Court Opinion

ID: 9856684
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:55:23.999739+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:40:21.122309
License: Public Domain

SUTIN, Judge (dissenting). A dissenting or concurring opinion should be carefully scrutinized by judges, lawyers and the public, because it represents the opinion of the dissenter. In writing his dissent or concurrence, despite his .ability and integrity, the dissenter has the freedom of the wind to express his beliefs. It is not subject to review by other associate judges. I dissent in this case because Mares was found guilty by a palm print without a fair trial by an impartial jury. Guilt beyond a reasonable doubt was a shadow. Nevertheless, Mares was entitled to a fair trial with a fair and impartial jury. This is implicit in the concept of ordered liberty. State v. Gutierrez, 78 N.M. 529, 433 P.2d 308 (Ct.App.1967). Mares had no prior criminal record and was employed steadily to the date of trial. He was convicted and sentenced to a term of not less than 10 years nor more than 50 years, and all the penitentiary sentence suspended except the first 8 years on condition. The basis of this dissent is the silence of .a juror on voir dire examination to disclose his visitation with the prosecution witness, the alleged victim, less than 14 hours after the alleged crime was committed. Juror Sefcik was present in the home of Mrs. C. while the police officers were making an investigation of the crime, seeking fingerprints. Thereafter, Sefcik became a juror. The state and the defendant stipulated to the following facts in reference to the voir •dire examination: 1.When juror Sefcik was asked if he knew Mrs. C., he responded that he was a .good friend, that he had known her and her husband approximately 22 years and had eaten in their home on many occasions. 2. When juror Sefcik was asked if he thought that relationship would affect his opinion, he said no. 3. When the jurors were asked if they had talked to any of the witnesses or if they knew of any reason'why they should not serve on the jury, juror Sefcik did not respond. 4. When all the jurors were asked if there was any reason why, if selected as jurors, they could not render a fair and impartial verdict in the case based on the evidence and law, there was no indication by Sefcik one way or the other. The burglary occurred on October 15, 1969, at 2:00 a. m. About 4:00 p. m., the same day, police officers came to the home of Mrs. C. in hopes of finding additional, latent impressions. Juror Sefcik was present in the kitchen having coffee with Mrs. C. Mares had no knowledge of this until after the verdict. Just prior to the verdict, Police Chief Moore stated to defense counsel, “Well, maybe one of the jurors knew too much.” Defense counsel had no indication of Sefcilc’s exposure to the case prior to the trial until Police Chief Moore came forward with this statement. The day following the verdict, defense counsel conducted a full investigation and uncovered the facts about Sefcik’s presence in the home of Mrs. C. on the afternoon of October 15. That same day, defense counsel filed a motion for a new trial which was subsequently denied after a hearing. At the hearing, the trial court heard the testimony of Mrs. C., but not the testimony of Sefcik, or any other juror. Jurors are not permitted to impeach their verdict after discharge. Skeet v. Wilson, 76 N.M. 697; 700, 417 P.2d 889 (1966). However, an unauthorized communication between a juror and a witness during trial is presumptively prejudicial. State v. McFerran, 80 N.M. 622, 630, 459 P.2d 148 (Ct.App.1969). This same rule should apply to communication between a juror and a. prosecuting witness before trial. The burden shifts to the state to show absence of prejudice. State v. Gutierrez, supra. The state, did not. overcome this presumption. .. It. is; grossly unfair -to listen to the victim and not the jurors. At one-time during the jury’s deliberation,, it; requested information-of the court. The trial .court said he thought the jury stood six to six. • On the record in this case, was Mares accorded- a fair trial by an impartial jury? “Under ancient common law, jurors were selected because of their personal knowledge of the facts. Under the modern doctrine, however, jurors who have such personal knowledge of material facts as will tend to form an opinión based upon bias are regarded as incompetent to sit as jurors even though they may feel they can render-’ 'án impartial verdict.” Kunk v. Howell, 40 Tenn.App. 183, 289 S.W.2d 874, 73 A.L.R.2d 1304 (1956). “In essence, the right to jury trial guarantees to the criminally’ácc'úséd a fair trial by a panel of impartial,' ‘indifferent’ jurors.” Irvin v. Dowd, 366 U.S. 717, 722, 81 S.Ct. 1639, 1642, 6 L.Ed.2d 751 (1961). In New Mexico, the standard guaranteed for an impartial jury is strong and vibrant. In State v. McFall, 67 N.M. 260, 263, 354 P.2d 547, 548 (1960), Justice Moise said: “By impartial jury is meant a jury where each and every one of the twelve members constituting the jury is totally free from any partiality whatsoever. * * * Accordingly, the jury which one charged with crime is guaranteed, is one that does not favor one side more than another, treats all alike, is unbiased, equitable, fair and just. If any juror does 'not have these qualities, the jury upon which he -serves is thereby deprived of its quality of impartiality.” First, was Mares’ defense counsel guilty of a lack of diligence on voir dire examination about Sefcik’s pre-trial exposure to the case? The trial judge gave the answer. “I do not think it was. necessary for defendant’s counsel to ask if he [Sefcik] had been in the C. home- the morning of October 15, 1969.” The reason is obvious. The trial judge on. voir dire asked the jurors if they had talked to any of the witnesses or if they knew of any reason they could not render a fair and impartial verdict; whether there was any reason why they could not render a fair and impartial verdict. Other voir dire' examination occurred and some prospective jurors responded. For example: “THE COURT: Mrs. Aitken, .have, you heard what purport to be the facts in the case ? “JUROR AITKEN: I have. “THE COURT: Did what you hear cause you to form an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the defendant ? “JUROR AITKEN: It has. “THE COURT: Ma’am? “JUROR AITKEN: I think it has. “THE COURT: Is that an impression or opinion? “JUROR AITKEN: Well, I talked directly with the party concerned. “THE COURT: And I mentioned this party as a witness here ? “JUROR AITKEN: Yes, sir. “THE COURT: I see. Then you feel that you do have a fixed opinion one way or the other ? “JUROR AITKEN: It could, it could affect my decision. “THE COURT: You couldn’t lay aside what you heard and try the case from the evidence and the law that the Court gives you? “JUROR AITKEN: I could try. “THE COURT: It is, of course, required that the juror’s' niind be open,' free from any preconceived ideas, and that you don’t have to quarrel with setting aside what you heard. You must .set it aside, if you can. Sometimes it is humanly impossible and we cannot prejudge a thing. That’s what it’s called, prejudice, judging a thing before we hear the facts, but sometimes we do form an opinion from what we hear and we cannot lay it aside. If it’s going to require evidence to remove what you have in your mind then you probably wouldn’t be qualified, because the defendant is presumed to be innocent under ■our law and the State has to prove him .guilty to the jury. You think it will re•quire evidence? “JUROR AITKEN: It would be very •difficult for me not to say that I haven’t .already formed an opinion. “THE COURT: Any objection to excusing Mrs. Aitken for cause ? “MR. BREEN: Yes, sir. “MR. FROST: I have no objection. “THE COURT: What number is that? Eighteen. You will be excused, Mrs. Aitken. * * * ” Sefcik talked directly with Mrs. C. He remained silent. He had an inviolable duty fo disclose his visitation with Mrs. C. regardless of his good faith and honesty. His silence compares with concealment and false answer. See, Juries-New Trial-Discovery of Juror’s Disqualification or False Answer on Voir Dire as Ground for New 'Trial, 7 Natural Resources Journal 415 (1967). This is a criticism of State v. Ortega, 77 N.M. 312, 422 P.2d 353 (1966). In United States v. Freedland, 111 F. Supp. 852, 853 (D.N.D.1953), the district judge said: “The answers to questions put by the Court necessarily form the basis for the Court’s excusing a juror on its own motion or challenges for cause by the parties and the exercise of peremptory challenges by each side. Necessarily, it is expected and required that jurors in their answers shall’be completely’truthful and .that they shall disclose, upon. .a general question, any’ matters which might tend to disqualify them from sitting on the case for any reason. ■ It therefore becomes imperative that the answers be truthful and complete. False or misleading answers may result in the seating of a juror who might have been discharged by the Court, challenged for cause by counsel or stricken through the exercise of peremptory challenge.” [Emphasis added], , , • Under the rules of the court’in this ¡cáse, the judge examined all the jurors'on voir dire. However, there is the same requirement of truthfulness and .completeness ¡of the jurors when -the attorneys fhemselv.es perform this examination. 1 - • ' < State v. Ortega, supra, held that actual injury to the defendant must be shown where a juror was'disqualified by virtue of having been convicted of an infamous crime. Section 19-1-1, N.M.S.A.1953, stated therein, was repealed in 1969. Now, under §§ 19-1-1 and 19-1-2, any person disqualified or exempt from service does not vitiate any verdict rendered by the jury ttnless actual injury to the defendant shall be shown. Sefcik was not disquali-. fied or exempt from service. A showing of actual injury is not necessary. It is the duty of the trial court to see that there is a fair and impartial jury. State v. Verdugo, 78 N.M. 762, 438 P.2d 172 (Ct.App.1968). “The function of voir dire is to implement the constitutional guarantee of an impartial jury, a fundamental right of our system of criminal justice.” [Daniels v. United States, 123 U.S.App.D.C. 127, 357 F.2d 587, 591 (1966)] [Dissenting Opinion]. To this end, the New Mexico legislature has charged trial courts to excuse any juror for good cause. Section 19-1-14, N. M.S.A.1953 (Repl.Vol. 4). In addition the legislature has provided for peremptory challenges to further insure the impartiality of a jury. Section 41-10-3, N.M.S.A. 1953 (Repl.Vol. 6). The right of peremptory challenge is “an arbitrary and capricious right, and it must be exercised with full freedom, or it fails of its full purpose.” Lewis v. United States, 146 U.S. 370, 378, 13 S.Ct. 136, 139, 36 L.Ed. 1011 (1892). “Thus, under statutory law, the court is the judge of actual bias, but counsel is the sole and exclusive judge of whom he shall challenge for suspected bias or prejudice against his client’s cause. No one will .gainsay that the denial or substantial impairment of the statutory right of peremptory challenge is prejudicial to the constitutional right to a fair and impartial jury.” [See 338 F.2d at 786]. There is a well settled rule “which moves the court to act only upon a showing of probable bias of the juror with consequent prejudice to the unsuccessful litigant. Courts act on probabilities, not possibilities, and if the suppressed information is so ‘insignifcant or trifling’ as to indicate only a remote or speculative influence on the juror, the right of peremptory challenge has not been affected.” Photostat Corporation v. Ball, 338 F.2d 783, 786 (10th Cir. 1964). Sefcik was not excused for cause or peremptory challenge because he remained silent under a duty to speak. Second, if Sefcik had disclosed during the voir dire his presence in Mrs. C.’s home on October 15, the most probable consequence is that Sefcik would have been excused for cause or by peremptory challenge. “Whether so intended or not, the effect of the silence of the juror was to deceive and mislead the court and the litigants in respect to his competency. And such deception and misleading has the effect of nullifying the right of peremptory challenge as completely as though the court had wrongfully denied such right.” [Consolidated Gas & Equipment Co. of America v. Carver, 257 F.2d 111, 115 (10th Cir. 1958)]. In Photostat Corporation v. Ball, 338 F.2d 783, 787 (10th Cir. 1964), the court said: “In this post-mortem inquiry, we cannot know of course what counsel would have done with the suppressed information. Nor can we take his post-mortem word for it. But we need not presume to speculate on the judgment he would have made. It is enough, we think, to-show probable bias of the jurors and prejudice to the unsuccessful litigant if the suppressed information was of sufficient cogency and significance to cause us to believe that counsel was entitled to know of it when he came to exercise his right of peremptory challenge.” It would be blinking reality not to recognize Sefcik’s suppression of information being of sufficient cogency and significance to constitute a substantial impairment of Mares’ right of peremptory challenge and, therefore, prejudicial to his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury. In his order overruling the motion for a new trial, the trial judge stated: “Fully realizing that a close question, of law is presented by the facts stipulated by counsel and the testimony given-during the hearing on the motion for new trial filed by the defendant, and that a higher court may properly disagree with my conclusion, yet I fail to-find any factual or legal basis that would lead me to conclude that the Juror Sefcik, * * * was not of a mind to render a verdict other than according to-the evidence and the instructions given-by the Court, * * * ” The trial court abused his discretion in-failing to award Mares a new trial. This-case should be accordingly reversed. I respectfully dissent.