DOCSLIB.ORG

The Limits of Double Jeopardy: a Course Into the Dark

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Limits of Double Jeopardy: a Course Into the Dark Volume 39 Issue 3 Article 2 1994 The Limits of Double Jeopardy: A Course into the Dark Anne Bowen Poulin Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/vlr Part of the Evidence Commons Recommended Citation Anne B. Poulin, The Limits of Double Jeopardy: A Course into the Dark, 39 Vill. L. Rev. 627 (1994). Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/vlr/vol39/iss3/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Villanova Law Review by an authorized editor of Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Digital Repository. Poulin: The Limits of Double Jeopardy: A Course into the Dark 1994] THE LIMITS OF DOUBLE JEOPARDY: A COURSE INTO THE DARK? The Example: Commonwealth v. Smith ANNE BOWEN POULIN* Q CCASIONALLY, the government's behavior in a criminal pros- ecution so impinges on the defendant's rights, or so offends notions of fairness, that a court will feel impelled to a drastic rem- edy. Commonwealth v. Smith' is such a case. In a case that attracted widespread media attention,2 Jay Smith, a high school principal, was prosecuted for the murder of a teacher at his school and her two children. 3 The defendant's case was tried to a jury. Based on the circumstantial evidence connecting him with the murders, Smith was convicted and sentenced to death.4 During the trial, no conduct or error occurred that would have provoked a mistrial re- quest. Additionally, the prosecutorial behavior did not create the appearance of extreme unfairness or overreaching. The evidence adduced at trial, although circumstantial, was sufficient to support the verdict of guilty. 5 On direct appeal, Smith challenged his con- viction on several grounds. The court reversed and remanded for a new trial because the trial court had improperly admitted a number 6 of unreliable hearsay statements. * Professor of Law, Villanova University School of Law. I would like to thank my research assistants, Michael Milone, Melissa Palat and Megan Pomeroy Whitcopf for their work in the preparation of this manuscript. I am also grateful to Dean Frankino and Villanova Law School for generously supporting my efforts. 1. 615 A.2d 321 (Pa. 1992). 2. In addition to ordinary press coverage, the case was the subject of two books and a television mini-series. LORETrA SCHWARTz-NOBEL, ENGAGED TO MUR- DER: THE INSIDE STORY OF THE MAIN LINE MURDERS (1987); JOSEPH WAMBAUGH, ECHOES IN THE DARKNESS (1987) (made into a 1987 CBS mini-series of the same name). 3. See Smith, 615 A.2d at 322 Susan Reinert and her two children were mur- dered in June, 1979. The theory of the prosecution was that Smith and William Bradfield, a fellow teacher who was Reinert's fiance and the beneficiary of her life insurance policy, formed a conspiracy to kill Reinert in order to collect the pro- ceeds of her life insurance policies. See id. 4. See Commonwealth v. Smith, 568 A.2d 600, 602 (Pa. 1989). This circum- stantial evidence included, among other things, hair similar to Susan Reinert's found at Smith's home, a green pin similar to one worn by Karen Reinert found under the seat of Smith's car, certain fibers found on Susan Reinert's body and a comb found under Susan Reinert's dead body allegedly belonging to Smith. Id. at 604-05. 5. Smith, 615 A.2d at 322. 6. Id. (627) Published by Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Digital Repository, 1994 1 Villanova Law Review, Vol. 39, Iss. 3 [1994], Art. 2 VILLANOVA LAW REVIEW [Vol. 39: p. 627 Only later, Smith discovered that he had been the victim of serious misconduct by the prosecution. Well after the trial con- cluded, Smith discovered that the prosecution had withheld excul- patory evidence and had concealed an existing agreement with a key prosecution witness. 7 The course of conduct through which the prosecution suppressed this favorable information was, in the court's view, "egregious."" First, the prosecution had not disclosed its agreement with a prosecution witness, thereby permitting the witness' false testimony to stand uncorrected and precluding effec- tive impeachment.9 Second, the defense sought, but did not re- ceive, evidence that sand was found between the victim's toes to support the defense theory that the murder was committed in Cape May, NewJersey. 10 At trial, a former state trooper who had investi- gated the crime was called by the prosecution and testified on cross examination that he had used lifters to remove particles that looked like sand from between the victim's toes." The prosecution "exco- riated" the witness and called other officers to establish that the testimony about the lifters was false.1 2 Then, while the "trial was still in progress," the state police found the missing lifters.' 3 The two vio- lations at trial were compounded by the Commonwealth's post-trial conduct. The Commonwealth continued to conceal the existence of the lifters while arguing on appeal "that [the] court should af- firm [Smith's] death sentence."' 4 The Commonwealth finally re- vealed the existence of the lifters more than two years after the trial. 15 In light of these facts, the court concluded that the first trial had been more unfair than initially recognized and that the course of misconduct was so extreme that a new trial would unfairly op- press Smith. The court therefore barred further proceedings in the 7. Id. at 322-23. 8. Id. at 323. 9. Id. 10. Id. at 322. The sand was important because the scene of Reinert's murder was unresolved. William Bradfield, who was convicted of three counts of first de- gree murder for the death of Susan Reinert and her children, was in Cape May at the time of the actual killing. In his defense, Smith asserted that Bradfield com- mitted the murder in Cape May and Smith was not involved in the conspiracy. See id. 11. Id. 12. Id. The prosecution recommended that the trooper be investigated for perjury. The prosecution also argued that the defense had paid the trooper to fabricate his story about the lifters. Id. at 323-24. 13. Id. at 323 (emphasis in original). 14. Id. at 324. 15. Id. at 323-24. The court observed that "even then, there seemed to be some hesitancy concerning the prosecutor's duty to disclose the evidence." Id. at 324. https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/vlr/vol39/iss3/2 2 Poulin: The Limits of Double Jeopardy: A Course into the Dark 1994] LIMITS OF DOUBLE.JEOPARDY case and discharged Smith.' 6 With its decision in Smith, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court shocked many who had followed the case.' 7 The court freed a no- torious defendant who had been convicted of murder. The court's decision to discharge the defendant, who had been convicted by a jury on sufficient evidence, is a startling departure from the usual remedy of granting a new trial.' 8 Through its decision, the court foreclosed any opportunity for the Commonwealth to correct its er- rors and seek a new conviction in a trial untainted by error. The case therefore raises compelling questions. Are there cases in which prosecutorial misconduct, discovered after a verdict, is so ex- treme that it warrants discharging the defendant? If 'so, what'is the legal basis for this extreme remedy? Finally, how can courts identify the misconduct that requires this extreme response? I. INTRODUCTION Courts frequently must determine the consequences of govern- ment misconduct. The nature of the misconduct and the point in the proceedings at which it is discovered affect the 'court's ability to remedy the problem in a way that protects the defendant without disserving the public's interest in the pursuit of justice. A claim of misconduct that is raised before a verdict is rendered can often be remedied without disrupting the trial.' 9 Those that cannot be han- dled so easily may require the trial court to declare a mistrial, a result that only rarely bars retrial. 20 Smith, however, represents the most difficult type of case. The government misconduct was not apparent during the trial. Indeed, it was discovered only after both the verdict and the initial appeal.2 1 Moreover, unlike some types of 16. Id. at 325. 17. Rich Henson, Smith Case is Seen as a Warning, to Prosecutors, PHILA. IN- QUIRER, Sept. 20, 1992, at BI; Emilie Lounsberry & Mark Faziollah, Pa.High Court FreesJay Smith, PHnAi INQUIRER, Sept. 19, 1992, at Al. 18. For a discussion of the more common remedy of retrial, see infra note 27 and accompanying text. 19. For example, a court can give curative instructions, strike testimony or grant a continuance to deal with misconduct during the trial. See, e.g., Darden v. Wainwright, 477 U.S. 168 (1986) (relying in part on curative instructions to sup- port conclusion that prosecutor's improper argument did not deprive defendant of fair trial). See generally BENNETT GERSHAM, PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT, §§ 13.1 et seq. (discussing efficacy of curative instructions, contempt orders, fines, repri- mands, removal and disqualification). 20. For a discussion of when a mistrial bars retrial, see infra notes 33-35 and accompanying text. 21. Commonwealth v. Smith, 615 A.2d 321, 322 (Pa. 1992). Published by Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Digital Repository, 1994 3 Villanova Law Review, Vol. 39, Iss. 3 [1994], Art. 2 VILLANOVA LAW REVIEW [Vol. 39: p. 627 misconduct, it affected the fairness of the trial.22 Still, it does not follow that the defendant is automatically enti- tled to the extreme remedy of discharge.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Fair Trial and Prejudicial Publicity: a Need for Reform J
    Hastings Law Journal Volume 17 | Issue 1 Article 6 1-1965 Fair Trial and Prejudicial Publicity: A Need for Reform J. Thomas McCarthy Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.uchastings.edu/hastings_law_journal Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation J. Thomas McCarthy, Fair Trial and Prejudicial Publicity: A Need for Reform, 17 Hastings L.J. 79 (1965). Available at: https://repository.uchastings.edu/hastings_law_journal/vol17/iss1/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Journals at UC Hastings Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Hastings Law Journal by an authorized editor of UC Hastings Scholarship Repository. FAIR TRIAL AND PREJUDICIAL PUBLICITY: A NEED FOR REFORM By J. THo AS McCA I* Legal trials are not like elections, to be won through the use of the meeting-hall, the radio, and the newspaper.1 Prologue: A Case in Point THE murder suspect was arrested at 1:45 Friday afternoon and taken directly to police headquarters. He was questioned intermit- tently for about twelve hours and continued to deny categorically his guilt. Consistent with its policy of allowing news representatives in the working quarters of the police building, the police made every effort to keep the press informed as to the progress of the investiga- tion. As a result, the press publicized virtually all information about the case as soon as it was uncovered by the police. Impromptu and clamorous press conferences were held in the corridor at headquarters. The Chief of Police appeared in interviews on television and radio, expressed his opinion, and gave detailed in- formation on the progress of the case.
    [Show full text]
  • Double Jeopardy and Due Process Barry Siegal
    Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume 59 | Issue 2 Article 10 1968 Double Jeopardy and Due Process Barry Siegal Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/jclc Part of the Criminal Law Commons, Criminology Commons, and the Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons Recommended Citation Barry Siegal, Double Jeopardy and Due Process, 59 J. Crim. L. Criminology & Police Sci. 247 (1968) This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology by an authorized editor of Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. DOUBLE JEOPARDY when such inspection will not interfere 2. The substance or text of the charge, with Department use. such as a complaint or indictment. D. Arrest reports, arrest records, supple- 3. The identity of the investigating and mentary reports and photographs will arresting unit and the length of the not be open for inspection to representatives investigation. of the press or other news media. 4. The circumstances immediately sur- E. From the time a person is arrested until the rounding an arrest, including the time proceeding has been terminated by trial or and place of arrest, resistance, pursuit, olherwise, the following types of information possession and use of weapons, and a will not be made available to the press or news description of items seized at the time media: of arrest. 1. Observations about an arrestee's charac- G. The officer in charge of an investigation ter or prior criminal record.
    [Show full text]
  • Sep 1.8 2013 Hue, Casos Clerk 0 Cow'
    FORerLeu COURT OF CALIFORNIA SLIPERCOUtM1 OF ORANGE 1 Manbir S. Chowdhary, SBN 264478 CENTRAL .IUSTICE CENTER Law Offices of MANBIR S. CHOWDHARY 2 A Professional Corporation sEp 1.8 2013 5000 Birch Street, Suite 5000 ELECTRONICALLY RECEIVED 3 Superior Court of California, hue, casos clerk 0 Cow' Newport Beach, CA 92660 County of Orange (. 4 Telephone: (949) 910-6810 08/26/2013 at 07:24:19 FM 2 BURNS a 1, Facsimile: (949) 415-2580 Clerk of the Superior Court ri 5 By Debbie Leohmann.Ceputy Clerk 6 Attorneys for Defendants Eugene Mechetner and Missag H. Parseghian 7 8 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 9 COUNTY OF ORANGE 10 11 SANTOS BIOTECH INDUSTRIES, INC., Case No. 30-2013-00624425-CU-FR-CJC 12 a Nevada corporation; and STASON 13 PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a [Hon. Sheila B. Fell, Dept. C-22] California corporation; 14 JUDGMENT OF DISMISSAL Plaintiffs, FOLLOWING SUSTAINING OF 15 DEMURRER WITHOUT LEAVE TO VS. 16 AMEND 17 EUGENE MECHETNER, an individual; and MISSAG PARSEGHIAN, an 18 individual; 19 20 Defendants. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 JUDGMENT OF DISMISSAL FOLLOWING SUSTAINING OF DEMURRER WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND 1 Pursuant to the Court's Order dated August 21,2013, sustaining Defendants EUGENE 2 MECHETNER and MISSAG PARSEGHIAN's Demurrer to Plaintiffs SANTOS BIOTECH 3 INDUSTRIES, INC. and STASON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.'s Complaint without leave to 4 amend: 5 IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Plaintiffs SANTOS BIOTECH 6 INDUSTRIES, INC., and STASON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.'s Complaint is dismissed with 7 prejudice as to Defendants EUGENE MECHETNER and MISSAG PARSEGHIAN, and that 8 judgment be entered in favor of Defendants.
    [Show full text]
  • Prosecution Appeals of Court-Ordered Midtrial Acquittals: Permissible Under the Double Jeopardy Clause?
    Catholic University Law Review Volume 62 Issue 1 Fall 2012 Article 3 2012 Prosecution Appeals of Court-Ordered Midtrial Acquittals: Permissible Under the Double Jeopardy Clause? David S. Rudstein Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.edu/lawreview Part of the Common Law Commons, Comparative and Foreign Law Commons, Constitutional Law Commons, and the Criminal Procedure Commons Recommended Citation David S. Rudstein, Prosecution Appeals of Court-Ordered Midtrial Acquittals: Permissible Under the Double Jeopardy Clause?, 62 Cath. U. L. Rev. 91 (2013). Available at: https://scholarship.law.edu/lawreview/vol62/iss1/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by CUA Law Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Catholic University Law Review by an authorized editor of CUA Law Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Prosecution Appeals of Court-Ordered Midtrial Acquittals: Permissible Under the Double Jeopardy Clause? Cover Page Footnote Professor of Law and Co-Director, Program in Criminal Litigation, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology; B.S., University of Illinois, 1968; J.D., Northwestern University, 1971; L.L.M., University of Illinois, 1975. This article is available in Catholic University Law Review: https://scholarship.law.edu/lawreview/vol62/iss1/3 PROSECUTION APPEALS OF COURT-ORDERED MIDTRIAL ACQUITTALS: PERMISSIBLE UNDER THE DOUBLE JEOPARDY CLAUSE? David S. Rudstein+ I. THE ENGLISH MODEL ........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 21 061219.Pdf
    CONTRA COSTA SUPERIOR COURT MARTINEZ, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT: 21 HEARING DATE: 06/12/19 1. TIME: 8:30 CASE#: MSN19-0885 CASE NAME: RE KASHEEN WALKER HEARING ON MINOR'S COMPROMISE * TENTATIVE RULING: * Petitioner Carl Walker and attorney Alicia Queen to appear. The court does not need the minor to appear. 2. TIME: 9:00 CASE#: MSC16-02247 CASE NAME: JAMES OUGH VS. RICHARD PERALTA HEARING ON MOTION TO COMPEL FURTHER RESPONSES TO DISCOVERY FILED BY JAMES OUGH, SHARI OUGH * TENTATIVE RULING: * Plaintiffs’ motion to compel further responses to discovery is denied without prejudice. Plaintiffs have failed to file proof of service of the motion. Plaintiffs have also failed to first participate in the requisite discovery facilitator program. Plaintiffs may refile the motion only after compliance with the program. 3. TIME: 9:00 CASE#: MSC17-01221 CASE NAME: TRANSCHEL VS. KINDRED AT HOME HEARING ON MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS FILED BY PEDRAM TAHER M.D., SHERELLEN GERHART M.D. * TENTATIVE RULING: * Defendants Pedram Taher, M.D. and Sherellen Gerhart, M.D.’s motion for judgment on the pleadings to the Third Amended Complaint is denied. Defendants’ notice of motion does not indicate any specific causes of action that are the basis for this motion and therefore, this motion can only be seeking judgment on the pleadings as to the entire complaint. Thus, the motion will be denied if there is any valid claim in the complaint. (See Weil & Brown, Cal. Practice Guide: Civil Procedure Before Trial (The Rutter Group 2018) section 7:312, p.7(I)-91 [if challenging the entire pleading, “your motion may be denied if any one cause of action… is held to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action…”]; See, also, Warren v.
    [Show full text]
  • Res Judicata May Bar the Refiling of a Voluntarily Dismissed Claim
    JUNE 2008, VOL. 53, NO. 11 TRIAL BRIEFS The newsletter of the ISBA’s Section on Civil Practice and Procedure Caution: Res judicata may bar the refiling of a voluntarily dismissed claim By Timothy J. Chorvat and Sara S. Ruff1 n January of this year, the Illinois 12, at *2-3. wanton misconduct claim in Hudson II Supreme Court decided Hudson George’s parents initially filed a two- was not barred by res judicata because Iv. City of Chicago, No. 100466, count wrongful death complaint against there was no final adjudication on the 2008 Ill. LEXIS 12 (Ill. Jan. 25, 2008), the City of Chicago: Count I alleged merits of their willful and wanton mis- rehearing denied April 28, 2008. negligence and Count II alleged will- conduct claim in Hudson I. Id. Plaintiffs Hudson serves as a lesson to the ful and wanton misconduct (Hudson argued that Rein was distinguishable unwary wishing to voluntarily dismiss I). Defendants moved to dismiss Count and represented only a case-specific and refile their actions under Section I, claiming immunity under 210 ILCS decision rejecting abusive tactics in liti- 2-1009 of the Illinois Code: know the 50/3.150. The circuit court agreed and gation. Id. at *18. case law related to res judicata or you in October 1999 dismissed the negli- The Illinois Supreme Court agreed may find yourself without a remedy. gence count with prejudice. The action with defendants and affirmed the deci- Hudson arose from a deeply unfor- continued with respect to the willful sion of the appellate court. The court tunate event.
    [Show full text]
  • Its Brief, Lucky Says That Defense Preclusion Is Inefficient and Unfair
    No. 18-1086 In the Supreme Court of the United States Lucky Brand Dungarees, et al., Petitioners, v. Marcel Fashion Group, Inc., Respondent. On Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit BRIEF FOR RESPONDENT Eugene R. Fidell Michael B. Kimberly Yale Law School Counsel of Record Supreme Court Clinic Paul W. Hughes 127 Wall Street Andrew A. Lyons-Berg New Haven, CT 06511 McDermott Will & Emery LLP 500 North Capitol Street NW Louis R. Gigliotti Washington, DC 20001 Louis R. Gigliotti, PA (202) 756-8000 1605 Dewey Street [email protected] Hollywood, FL 33020 Robert L. Greener Law Office of Robert L. Greener P.C. 112 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10016 Counsel for Respondent TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................. 1 Statement .................................................................... 6 A. The 2001 lawsuit and settlement .................. 6 B. Lucky’s continued infringement of Marcel’s mark, and the 2005 suit .................. 6 C. Lucky’s identical post-judgment infringement, and the present suit ............. 11 Summary of Argument .............................................. 16 Argument ................................................................... 20 I. A defendant who loses in one lawsuit may not raise in a subsequent lawsuit involving the same cause of action a defense that was available in the first lawsuit .............................. 20 A. Res judicata promotes repose and the finality of judgments, discourages repetitive litigation, and preserves judicial resources ......................................... 22 B. Res judicata precludes not only claims, but also defenses .......................................... 24 1. Defense preclusion generally bars a former defendant from converting a neglected defense into a claim .............. 26 2. Defense preclusion also bars a defendant from raising in a second action a defense omitted from a first action addressing the same claims ......
    [Show full text]
  • Double Jeopardy Clause Not Offended by Appeal of Dismissal on Defendant's Motion If Dismissal Requires No Determination of Guilt
    Marquette Law Review Volume 62 Article 7 Issue 2 Winter 1978 Criminal Procedure: Double Jeopardy: Double Jeopardy Clause Not Offended by Appeal of Dismissal on Defendant's Motion if Dismissal Requires No Determination of Guilt. (United States v. Scott) Larry L. Shupe Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/mulr Part of the Law Commons Repository Citation Larry L. Shupe, Criminal Procedure: Double Jeopardy: Double Jeopardy Clause Not Offended by Appeal of Dismissal on Defendant's Motion if Dismissal Requires No Determination of Guilt. (United States v. Scott), 62 Marq. L. Rev. 289 (1978). Available at: http://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/mulr/vol62/iss2/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at Marquette Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Marquette Law Review by an authorized administrator of Marquette Law Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 1978] CRIMINAL PROCEDURE power cannot constitutionally be delegated to the Congress beyond the mark established in Katchen and Atlas.1'9 Ross F. PLAETZER CRIMINAL PROCEDURE-Double Jeopardy-Double Jeopardy Clause Not Offended by Appeal of Dismissal on Defendant's Motion if Dismissal Requires No Determina- tion of Guilt. United States v. Scott, 437 U.S. 82 (1978). Until 1970 the government's right to appeal a criminal case was limited by a number of jurisdictional provisions which greatly reduced the need to decide issues regarding the government's right to appeal
    [Show full text]
  • Supreme Court of the United States
    No. _________ ================================================================ In The Supreme Court of the United States --------------------------------- --------------------------------- TREVOR WALLACE, Petitioner, vs. STATE OF TENNESSEE, Respondent. --------------------------------- --------------------------------- On Petition For Writ Of Certiorari To The Tennessee Court Of Criminal Appeals At Nashville --------------------------------- --------------------------------- PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI --------------------------------- --------------------------------- GREGORY D. SMITH FRANK J. RUNYON, III Counsel of Record RUNYON AND RUNYON TN BPR #013420 TN BPR #018434 331 Franklin Street, Ste. 1 301 Main Street Clarksville, TN 37040 Clarksville, TN 37040 (931) 647-1299 (931) 647-3377 [email protected] Attorneys for Petitioner ================================================================ COCKLE LEGAL BRIEFS (800) 225-6964 WWW.COCKLELEGALBRIEFS.COM i QUESTION PRESENTED FOR REVIEW May a state appellate court revive a case that was dismissed with prejudice after a jury was sworn merely because the appellate court disagrees with the trial court’s announced dismissal with prejudice and comply with the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Consti- tution as interpreted by Lee v. U.S., 432 U.S. 23, 30 (1977)? ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page QUESTION PRESENTED FOR REVIEW .......... i TABLE OF AUTHORITIES ................................. iii OPINIONS BELOW ............................................. 1 STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION ....................
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 31 Mistrials
    Chapter 31 Mistrials 31.1 Purposes of Mistrial 31-2 31.2 Timing of Mistrial Order 31-3 31.3 Standard of Review on Appeal 31-3 31.4 Mistrial Based on Prejudice to the Defendant 31-4 A. Statutory Authority for Mistrial B. Timing of Motion C. Concurrence of the Defendant in Declaration of Mistrial D. Co-Defendants E. Misconduct by the Defendant F. Misconduct by a Juror G. Selected Examples 31.5 Mistrial Based on Prejudice to the State 31-7 A. Statutory Authority B. Co-Defendants 31.6 Impossibility of Proceeding in Conformity with 31-8 the Law A. Statutory Authority B. Physical Impossibility C. Physical Necessity 31.7 Juror Deadlock 31-10 A. Statutory Authority B. Capital Sentencing Hearings C. Retrial after Mistrial Based on Hung Jury D. Additional Resources 31.8 Findings of Fact 31-13 A. Statutory Requirement B. Purpose of Requirement C. Timing of Findings of Fact D. Failure to Make Findings E. Necessity for Objection F. Motion Granted at Defendant’s Request or with Defendant’s Acquiescence 31-1 Ch. 31: Mistrials (Dec. 2018) 31-2 31.9 Double Jeopardy and Mistrials 31-15 A. In General B. When Jeopardy Attaches C. Mistrial Declared for a Manifest Necessity D. Mistrial Granted on Defendant’s Motion or with Consent E. Preservation of Double Jeopardy Issue for Appellate Review When Mistrial is Granted on State’s Motion or by Trial Judge Ex Mero Motu F. No Set Limit on Number of Retrials G. Other Double Jeopardy Issues 31.10 Practical Effect of Mistrials 31-20 A.
    [Show full text]
  • Voir Dire of Jurors: Constitutional Limits to the Right of Inquiry Into
    VOIR DIRE OF JURORS: CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS TO THE RIGHT OF INQUIRY INTO PREJUDICEI JEFFREY M. GABA* Although the voir dire of jurors is one of the most significant mechanisms by which an impartial jury is secured,' as a practical matter the right to examine prospective jurors is not unlimited. Vested with great discretion, a trial judge may at some point constitu- tionally preclude inquiry into possible prejudice, but determining that point has not proved to be easy. Appellate courts have generally failed to adequately consider the concept of the impartial jury or the particular problems of voir dire.' Thus, trial judges have not had a principled basis on which to exercise control over the conduct of voir dire. In 1976, however, the Supreme Court in Ristaino v. Ross3 di- rectly considered the constitutional limits to voir dire and provided a test which could serve as a guide to trial court administration of the * B.A., UCSB 1972, J.D. Columbia University, 1976. The author wishes to express his appreciation for the assistance of Ms. Suzanne E. Schwartz and Mr. Michael Milburn, gradu- ate students at Columbia University School of Law and Harvard University, respectively. I. The impartiality of juries is a right guaranteed by the sixth, seventh, and fourteenth amendments to the United States Constitution, in all American courts, state and federal, criminal and civil. The sixth amendment provides that "in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury ... " Although expressly referring to criminal prosecutions, courts have held that the concept of the impartial jury is implicit in civil trials provided by the seventh amendment.
    [Show full text]
  • Racism, Juries, and Justice: Addressing Post-Verdict Juror Testimony of Racial Prejudice During Deliberations
    Maine Law Review Volume 62 Number 1 Article 12 January 2010 Racism, Juries, and Justice: Addressing Post-Verdict Juror Testimony of Racial Prejudice During Deliberations Andrew C. Helman University of Maine School of Law Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.mainelaw.maine.edu/mlr Part of the Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, Constitutional Law Commons, Criminal Law Commons, and the Evidence Commons Recommended Citation Andrew C. Helman, Racism, Juries, and Justice: Addressing Post-Verdict Juror Testimony of Racial Prejudice During Deliberations, 62 Me. L. Rev. 327 (2010). Available at: https://digitalcommons.mainelaw.maine.edu/mlr/vol62/iss1/12 This Comment is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at University of Maine School of Law Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Maine Law Review by an authorized editor of University of Maine School of Law Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RACISM, JURIES, AND JUSTICE: ADDRESSING POST-VERDICT JUROR TESTIMONY OF RACIAL PREJUDICE DURING DELIBERATIONS Andrew C. Helman I. INTRODUCTION A. A Tale of Two Juries B. Overview of the Problem II. THE CIRCUIT SPLIT ON RACIAL PREJUDICE A. Introduction to the Circuit Split B. The Tenth Circuit’s Opinion C. The Ninth Circuit’s Opinion D. Other Views III. MAINE’S UNSETTLED LAW A. Introduction B. Addressing the Problem Earlier in the Process 1. Voir Dire 2. During Trial 3. During Deliberations but Before Verdict C. Arguments for Allowing Post-Verdict Juror Testimony of Racial Prejudice 1. Racial Prejudice Is Misconduct Outside the Scope of Rule 606(b) 2.
    [Show full text]