith in the head and said he did not know how her

nose was broken. Washington did not call 911 for help.

      The jury convicted of Washington of murder in the first degree. He was

sentenced to life in prison without the opportunity for parole. He appeals.

II. Standards of Review.

      We review challenges to sufficiency of the evidence for correction of errors

at law. State v. Williams, 695 N.W.2d 23, 27 (Iowa 2005).

      We review a weight-of-the-evidence challenge for an abuse of discretion

by the trial court. State v. Reeves, 670 N.W.2d 199, 203 (Iowa 2003). We do not
                                          8

decide anew the underlying question of whether the verdict is against the weight

of the evidence. Id.

       We review claims of ineffective assistance de novo. State v. Straw, 709
N.W.2d 128, 133 (Iowa 2006).

       Insofar as Washington’s challenge to the jury panel is constitutional, we

review de novo. See State v. Chidester, 570 N.W.2d 78, 80 (Iowa 1997). The

alleged statutory violation is reviewed for correction of errors at law. Id.

III. Discussion.

       A. Sufficiency of the Evidence.

       To sustain a conviction for murder in the first degree, the State had the

burden to prove each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. See

State v. Armstrong, 787 N.W.2d 472, 475 (Iowa Ct. App. 2010). In considering

the sufficiency of the evidence, we review the evidence in the light most

favorable to the State. State v. Sanford, 814 N.W.2d 611, 615 (Iowa 2012). In

doing so, we make all reasonable inferences that may be fairly drawn from the

evidence. Id.

       The jury was instructed Washington was guilty of murder in the first

degree if it found the following:

              1. On or about August 5, 2013, the defendant stabbed
       Justina Smith.
              2. Justina Smith died as a result of being stabbed.
              3. The defendant stabbed Justina Smith with malice
       aforethought.
              4. The defendant stabbed Justina Smith willfully,
       deliberately, premeditatedly and with a specific intent to kill Justina
       Smith.
              5. The defendant was not justified.
                                        9

Washington maintains the State did not meet its burden to prove he acted with

premeditation and malice aforethought.      Additionally, he maintains there was

insufficient evidence to overcome his defense of justification. We consider each

in turn.

       1. Premeditation: As the jury was instructed, premeditation is “to think or

ponder upon a matter before acting.” See State v. Buenaventura, 660 N.W.2d
38, 48 (Iowa 2003). “The law does not require any minimum amount of time to

premeditate and a few minutes are certainly adequate.” Id. at 49. Premeditation

may be shown through evidence of any of the following: (1) activity by the

defendant to plan the killing, (2) motive based on the relationship between the

defendant and the victim, and (3) the nature of the killing, including use of a

deadly weapon combined with an opportunity to deliberate. Id. at 48.

       Sufficient evidence was presented for a rational factfinder to determine

Washington premeditated the killing. Although Washington denied bringing the

knife with him to meet Smith, the jury may have believed otherwise. See State v.

Nitcher, 720 N.W.2d 547, 556 (Iowa 2006) (“Inherent in our standard of review of

jury verdicts in criminal cases is the recognition that the jury was free to reject

certain evidence, and credit other evidence.” (citation omitted)). Jones testified

he did not see Smith with a knife and he did not know her to have one. See

State v. Hamilton, 309 N.W.2d 471, 480 (Iowa 1981) (finding substantial

evidence supported the jury’s first-degree-murder conviction where the defendant

brought the murder weapon with him to the victim’s residence). Additionally, the

State presented evidence that Washington had recently choked Smith and

slammed her onto a bed, so there was a history of violence between the parties.
                                        10

See State v. Taylor, 689 N.W.2d 116, 126 (Iowa 2004) (“[T]he defendant’s prior

conduct directed to the victim of a crime, whether loving or violent, reveals the

emotional relationship between the defendant and the victim and is highly

probative of the defendant’s probable motivation and intent in subsequent

situations.”).

       Whether the jury believed Washington went to the park with the intention

to murder Smith or formed the intent during their discussion in the park, sufficient

evidence supports the finding of premeditation.

       2. Malice Aforethought: Malice aforethought is a fixed purpose or design

to do some physical harm to another existing prior to the act complained of.

State v. Serrato, 787 N.W.2d 462, 469 (Iowa 2010) (citation omitted). “Our first-

degree murder cases have long held that the use of a deadly weapon supports

an inference of malice . . . .” State v. Reeves, 636 N.W.2d 22, 25 (Iowa 2001).

“Because it is a state of mind, malice aforethought often evades direct evidence.”

Serrato, 787 N.W.2d at 469.        “Proof of . . . malice aforethought may be

accomplished by inferences made from the acts and conduct of the defendant

and the means used in doing the wrongful and injurious acts.”              State v.

Wedebrand, 602 N.W.2d 186, 189 (Iowa Ct. App. 1999).              Considering the

number of sharp-force injuries sustained by Smith and the two stab wounds, both

of which may have been fatal, the jury could have reasonably concluded

Washington acted with malice aforethought. Additionally, Jones’s testimony that

Washington left the vehicle to return to Smith and kick her while she was on the

ground after the altercation supports the conclusion that Washington acted with a

“fixed purpose” to harm Smith.
                                        11

      3. Self-Defense: Because Washington raised the issue of self-defense,

the State had the burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that his actions

were not justified. See State v. Toby Richards, 879 N.W.2d 140, 148 (Iowa

2016). In order to do so, the State could prove any of the following:

              1. The defendant initiated or continued the incident resulting
      in injury; or
              2. The defendant did not believe he was in imminent danger
      of death or injury and that the use of force was not necessary to
      save him; or
              3. The defendant had no reasonable grounds for such belief;
      or
              4. The force used was unreasonable.

Id. At a minimum, there was sufficient evidence to support a conclusion that the

force used by Washington was unreasonable. Even if he did not bring the knife

with him and Smith initiated the attack, Washington was able to disarm her

before he sustained any injuries.     Rather than disengaging or throwing the

weapon aside, Washington inflicted twelve sharp-force injuries that ranged from

Smith’s head, chest, abdomen, upper arms, lower legs, and hands. He testified

that Smith continued to come at him even after he disarmed her, but the jury was

able to see the state of Washington’s clothes at the time of his arrest, and they

did not appear to be cut or stretched—leading to the conclusion that Smith was

never able to get her hands on his person. Moreover, according to the medical

examiner, at least one of the wounds on Smith was a classic defensive injury.

Although Washington denied causing or knowing what caused the blunt force

injuries to Smith’s nose and head, the jury was free to believe Washington

continued to engage and kick Smith while she was on the ground, unable to

stand—as Jones testified.
                                          12

       B. Weight of the Evidence.

       Washington challenges the weight of the evidence, maintaining the district

court abused its discretion in denying Washington’s motion for new trial.

Washington maintains some evidence shows “crucial State witnesses were not

credible.” He asserts Jones’s testimony that Washington got out of the car after

he began to flee was “contradicted” by the medical examiner’s testimony that the

injuries to Smith’s face and head could have occurred during her fall or during the

life-saving attempts by medical personnel. The medical examiner testified he

could not say conclusively how Smith had sustained the blunt-force injuries

because he had not witnessed them occur. While he stated it was possible such

injuries were sustained by a fall or due to medical intervention, his testimony did

not contradict that of Jones.      And Jones was present at the scene; he told

officers immediately after the incident that Washington had kicked Smith while

she lay on the ground, and he testified similarly at trial.

       Additionally, Washington maintains his high-speed flight from the scene

and from chasing police officers is explained by his distrust of local police officers

to treat him fairly and to fully investigate his claim of self-defense. But it could

also be explained by his awareness of his guilt. See State v. Wilson, 878 N.W.2d
203, 211 (Iowa 2016) (“It is well-settled law that the act of avoiding law

enforcement after a crime has been committed may constitute circumstantial

evidence of consciousness of guilt that is probative of guilt itself.”).

       Washington’s claim of self-defense is not supported by the physical

evidence.    Washington sustained no injuries, while Smith sustained several.

Washington maintains Jones helped with the attack and held on to him, but
                                        13

Jones was also not injured—corroborating Jones’s testimony that he was able to

maneuver away from Washington when Washington sliced at him with the knife.

Washington claims he stabbed Smith accidentally when he fell on top of her

during the scuffle, but he could not explain the second stab wound. Moreover,

Smith made a desperate call to 911 shouting that she needed help at the park.

      Considering the evidence in the record, the district court did not abuse its

discretion in denying Washington’s motion for a new trial.

      C. Ineffective Assistance.

      Washington maintains he received ineffective assistance from trial

counsel.   Specifically, he maintains trial counsel was ineffective for failing to

object to the admission of evidence of prior bad acts and for failing to obtain and

offer an exhibit showing the decedent had sent him a text message telling him to

meet her in the park.

      To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, Washington

must prove by a preponderance of the evidence (1) his attorney failed to perform

an essential duty and (2) prejudice resulted from the failure.       See State v.

Rodriguez, 804 N.W.2d 844, 848 (Iowa 2011).              We measure counsel’s

performance against an objective standard of reasonableness under prevailing

professional norms. State v. Clay, 824 N.W.2d 488, 495 (Iowa 2012). There is a

presumption counsel performed competently.       Id. Prejudice exists where the

defendant proves by a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s

unprofessional error, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Id.

at 496. We look to the cumulative effect of counsel’s alleged errors to determine

whether Washington satisfied his burden regarding the prejudice prong. See id.
                                        14

at 499. His claim fails if either element is lacking. See Everett v. State, 789
N.W.2d 151, 159 (Iowa 2010).        Although we prefer to preserve ineffective-

assistance claims for development of the record, see State v. Tate, 710 N.W.2d
237, 240 (Iowa 2006), the record here is adequate for us to decide the claims on

direct appeal.

       1. Prior-Bad-Acts Evidence.        Washington asserts trial counsel was

ineffective for failing to object7 to the State’s evidence that Washington had been

violent toward Smith—choking her and slamming her down on a bed—one month

before her death. Washington maintains the prior-bad-acts evidence, see Iowa

R. Evid. 5.404(b), was irrelevant and was substantially outweighed by the danger

of unfair prejudice.

       Washington’s claim fails because the evidence he complains of would

have been admitted over an objection by trial counsel. See State v. Utter, 803
N.W.2d 647, 652 (Iowa 2011) (stating that trial counsel has no duty to pursue a

meritless issue). Prior-bad-acts evidence is relevant to “a legitimate factual issue

in dispute” such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan,

knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. State v. Taylor, 689
N.W.2d 116, 123 (Iowa 2004); see also Iowa R. Evid. 5.404(b).

       While Washington maintains evidence of the earlier violence against

Smith was not relevant, “[t]he most obvious example of the legitimate use of

prior-bad-acts evidence is the admission of evidence of a defendant’s prior

assault[] of a victim in a prosecution of the defendant for the subsequent murder

7
  Counsel moved in limine before trial to exclude character evidence, but the court
denied the motion as a preliminary matter. Counsel did not object at trial.
                                       15

of the victim.” State v. Dennis Richards, 809 N.W.2d 80, 93 (Iowa 2012). This is

true because:

      there is a logical connection between a defendant’s intent at the
      time of a crime, when the crime involves a person to whom he has
      an emotional attachment, and how the defendant has reacted to
      disappointment or anger directed at that person in the past,
      including acts of violence, rage, and physical control.

Taylor, 689 N.W.2d at 125.

      Intent was disputed at trial. By claiming self-defense, Washington “did not

eliminate the relevance of intent,” see Toby Richards, 879 N.W.2d at 153, and

our case law has repeatedly reaffirmed that the State may use a defendant’s

prior violent action to prove the intent element of the present crime. See, e.g.,

Dennis Richards, 809 N.W.2d at 93 (“Domestic violence rarely involves ‘a single

isolated incident. Rather, domestic violence is a pattern of behavior, with each

episode connected to the other.’” (citation omitted)). While the State had an

eyewitness who testified about Washington’s attack of Smith, Washington

challenged Jones’ account of the events.      Moreover, because Washington’s

mindset “evades direct evidence,” Serrato, 787 N.W.2d at 469, his prior use of

violence against this victim “is highly probative of the defendant’s probable

motivation and intent in subsequent situations.” State v. Taylor, 689 N.W.2d at

126. (Iowa 2004).

      Because it was relevant, the court would next consider whether there was

clear proof Washington committed the bad act. See Toby Richards, 879 N.W.2d

at 145. “In assessing whether there is clear proof of prior misconduct, it is not

required that the prior act be established beyond a reasonable doubt, nor is

corroboration necessary.” Taylor, 689 N.W.2d at 129. Proof is sufficient if it
                                           16

“prevent[s] the jury from engaging in speculation or drawing inferences based on

mere suspicion.” State v. Brown, 569 N.W.2d 113, 117 (Iowa 1997) (citation

omitted).   The officer’s testimony about what he saw and heard after being

dispatched to Smith’s apartment for an “ongoing domestic,” along with the

photographs taken of Smith afterward and the no-contact order issued based on

a court’s finding of probable cause that “domestic abuse assault occurred” is

sufficient to fulfil the clear-proof requirement.

       Finally, the court would have considered if the prejudice arising from the

evidence substantially outweighed its probative value. See Toby Richards, 879
N.W.2d at 145. Here, the possibility of unfair prejudice is a close call. The officer

testified that Smith told him Washington had choked her and slammed her

against the bed. There was a risk that the retelling of the event in this detail

would sway the jury on an improper emotional basis. See State v. Putman, 848
N.W.2d 1, 15 (Iowa 2014) (“[C]oncerns about prejudice to a defendant might be

eased by narrowing the scope of the prior-bad-acts evidence presented to the

jury.”); see also State v. Rodriguez, 636 N.W.2d 234, 243 (Iowa 2001) (finding

the prejudice was minimal where the State “did not elicit great detail about the

prior assaults and spent a relatively small amount of time on th[e] line of

questioning”).    However, “[the defendant] was not entitled to have the jury

determine his guilt or innocence on a false presentation that his and the victim’s

relationship and their parting were peaceful and friendly.” Taylor, 689 N.W.2d at

130 (alteration in original) (citation omitted). Additionally, we note the trial court

gave the jury a limiting instruction, which advised the jurors of the appropriate

use of the evidence. See Rodriguez, 424 N.W.2d at 243 n.2 (“Prejudice to the
                                        17

defendant can be limited with the use of a cautionary instruction explaining the

purpose for which the prior acts evidence may be used.”). After considering the

factors outlined above, the prejudice arising from the admission of the prior-bad-

acts evidence does not substantially outweigh its probative value

       Because the complained-of evidence was relevant, there was clear proof

Washington had committed the act, and the prejudice arising from its admission

did not substantially outweigh the probative value, the district court would have

admitted the evidence even if trial counsel objected. This claim of ineffective

assistance fails.

       2. Text Message. Washington maintains trial counsel was ineffective for

not offering into evidence a text message that Smith sent him asking him to meet

her in the park on August 5.

       At trial, Washington testified that Smith called him on the morning of

August 5, asking him to meet her in the park. Similarly, Jones testified that Smith

told him they were going to the park in order for her to meet Washington. This

does not appear to be a disputed fact—that the meeting between the two was

pre-arranged—and no one at trial testified that Washington was the party who

asked to meet Smith. There is no merit to Washington’s argument that trial

counsel breached an essential duty by not having the duplicative evidence of the

text message offered at trial.   See Iowa R. Evid. 5.403 (“Although relevant,

evidence may be excluded . . . by considerations of undue delay, waste of time,

or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.”). Washington’s claim fails.
                                         18

       D. Jury Panel.

       Washington challenges the district court’s denial of his motion to strike the

second jury panel. He argues that both his constitutional and statutory right to a

jury from a fair cross-section of the population was violated. See U.S. Const.

amend. VI.; Iowa Const. art. 1, § 10; see also Iowa Code § 607A.1.

       1. Statutory challenge.      Washington maintains there was a material

departure from the statutory requirements for drawing the jury.        If we find a

violation of Iowa Code chapter 607A, we consider whether the violation is “one of

‘real importance or great consequence.’” State v. Chidester, 570 N.W.2d 78, 84

(Iowa 1997) (citation omitted). “[A] departure from statutory requirements is of

real importance or of a great consequence only when the defendant’s rights have

been prejudiced.” Id.

       Washington’s first complaint is that the county clerk used “only” the voter

registration list and the current motor vehicle operators list. He maintains the

court should have used an additional list, such as a utility list, that would reach a

broader cross-section of the community.              While Iowa Code subsection

607A.22(1) requires the use of the voter registration and current motor operators

lists, subsection (2) permits the use of “any other comprehensive list of persons

residing the community, including but not limited to the lists of public utility

customers.” See also Wolf v. Lutheran Mut. Life Ins. Co., 18 N.W.2d 804, 808

(Iowa 1945) (“The word ‘may’, when used in a statute, is permissive only and

operates to confer discretion . . . .”). Thus, the decision not to use the additional

list is not a violation of Iowa Code chapter 607A.
                                         19

       While the clerk changed the procedure to excuse jurors between the first

and second jury summons, Washington also maintains that the procedure to

excuse jurors was in violation of statutory requirements.           See Iowa Code

§ 607A.6 (allowing “the court” to “defer a term of grand or petit juror service upon

a finding of hardship, inconvenience, or public necessity”). The clerk of court,

who was also the jury manager for the county, testified about the process to get

excused at the time of Washington’s trial. She testified, “There are some that we

were given a blanket by Judge Weiland if they had—and her and I set out the

criteria for those. And anything other than that were referred to the judge.” The

district court ruled that it was not a material departure because the “excuses

were made at specific judicial direction or by a judge.”

       We agree with Washington that the clerk of court is not vested with the

discretion to excuse potential jurors. See id. § 607A.3(2) (defining “court” as “the

district court of this state and include, when the context requires a judicial officer

as defined with section 602.1101); see also id. § 602.1101 (defining “judicial

officer” as “a supreme court justice, a judge of the court of appeals, a district

judge, a district associate judge, an associate juvenile judge, an associate

probate judge, or a magistrate”).

       However, we do not believe the process described by the clerk was a

violation; she was not exercising her own discretion but rather was implementing

that of the judge. Cf. Chidester, 570 N.W.2d at 80 (finding a violation of the

statute when the court attendant used “her own judgment” with no specific

guidelines from the judge in deciding who should be excused); see also State v.

Martel, 689 A.2d 1327, 1328 (N.H. 1997) (holding statute, allowing “court” to
                                           20

excuse jurors from jury duty and defining “court” as a judge, was violated when

clerk excused jurors “without obtaining court approval [of the excuses granted]”);

see State v. Young, 853 P.2d 327, 340 (Utah 1993) (holding statute requiring

court to decide issues of disqualification of jurors was not violated where court

delegated “initial qualification function to a trained court clerk” and allowed the

clerk to grant postponements to prospective jurors with difficulty or hardships, but

reserved for itself the responsibility of “reviewing those forms requiring a

discretionary determination”).     Moreover, if the potential jurors’ reason to be

excused was outside of the list previously contemplated by the judge, the

requests for deferral were referred to the judge for further consideration.

       Because neither of Washington’s claims are a violation of the statute, we

do not consider whether either was a material violation. Washington’s statutory

challenges fail.8

       2. Constitutional Challenge.9 “A defendant challenging the composition

of a jury panel must first establish a prima facie violation of the [S]ixth

8
   In a paragraph in his brief, Washington lists “other violations” including, “the
meaningless certification of the jury pool [and] the very weak efforts to locate potential
jurors when the questionnaires were returned or never responded to.” Because
Washington has not provided cites to the sections of the code he maintains were
materially violated and he does not assert how such alleged violations prejudiced him,
we decline to consider these claims. See Iowa R. App. P. 6.903(2)(g)(3) (“Failure to cite
authority in support of an issue may be deemed waiver of that issue.”); see also Hyler v.
Garner, 548 N.W.2d 864, 876 (Iowa 1996) (“[W]e will not speculate on the arguments
[the appellant] might have made and then search for legal authority and comb the record
for facts to support such arguments.”).
9
  We note that in making his constitutional challenge, Washington makes a claim under
both the Federal and the Iowa Constitution. In doing so, he “requests that this court use
a more defendant favorable standard in ruling on this issue” under the Iowa Constitution.
However, in Chidester, our supreme court stated, “[T]he protection granted by the Iowa
Constitution with respect to the composition and selection of the jury panel is
coextensive with that of the Sixth Amendment.” 570 N.W.2d at 81 n.1. We are not at
liberty to interpret the Iowa Constitution otherwise. See Figley v. W.S. Indus., 801
                                            21

[A]mendment’s fair cross-section requirement.”        Chidester, 570 N.W.2d at 81

(citation omitted). In order to do so, Washington:

       must show (1) that the group alleged to be excluded is a
       “distinctive” group in the community; (2) that the representation of
       this group in venires from which juries are selected is not fair and
       reasonable in relation to the number of such persons in the
       community; and (3) that this underrepresentation is due to
       systematic exclusion of the group in the jury-selection process.

Id. (citing Duren v. Missouri, 439 U.S. 357, 364 (1979)).

       If Washington is able to do so, “the burden shifts to the State to justify the

disproportionate representation by demonstrating that attainment of a fair cross-

section is incompatible with a significant state interest.” Id.

       There     is   no   dispute   that    the   group    Washington     claims    is

underrepresented—African-Americans—is a distinct group. See State v. Jones,

490 N.W.2d 797, 792 (Iowa 1992).             Thus, we next consider whether the

representation of that group on the jury panel was fair and reasonable in relation

to the number of persons in that group in the community.

       “There is no requirement that the distinctive group or class be represented

in exact proportions to the general population.            Some deviation is to be

expected.”     Id. at 792–93 (citing Hoyt v. Florida, 368 U.S. 57, 69 (1961)).

However, if the deviation is substantial, “a prima facie case has been

established.” Id. at 793. The census data for Webster County established that

African-Americans comprised 4.1% of the population. Here, four out of 224, or

1.8% of the jury panel, self-identified as African-American. We use the method

N.W.2d 602, 608 (Iowa Ct. App. 2011) (“[W]e are not at liberty to overturn precedent of
our supreme court.”). Thus, we consider both of his challenges under the well-
established framework of the Federal Constitution.
                                        22

prescribed by the Iowa Supreme Court and determine that the absolute disparity

is 2.3%. Id. (stating absolute disparity computation “is the appropriate method to

be used,” and it “is determined by taking the percentage of the distinct group in

the population and subtracting it from the percentage of that group represented

by the jury panel.”). We do not believe 2.3% is a “substantial” deviation. See,

e.g., State v. Huffaker, 493 N.W.2d 832, 834 (Iowa 1992) (finding 2.85% absolute

disparity fails to establish a prima facie violation of the Sixth Amendment); Jones,
490 N.W.2d at 793 (with 1.5% absolute disparity); State v. Harkey, No. 10-0118,

2012 WL 299535, at *7 (Iowa Ct. App. Feb. 1, 2012) (with 5.2% absolute

disparity); State v. Jackson, No. 09-0462, 2010 WL 624906, at *7 (Iowa Ct. App.

Feb. 24, 2010) (with 3.1% absolute disparity).

      Because the absolute disparity is not substantial, we consider whether the

underrepresentation is due to systematic exclusion of the group in the jury-

selection process.    “To make this showing, the defendant must show the

exclusion is ‘inherent in the particular jury-selection process utilized.’” State v.

Fetters, 562 N.W.2d 770, 777 (Iowa Ct. App. 1997) (quoting Duren, 439 U.S. at

366). Washington maintains the use of only the two lists required by statute to

determine potential jurors is a systematic exclusion that resulted in the

underrepresentation; he asserts that using the public utility list would include

more minority members. While we agree that the best practice would involve

increasing the number of lists used in order to reach more of the population,

Washington cannot establish that the use of the lists of registered voters and

current motor vehicle operations is a systematic exclusion. See, e.g., United

States v. Lewis, 10 F.3d 1086, 1089–90 (4th Cir. 1993); United States v. Biaggi,
                                          23

909 F.2d 662, 676–78 (2d Cir. 1990); United States v. Cecil, 836 F.2d 1431,

1444–56 (4th Cir. 1988); United States v. Clifford, 640 F.2d 150, 156 (8th Cir.

1981); State v. Lohr, 266 N.W.2d 1, 5 (Iowa 1978) (“[T]he compilation of juror

lists solely from voter registration print-outs was not unconstitutional.”).

       Thus, Washington has failed to establish a prima facie violation of the fair

cross-section requirement.

IV. Conclusion.

       After reviewing the record, we find that substantial evidence supports

Washington’s conviction for murder in the first degree, and the district court did

not abuse its discretion in denying Washington’s weight-of-the-evidence

challenge.    Washington has not established that he received ineffective

assistance from counsel nor that his right to a jury from a fair cross-section of the

community was violated. We affirm.

       AFFIRMED.