Opinion
No. 08-14257 Non-Argument Calendar.
January 23, 2009.
Peter J. Sholl, United States Attorney's Office, Tampa, FL, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Gino Lombardi, Gino Lombardi, Esq., Sarasota, FL, for Defendant-Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. D.C. Docket No. 07-00374-CR-T-26-MSS.
Before BLACK, WILSON and FAY, Circuit Judges.
Michael Clarke appeals his conviction for conspiracy to possess cocaine and methamphetamine with intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. On appeal, Clarke argues that one juror's statements to another juror and to the bailiff in the presence of additional jurors tainted the jury as a whole such that he did not receive an impartial jury of his peers. The juror stated that he was concerned about being recognized by trial spectators. Clarke argues that the juror's fear created a prejudicial inference that Clarke associated with dangerous people.
Clarke asserts for the first time on appeal that the conversation between the two jurors about the first juror's concerns violated their duty not to begin deliberating before all the evidence was entered. Further, Clarke argues that the other jurors who overheard the conversation violated their duty to report that conversation to the district court. Because Clarke raises these issues for the first time on appeal, we review them for plain error. Johnson v. United States, 520 U.S. 461, 466 67, 117 S.Ct. 1544, 1548-49, 137 L.Ed.2d 718 (1997). The district court did not plainly err in refusing to grant a mistrial based on possible premature jury deliberation because no evidence suggested that such deliberation had occurred. Furthermore, the court did not plainly err in failing to investigate the failure of other jurors to report the misconduct because the immediate investigation of the potential misconduct based on the bailiff's report made any other failure to report harmless.
In United States v. Dominguez, 226 F.3d 1235 (11th Cir. 2000), we affirmed the district court's handling of potentially tainted jurors. Clarke notes that, in Dominguez, the district court asked the defendant's counsel if there were additional questions counsel wanted the district court to ask the defendant, see id. at 1246, while the district court in this case did not ask a similar question. Clarke argues for the first time on appeal that the district court should have issued a curative instruction that the jury should keep an open mind. Additionally, Clarke argues that the district court was required to conduct a more searching inquiry into potential prejudice and that the court failed to ensure that the second juror had not made a determination of Clarke's guilt. Further, Clarke argues that the district court should have investigated why the other jurors did not report to the court that they overheard discussion of the case. Therefore, Clarke argues he should receive a new trial.
We review the district court's response to allegations of juror misconduct for abuse of discretion. Id. When an issue was not raised before the district court, we review for plain error. United States v. Heath, 419 F.3d 1312, 1314 (11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam). Plain error exists if there was "(1) error, (2) that is plain, and (3) affects substantial rights. If all three conditions are met, an appellate court may then exercise its discretion to notice a forfeited error, but only if (4) the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings." Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
Every defendant in a serious criminal prosecution has the right to trial by "an impartial jury." U.S. Const. amend. VI. Jury misconduct can be based on outside influences or internal misconduct. Dominguez, 226 F.3d at 1246. "[T]he more serious the potential jury contamination, especially where alleged extrinsic influence is involved, the heavier the burden to investigate." United States v. Harris, 908 F.2d 728, 734 (11th Cir. 1990) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Internal misconduct includes premature deliberations and bias against the defendant. Dominguez, 226 F.3d at 1246. A district court's discretion is broadest when dealing with internal jury misconduct. Id.
The district court is in the best position to determine whether the jury is capable of following its instructions. Id. at 1248. "We presume that a jury follows the court's instructions." United States v. Shenberg, 89 F.3d 1461, 1472 (11th Cir. 1996).
Here, after dismissing the tainted juror, the district court thoroughly questioned each of the remaining jurors individually to determine whether each juror could decide the case only on the evidence presented at trial. The district court determined that the jury would be impartial. Moreover, the district court repeatedly instructed the jury that the verdict must be based on the evidence presented at trial. The district court was in the best position to determine if additional instruction was necessary.
The district court did not abuse its discretion in investigating any potential taint of the jurors. Furthermore, the court did not plainly err by determining that a curative instruction for the jury to "keep an open mind" was unnecessary, nor did the court plainly err by choosing not to investigate further why the other jurors did not report the conversation they overheard.
CONCLUSION
Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we discern no reversible error. Accordingly, we affirm Clarke's conviction.