Court Opinion

ID: 9473972
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 04:44:53.759779+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:43:50.595630
License: Public Domain

TORRUELLA, Circuit Judge
(dissenting).
Because I believe that neither the law nor the record on appeal supports the opinion of the majority, I am forced to note my disagreement therewith.
*995Appellant challenges his conviction by a six-person jury in Massachusetts state court on the ground that “young adults” were allegedly systematically excluded from the venires, thus depriving him of a trial before a jury that was representative of a cross-section of the community in violation of the sixth and fourteenth amendments. Appellant’s trial took place on April 21-23, 1981, shortly before which he raised the underrepresentation issue with respect to persons in the 18 to 34 age group, his definition of “young adults.” His contention was based on a study made in the case of Commonwealth v. Flaherty, Norfolk Criminal No. 76813, wherein it was established that between October 1, 1978, and October 31, 1980, there were about half as many young traverse jurors as there would have been had the selection process ignored age.1 The record shows that, notwithstanding this alleged bias, the petit jury that actually tried appellant’s case included two persons falling within the ages 18 to 34.
It is axiomatic in challenges of this nature that, before the challenger can even make a colorable claim, the group alleged to be excluded must be a “distinctive” group. Duren v. Missouri, 439 U.S. 357, 364, 99 S.Ct. 664, 668, 58 L.Ed.2d 579 (1979); Taylor v. Louisiana, 419 U.S. 522, 530, 95 S.Ct. 692, 697, 42 L.Ed.2d 690 (1975). This requires: (1) that the group is defined and limited by some clearly identifiable factor (for example, sex or race), (2) that a common thread or basic similarity in attitude, ideas, or experience run through the group, and (3) that there is a community of interest among the members of the group, such that the group’s interests cannot be adequately represented if the group is excluded from the jury selection process. See Willis v. Zant, 720 F.2d 1212, 1216 (11th Cir.1983), cert. denied, — U.S.-, 104 S.Ct. 3546, 82 L.Ed.2d 849 (1984).
Although the Supreme Court has not ruled upon whether age groups are “distinctive” enough for sixth amendment purposes, every circuit that has considered this issue, except the First, has ruled against appellant’s contention. See United States v. Potter, 552 F.2d 901, 905 (9th Cir.1977); United States v. Olson, 473 F.2d 686, 688 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 412 U.S. 905, 93 S.Ct. 2291, 36 L.Ed.2d 970 (1973); United States v. Guzman, 337 F.Supp. 140, 145 (S.D.N.Y.), aff'd, 468 F.2d 1245 (2d Cir.1972), cert. denied, 410 U.S. 937, 93 S.Ct. 1397, 35 L.Ed.2d 602 (1973); Brown v. Harris, 666 F.2d 782, 783-84 (2d Cir.1981), cert. denied, 456 U.S. 948, 102 S.Ct. 2017, 72 L.Ed.2d 472 (1982); United States v. Gast, 457 F.2d 141 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 406 U.S. 969, 92 S.Ct. 2426, 32 L.Ed.2d 668 (1972); Davis v. Greer, 675 F.2d 141, 146 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 975, 103 S.Ct. 310, 74 L.Ed.2d 289 (1982); United States v. Di Tommaso, 405 F.2d 385, 391 (4th Cir.1968), cert. denied, 394 U.S. 934, 89 S.Ct. 1209, 22 L.Ed.2d 465 (1969); Cox v. Montgomery, 718 F.2d 1036, 1038 (11th Cir.1983); United States v. Test, 550 F.2d 577 (10th Cir.1976). Contra United States v. Butera, 420 F.2d 564 (1st Cir.1970); LaRoche v. Perrin, 718 F.2d 500 (1st Cir.1983). What bothers me most about the rule reaffirmed today is not so much the loneliness of our unique position2 as its arbitrariness, a conclusion that is partially admitted by the majority. See supra p. 987. In Butera, supra, we held persons between 21 and 34 to be a “distinctive” group. In La Roche, the ages were 18 to 34, as here. In those cases, as in the present one, no evidence was required to establish the viability of these age groups. How then can we conclude that the parameters should be 18 to 34, or 21 to 34? Why not 18 to 24, or 19 to 30, or 22 to 31, or whatever suits the fancy of the particular defendant in question? Neither Butera, *996La Roche, nor the majority opinion in this case sets out a formula or principle that will allow future decisionmakers, judicial and non-judicial, to establish the limits of groups in which age is the allegedly invidious factor.
The Butera case makes no reference to any scientific or factual evidence at the trial level as the basis for holding that 21 to 34 year-olds are a “distinct” group, but rather relies on the following conclusion:
Nor can we close our eyes to the contemporary national preoccupation with a “generation gap”, which creates the impression that the attitudes of young adults are in some sense distinct from those of older adults. This apparent distinctiveness is sufficient for us to say that [young adults cannot] be excluded from jury pools without some justification.
United States v. Butera, supra, 420 F.2d at 570. In La Roche, which includes a strong dissent by one panel member regarding the precise issue before us (see 718 F.2d at 505), the court simply follows But-era, with no social science or other data at the trial level to support findings of fact that would meet the Willis v. Zant test. If such “judicial notice” is appropriate, I could just as validly state that there are very wide gaps in the attitudes, ideas, experiences, and interests among persons between the ages of 18 and 34, and that therefore those parameters are not appropriate. Of course, such a statement on my part would have no value for purposes of deciding this case, as it would be unsupported by evidence. More accurately, such a conclusion on my part would be the product of subjective intuition, hardly an appropriate basis for the present ruling.
The majority opinion attempts to correct the lack of a factual basis on the record for concluding “cohesiveness” of the proposed group by reference to the “many sociologists [who] contend that young people do comprise a class with distinctive values, outlooks, manners, roles, and behavior patterns.” See supra pp. 987-88. Such statements of alleged fact should have properly been the subject matter of expert and factual testimony at the trial level, where a record could have been made after granting the opportunity to all parties to cross-examine witnesses and present rebuttal evidence. We would then be in a position to reverse, if the trial court’s factual findings were found to be clearly erroneous. Unfortunately, such a record has not only not been made, but the majority is proceeding to supplement what scant record there is on this issue, ex parte and on appeal, by reference to social science literature. This I believe to be contrary to established procedure. See Rule 10(a), Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure; Landy v. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 486 F.2d 139, 150 (3rd Cir.1973), cert. denied, 416 U.S. 960, 94 S.Ct. 1979, 40 L.Ed.2d 312 (1973); Kemlon Products & Development Co. v. United States, 646 F.2d 223 (5th Cir.1981).
For these reasons the opinion below should be affirmed.

. If persons over 70 years old were excluded, "young adults” aged 18 to 34 were 41.46 of the population, but only 18.68% of the jury venires, while if persons over 70 were included, "young adults" were 37.82% of the population, but only 18.16% of the jury venires.

. Referred to by the Fifth Circuit as a "judicial rarity.” See Foster v. Sparks, 506 F.2d 805, 824 (5th Cir.1975).