SOTOMAY0R v. RICCI et al, No. 2:2008cv04108 - Document 21 (D.N.J. 2010)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Stanley R. Chesler on 03/03/2010. (nr, )
Download PDF
<![CDATA[
NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY MICHELLE P.. RICCI, et ci., MORANDUM OPINION Respondents. This matter comes before the Court upon Petitioner s filing of a § 2254 Petition. See Docket Entry No. 1. Petitioner was duly advised of his Mason rights. See Docket Entry No. filed their answer ( Answer ) to the Petition, 11, 13. and Petitioner duly filed his traverse. Moreover, shortcomings in Respondents 14, submission Docket Entry No. See Docket Entry No. stated in the Answer. of electronic Respondents filed a sur-reply, record and altering certain aspects of or in part, Respondents in response to the Court s order detailing certain Docket Entry No. the 5. e Docket Entry No. as Docket Entries Nos. supplementing Respondents 15 record, (repeated, position in full 17 and 20) Responcents electronic filing took place shortly after the Local Rules of this District were amended to require electronic filing causing Respondents certain confusion as to how to file and designate thirty-nine exhibits totali.ng five hundred and eighty three pages. I. FACTUAL DACK.OUND The facts underlying Petitioner s conviction are not in dispute. The incident giving rise to the convictions occurred on July 17, 1999 in Union City when [Petitioner] approached the female victim as she arrived at an apartment building and was about to open the door. [Petitioner] then started to strip off the victim s clothing and ignored her entreaties to take her pocketbook and leave her alone. He pulled a knife out, held it to her neck while continuing his attempt to remove her clothes, and engaged in a sexual act with her. When apparently somebody was heard coming [,] he ordered the victim to get dressed and told her he was taking her somewhere else. As they walked a couple of blocks the victim struggled with [Petitioner], cried and tried to push him away. He cut her hand and threatened to kill her it she left. A police officer on patrol observed [Petitioner] with the victim and when he saw that he was holding a knife to the victim a throat, he grabbed [Petitioner] from behind, took the knife from his hand and placed him under arrest. Docket Entry No. 11-15, at 3 (decision by the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, issued with regard to Petitioner s direct appeal). Petitioner s conviction followed a jury trial on eleven counts of a twelve count indictment charging the following offenses: first-degree aggravated sexual assault during the course of a burglary, first-degree aggravated sexual assault while armed with a knife, second degree sexual assault, two counts of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, third degree possession of a weapon (a knife) for an unlawful purpose, second degree 2 _____ burgl.ary, two counts of third-degrs..e terroristic threats, and : Entry No. II. 11 37, at 2. PETITIONER S INSTANT CHALLENGES The let it ion at hand is, c.ar ity because, alas, of less than exemplary instead of stating each ground of his challenges and Then following the same with snuporting facts, first stated: Petitioner . . Petitioner was denied effective assistance of counsel constitutionally guaranteed to him at trial, Docket Entry No. 1, at 4, and then elaborated as follows: During jury deliberations, the jurors asked if they could be given a copy of the instructions. Due to the absence of the stenographer, the trial judge ruled that a court clerk would be permitted to enter the deliberation room with the jurors to play back all or portions of the said tape containing the judge instructing the jury. Petitioner s counsel participated and agreed on this arrangement where also the jury foreman was permitted direct communication with the court clerk in regards to what the jurors needed to hear. This proceeding took place off the record and behind closed doors in the absence of the Petitioner, his counsel, and the trial judge s supervision. Petitioner s ppellate Counsel failed to raise this issue on direct appeal . . . . at 5 . (holding removed) These statements suggest that Petitioner wished to raise two one challeneino the fact that his trial counsel did nor object to a playback of the judicial instructions outside open court and another challengin3 Petirioner s anpellateco ursei decision not to challenge the decision of the trial counsel. 5 III. STATE PROCEEDINGS A. Timeliness At the earlier staes of these proceedinos, there was a certain confu.sion a.. s to timeliness of the Petition. Entry No. 14 ccnfusion . (this Court s order detailing t.he reasons for That asuect, aereement of See Docket toe p.arties seemiclv, was resolved to mutual tnat he De:ation is timel. e Docket hntry No. B. Exhaustion Here, Petitioner filed his direct appeal arguing the points wholly unrelated to the issue at bar. 11-8 to 11-14. relief ( PCR ) However, Petitioner s application, by Petitioner s counsel, Docket Entries Nos. se post-conviction as well as the PCR applications filed raised the issue at hand. Specifically, Petitioner s represented PCR applications at all three levels of the state court raised this challenge, but only with regard to the performance of Petitioner s trial counsel, Nos. 11 20, 11 29 and 11 40, Docket Entries while Petitioner s pg se PCR application raised this challenge with regard to both Petitioner s trial and anpellate counsel, Division level. See Doioet Entry ho. but 15 4, the chalienqes as to the performance of at only at the Law 5. Consecuently, Petitioner s appellate counsel remained unexhausted before the Appellate Division and the Supreme Court of New Jersey. 4 C) H- CD CD H CD C) it C) C) CD C) it C H- C) -- C) C) C C C) C) it HC) H C) CD CD H- - C) C it HC) C) C) C) C) CD C) C) C) - CD it H- C Hit HC) C C) Hit C CD CC C) CD C) CD it CD C) Hit CD CD CD . NJ J CD it Cx) C) C) C) C) CD CD C it C) CD Hit C) CC C) CD CC HCD it C) C) H- C) C C) CD C) C H- H it C ¢ NJ C) CD CD ¢ C) C) HH C) it C) H CD C) C). NJ (3) cix C) C) ¢ - C) H- C C) H C) H- C) C H- C) C it CD CD C) C) H- - C) CD C) C) CD CD ix C) it H it C C) C) it C) CD HCD CD CD C) C) HCD CC C) H- CC C it Hit C) C) C C) CD H Hit CD it C) CD CD CD it C) C CD it HC) CD CC CD C CD C) C) CC C) H- C) CD CD C) C CD Hit it C) C) C) C) C) - C) C) ¢ H- C it C) C H- CD C) CD it CD C it H CD C) C) C) C) C) HH C) C) < CD C) C) CD H- C) it CD it it CD C) it C) HCD CD it C) H CD C) C) C C) H- C CD C) C C) CD CD C) CD CD C C) N C) C) C H ¢ C) C) C) CD C) CD it C) CD it C) H NJ - - C) C) C) NJ NJ C) C) CD H C C it C) C) C) CD C) it C C) CC CD CD CD C HC) it Hit CD C) H- C) it CD H H- C C it CC C) CD CD C C) H- it - C) 0 C H CD it CD rt CD it C) CD H- it 0 H it ¢ < CD C) C) C CD CD CD CD H it C C) H Hit CD C) HC - C) CD C C) CD C it C) C) C) C) 0) C) C) HCD CD CD C) CD H- C) C C C C HC) C) CD it HC) < C) it C) CD C) C) CD C/) CD C) CD CD it C) C) C C) C) CC C) C it H C) C C) it HC) HCD C) H CD it HC) C C CD CD H C H it C) CD Hit HC) CD CD C H CD C) C) CD CC CD C) CD it C) C) CD CD CD CD HCD it H C) CD H Hit C) C it CD it C) it CD C) C C) CD H- C) C) C CD C) C) C C) C) H CD CD CC C) it C) CD C) C) CD H- it CD H CD CC Hit CD C) C) it H- HCD C) C) H- C C) f-i- it C) CD it CD CD it CD H HC it C) CD HC it o C CD C) o rt CD CD H CD C) C) C) CD C) C) CD it Hit HC) C C) C) H- C) CD C) CD C it it C) CD CD it it CD H C) it CD C) CD CD C) C C) CD C CD it CD - H- CD it C CD C) CD CC it C) CD CD H Hit CD C) it C) CD C C) C H CD C) CD it C) HCD C) C CD C) C) HC C) CC CD C) C) it C) it C) H CD C it CD HC) CD C) it C) C C) H- CD C CC C) H- it C) CD C) C) N) NJ CC HC) it C) CD NJ it H- C) CD C it CC CD H H CD C C CD CD H CD C) C) CD CD --. C it HC) C) C) CD C) H it C C) CD CD CD C) C) C) CD H H- C) C CD CD it HC) it H- C) H- CD - CD H C CD it Hit HC) C) C C) CD H- CD H CD CD Hit C) C) it C) C CD C) CD CD C C) C) C) NJ cix ix) CD CD C) CD C) C CD C) C) CD H- C) CD C) - CD NJ c3 C) C) CD H- C) C!) C) C) C) C) Ci) C) C) C) C) C) C) C) C) C .C C ¢ C) it < CD CD C) C) C) CD H C C CD it CD DC C C) CD H < ¢CD CD C C) C) H- CD H CD C C) CD HCD CD C) C) HCD CD - CD C C) H- it C) C) C Hit HC) it CD C) H C C) it C) C) CD C HC) it H- it C) CD C) it CD H CD C C) H it it CD C) CD C) H H HCC CD C) CD C) C) C H it C) CD C) C it C) C it Hit H- C) 3 HCC CD C) CD C) C) H- -. CD H Hit CC C) H- C C CD CC C) CD C HCD C) C) CD C) CD it CD it C) CD H C U- CD C) Hit HC) C) it C CC Hit C) C) C it Hit HC) C) CD CD C) it C) H CD it C CD CC C) CD C) C) it CD C) C) C) C) C) N) CD it Hit HC) C) it C) C) C) CD C) it C) CD H C) C C) C it Hit H- C) CD it C) CD C) CD C) C) CD CD CD it C) H- H CD CD H- U) C) rt Cx) OD Nc N) C) 0 C) C) it C) C) U) C) N U) C) N N U) () N C) C) C) C) c fl N) N) U) C) (1) cC C)) N) . . CC N) Ci] C) U) CC HN C) C) N) ¢ < H) C) it C) N) N) C) , U) it C) it C) C) 0 N - N) C) C C) H0 C) rt C) it 0 C) C) it H- C) C) it U) < H0 N) C) it C) U) HC) it H(C C) < C) C) C) C) it U) C) CC C) Hit C) U) 0 it CO CO N) CD) C) C) D) U) C) it U) C) N HC) C) - it 0 U) Hit C) C) N) H- H C) C) 0 C) N it C) N C) N) U) it C) C). : HC) N C) U) C) U) C) C) C) C) C) it HC) U) U) C). C) HC) U) C) C) C) U) it N cx) C) (Si N) N) U) ¢ C) (/) CC Cx) N) C) U)itOU) C)H-C)C)C) C) N N U) U)C)itC)U) C) 0 N) H- 0 0 C) HititC) C) C) N)H-C) U) it U) C) HU) U)C)0C)0 it C)C)C) C) C) it it it it C) U)00 C) C)U)N ¢ U) C) itC)C) U)U)0NC)NC) C)0NH C)C)C)it itC)C) U) H-U)C)QHit C)itC) C)itit it itU) U)N H-C)itC)HOitOU)C) C) C) it U)itC) 0C)U)C)C) N C) 0 HC)C) N) C) Li- 0 N C) UNit CH-U)U) C)C)U)C)C) C) U) 0 C) C) C) NC)C)H-N) C)itC)N) itit N 0 0 U) C) C)U)itC)C) C)U) U)it it C)C)C) H- HN) N C)C)U)itit C) it C) <C)OHOH-ititC) itOC) N) C) C) N) C) it C) U) C) N C) N) H0 N) C) it C) C) < U) U) C) C) it 0 C) C) - C) it C) C) HC) C) it U) DC U) C) N C) C) C) N) U) C) C) C) it C) C) C) C) 0 N C) 0 C) < HC) it H0 C) C) it C) it C) C) H Hit N) ( 0 U) C) C) u N) N) (1) C) C) it HC) C) < H ttj 0 U) U) C) C) C) >C U) C) C) C) it C) U) C) N) C) it Hit H0 C) C) N C) it C) it C) C) Cl) U) U) C) Hit C) U) C) C) C) U) H- C) U) C) N) N) C) C) U) HC) U) U) 0 C) C) it Hit H0 C) U) C) U) C) C) U) C) it C) it C) C) N C) it < H C) C) U) C) N) N) C) C) U) C) U) HC) C) C) HC) U) U) C) C) - U) . . Q U) it H0 C) it U) C) C) it HN) H- 0 CC N) C) C) C) )< U) C) C) C) it 0 U) N 0 U) C) N Hit HC) U) C) it C) 0 C) N it it U) C) C) C) it C) N it C) H- it 0 0 C) H- HC) it U) C) N HC) Li- C) 0 C) N it it U) C) - 0 C) C) C) C) N) C) it N HC) N) U) HC) () it C) C) C) C) U) C) N it 0 N it U) C) it 0 C) U) C) N) N) C) C) U) C) C) C) H0 C) C) N it N) C) it H- C) C) C) C) C) - C) N Hit C) DC N) it U) 0 C) it DC U) C) N) N) U) C) N C) C) U) U) C) C) N) U) HN C) C) it C) C) N) C) C) C) C) C) C) U) HC) C). C) it C) (C C) C) U) C) N it 0 N U) C) it it 0 C) C) C) U) C) N) N) C) C) U) C) C) C) - HQ C) C) N it N) C) it H- C) HC) C) C) - N) C) N C) HC) U) C) U) C) C) C) C) U) N it U) C) C) it HC) C) it N) 0 C) it U) N C) C). N C) C) C) C) N HN) U) C) C) C) C) C) C) C) 0 it C) 0 C) it it U) C) C) it it U) N 0 C) U) U) U) C) U) it C) HC) C) U) HC) U) N C) C) HC) C) () it C) it it 0 N it it U) C) C) 0 C) N it Hit HC) U) U) Q (. C) U) HC) H0 it U) C) Q it C) C) U) C) C)) it C) )( C) it U) C) C) C) C) C) C) N C) N) U) ( 0 C) N) U) HN C) C) N Hit C) C) C) C) N) c-f it HC) U) ) 0 C) it C) 0 C) C) U) HC) N) it C) it it 0 HU) C) C) it HC) C) N) C) L C) C) N) U) c. C) C) C) N) C) H- N) C) C) C) it C) N H- U) C) C). C) it C) U) C) C) C) U) HC) U) C) N) C) it C) it 0 C) it Hit H0 C) C) N U) it U) C) HC) U) C) N) N) 0 C) C) N Hit N) C) C) C) C) N C) C) N) C) H C). C) - U) C) it Hit H0 C) C) N H it - C) H- C) C) C) it C) U) N N) C) U) - 0 U) it H0 C) it U) C) C) C) it < C) it it CD it C) CD Cl Cl CD Cl C) (02 it 0/) it CD Cl CD Cl .CD Cl CD it CD it CD C) 0 it C) CD it Cl LCD CD H- Cl Cl H- it it Cl CD it it CD 0 it Cl H- C) CD Cl it C) HCD CD it ¢ CD C) CD it C) CD CD Cl CD CD Cl CD Cl CD 0 C) CD it it CD Cl CD 0 0 Cl Cl it CD CD it CD F C) CD it C) CD CD Cl C) CD CD Cl C) it ¢ it C) Cl ¢ H- C) it C) CX) it CC. - it it it Cl C) U] it C) CD Cl C) CD CD Cl CD C) Cl CD C) H0 Cl it C) C) Cl CD CD Cl (0 CD C) it Cl Cl 0 C) H- CD Cl C) HCl LCD Cl H- Cl 1) 0 Cl it Cl CD C) it CD Cl o C) (0 Cl Cl CD C) it H- CD Cl CD. Cl C CD Cl CD C) it CD CD C) CD it CD CD C) CD it it C) CD it CD C) Cl CD CD Cl Cl CD it CD C) CD Cl Cl it CD C) CD CD. CD Cl CD it C) C) it ¢ it Cl C) CD. it . C) C) - 00 it C) ¢ C) C) C) -, C) Cl < CD Cl ¢ Cl CD Cl CD CD Cl C) H0 ¢ it it C) C) C) it C) ¢ Cl) ¢ C) C) U] it C) - ¢ C) HCl Cl it ----- it C) CC) C) 0) it it CD. ¢ C) it U] 0 Cl it CD Cl C) 0 it HCl CD it HCD Cl CD CDCD it CD Cl it 0 (1 CD it CD Cl CD Cl CD CD CD Cl C) H- Cl CD it it Cl 0 C) U] (0) C) it ¢ C) HCl it C) . it it - it it CC C) it CD. ¢ C) 1 00 CC CD Cl Cl CD H- it ¢ C) it Cl H- CD Cl Hit C) CC 0 CD Cii it it Cl (I) Cl H- Cl Cl Cl 0 C) Cl ¢ it CD Cl Cl CD 0 Cl H- C) CD it CD it CD (1 CD ¢ C) CD Cl it CD CD CD - ¢ Hit it CD Cl CD 0 0 Hit CD it H0 Cl . C) C) C F- ¢ HCl C) it C) C) it C) - C) C) C) CD. it C) it C) it - C) 0 Cl DI it ¢ Cl C) it H- Cl) ¢ 0 it CD H- C) 0 Cl CD it Hit Cl it H0 Cl CD it CD Cl CD HCD CD LCD CD Cl CD Cl CD it it C) Cl 0 it 0 CD CD CD. CD CD CD CC Cl CD Hit 0 it HCD CD C) C) it H0 CD it HCD Cl CD Cl Cl it CD C) CD it CD it CD CD it C) CD it CD C) it it CD C) CD C) CD it CD C) C) C) C) C) it H- CD CD Hit HCl it C) ¢ C) I it it - Cl CD CD Cl CD it CD 0 it Cl Cl 0 Cl) CD HCD it H- - CD Cl CD 0 Cl CD Cl C) ¢ it C) C) J C) HCl CD. it C) ¢ Cl C) CD C) Cl CD 0 Cl ¢ C) it CD Cl CD CD it Cl C) CD CD CD CD C) Cl CD CD C) it C) it it LCD it C) CD Cl CD it C) it CD CD CD Cl CD C) CD 0 (02 CD it CD CD. C) CD C) Ci) Cl Cl CD it CC it CD it CD CD CD it 0 it Cl Cl 0 Cl CD C) it (0) it C) Cl H- it 0 0 Cl H- CD it it Cl CD it CD C) it C) ¢ Cl C) it it - it C) -U ¢ U) ¢ C) U] CO CD it CD H- C) HCD Cl CD CD. C) Cl. CD CD CD Cl HCD CD Cl CD Cl CD CD CD C) C) Cl C) C) CD it it C) CD Cl HI Cl CD it C) Cl CD CC C) 0 Cl Cl it CD Cl HCl CD C) CD it CD it CD CD it C) CD it 0 Cl CD C) C) Cl HCD CD it CD it CD CD it it ¢ it C) 0) it 0 CD Cl C) C) HCl CD CD ¢ CD Cl C) CD Cl Cl Cl CD CD CD H- it it ¢ CD it CD C) C) it HC) CD C) it CD Cl CD Cl CD it CD CD it Cl CD Cl CD it H- H- Cl CD C) Cl Cl CD CD it it CD LCD CD CD Cl CD Cl Cl H- it C) C) H- CD CD H- (ii C) it it CC ct HLCD C) Cl CC C) CD Cl Cl CD 0 )t CD it C) it CD Cl CD Cl CD Cl HCl it CD Cl CD C) CD Cl Cl LCD CD Cl CD CD Cl. H- C) Cl C) 0 it it it - C) C) it ¢ U) ¢ C) it CD LCD CD Cl U] U] C) Cl C) CD it H- it it C) H- * Cl Hit C) Ci) CD Cl CD HCD Cl H- CD. it C) Cl CD it it CD it C- it Cl 0 Cl C) HCD HCD it Cl Cl L_) CD ct CD it CD Cl CD Cl CD C) it CD Cl it C) 0 Cl H- L< Cl C) CD Cl Cl HCD 0 Cl CD Cl CD C) C) it CD. it CD Cl Cl 0 C) it it C) CD Cl CD Cl CD it it it C) C) C) HCl it Cl - U] C) it - it it U] it Cl C). CO Where a federal claim was adiudicated on the merits court proceedinus, in state § 2254 does not permit habeas relief unless ad)udication of the c.Lai i a ces llll as coW rinvolved an anreasc ¢nable acolication ot, established bederal Paw, as determired by 2 28 U.S.C. resulted in a decision that was. based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding. § 2254(d). A decision is contrary to state court contradicts Supreme Court s] cases a Supreme Court holding the governing law s.et or if it forth in if the [the confronts a set of facts that are materially indistinguishable from a decision of th[e Supreme] Court and nevertheless arrives at a [different] Rompilla v. Horn, (3d Cir. Williams v. Taylor, 355 P.3d 233, 529 U.S. 250 362, 405-06 result. 2004) (quoting (2000)). Under the unreasonable application clause, a federal habeas court may grant the writ if the state court identifies the correct governing legal principle from th[e Supreme] Court s An adjudication on the merits has a well settled meaning: a decision finally resolving ire parties ciarms., with jud5cata effect, that is based on the substance of the claim advanced, rather than on a procedural, or other, ground. Sellan v. Kuhlman, 26.1 F. 3d 303, 311 (2d Cir. 2001) A. state court may render an adjudication or decision on the merits of a federal by rejecting the claim without any discussion whatsoever. See Rompilla v. Horn, 355 F. 3d 233, 247 (3d Cir. 2004) , rev d on other orounds, Rompilla v. Beard, 545 374 2005;. . the urisoner s case. hiliiams, 527 2.5. at 5. hhet3ier a state court s application of federal taw is unreasonable must be ludged objectively; V. an application may be incorrect, but still STATE COURT FINDING The state courts, while addressinq Petitioner s challenges with regard to the performance of Petitioner s trial counsel, found as follows: [C]ounsel s failure to object to a tape recorded playback of jury instructions did not constitute [A] decision represents an unreasonable application of precedent only when that decision applies a precedent in a context different from the one in which the precedent was decided and one to which extension of the legal principle of the precedent is not reasonable, when that decision fails to apply the principle of a precedent in a context where such failure is unreasonable, or when that decision recognizes the correct principle from the higher court s precedent, but unreasonably applies that principle to the facts before it (assuming the facts are insufficiently different from those that gave rise to the precedent as to constitute a new context for consideration of the principle s applicability). Matteo v. Superintendent, Sd Albion, 171 F.3d 865, 870 (3d Cir. 1999) (Becker, J. concurring) (quoting Green v. French, 143 F. 3d 865 (4th Cir. 1998)) A state court s finding can be neither unreasonable nor contrary to clearly established federal law as determined by the United States Supreme Court when there exists no precedent regarding the issue. See Lockyer v. Andrade, 538 U. S. 63, 71 73 2CD3) (habeas court must decide if there is oiear urecedent of inc United States Sucren.e Court as oiearly established phrase refers to the holdinos, as opposed to the dicta, of the Court s decisions as of the time of tne relevant state court decision ); see atso Mitchell v. Esparza, 540 U.S. 12, 17 (2003) ( A federal court may not overrule a state court for simply holding a view different from its own, when the precedent from this Court is, at best, ambiguous ) . 0 rf a sss:a ot cse roar cx varte communica: :ons are orea: : soeo a er rean exchannes accomuancino ir roiso be recorded in full. ¢ There was, however, no live readback in this case. scu ode o0 e ccrooo the: dodd can uresenoed oc ohem earl icr i.n onen court. Therefore, there was no risk of inadvertent deviation or in corsistency, and [Petitioner I could have suffered no prejudice from counsel s failure to object on this matter. - - Docket Entry No. VI. 11-37, at 7-8 (citations to state law omitted) ANALYSIS The Counsel Clause of the Sixth Amendment provides that a criminal defendant shall enjoy the right the Assistance of Counsel for his defense. amend. VI. The right to counsel assistance of counsel. 771 n.14 (1970). ¢ ¢ . U.S. to have Const. is the right to effective McMann v. Richardson, 397 U.S. 759, To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a habeas petitioner must show both that his counsel s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonable professional assistance and that there is a reasonable probability that, unprofessional errors, differeno. but for counsel s the outcome would have been See Strickland v. Washin ton, 466 U.S. 668, 687, A reascnabie usonabiii:y is a urobabiiioy sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Id. 694. at Counsel s errors must h.ave been so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, - a trial whose result is reliable. conviction, Id. a: 6i. When a defendant ::hailenoes a the cuestion is whether there is a reasonable orobability that, absent the errors, the fac.t finder would have had a reasonable doubt respecting guilt. . Here, t.he Petition does not suggest, d. at 695. even remotely, that the jurors would have develoned a reasonable doubt with resoect to Petitioner s uilt had The niavback was conducted in open ccurt counsel, (i.e., in the cresence of Petitioner, the judçe and s:enographer . Moreover, his not a single statement made in the Petition suggests that, the playback, during the jurors heard anything but the actual recording of the instructions already given to them in open court. That itself: (a) brings the performance of Petitioner s counsel outside the realm where errors are so serious as to deprive [Petitioner] result is reliable, Strickland, of a fair trial 466 U.S. at 687; [which] and (b) renders the decision of the state court not an unreasonable application of Strickland, that is, if this Court were to presume that any Strickland-based considerations were on the state court s mind when it qualified the playback as ex carte communications between the ludue and the urors. If this Court were to hypothesize that the ex parts coesnunications issue was, in fact, Petitioners state proceedings, implicated in the state court finding II ureceder.:. soon, See Rusoen Scam, 464 5.5. 1j4 :he Soc rome burr nei: S e rot cers:a_ rse ze an a staces or the :ria :5 a ruociameoral r:nhts ot ean cr:rrmnam defendant.. At the same time and without detracting frcm the fundamental importance of [this rioht], we have implicitly recognized the necessi.ty for preserving society s interest in the administration of criminal justice. Cases involving [such constitutional] deprivations are [therefore) subject to the general rule that remedies should be tailored to the injury suffered and should not unnecessarily infringe on competing interests. United States v. Morrison, 449 U.S. 361, 364 (1981); see also Rogers v. United States, 422 U.S. 35, 38-40 (1975). In this spirit, we have previously noted that the Constitution does not require a new trial every time a juror has been placed in a potentially compromising situation [because] it is virtually impossible to shield jurors from every contact or influence that might theoretically affect their vote. Smith v. Phillips, 455 U.S. 209, 217 (1982) There is scarcely a lengthy trial in which one or more jurors do not have occasion to speak to the trial judge about something, whether it relates to a matter of personal comfort or to some aspect of the trial. The lower federal courts conclusion that an unrecorded ex parte communication between trial judge and juror can never be harmless error ignores these . . . . . . . It is important to distinguish extraneous materials and ex parte contacts. Where extraneous material is submitted to the jury, the defendant will receive a new trial if the court finds a reasonable possibility that the material could have affected the verdict. See United States v. Madrid, 842 5. 2d 1090, 1093 94 9th Sir.) , cern. denied 488 U.S. 312 (1983) In contrast, where ex came ccnacns are involved, :he :defendn will receive a new . -d v - - -,1rt . - t-rN--. r - S ;---i--, C - oeredart ee c an 91 -ore, t-e ca oac oa ary <:ra ecs ranerial iOrocce Tereore, Petti:er nas to shoq tat e as acrua cre-tced ny one orors listerg to the instructions once anain. The Petition, however, is void of any aliegatlons no that enfect (ann the Court cannot begin to fancy an argoment that Petitioner in support of such position) day to day re ali.ties of courtroom life and undE..rmines soci.ety s interest in the admini.strati.on of crim.inal justic.e. at 117 (emphasis supJied) Here, the process of playi.ne back the instructions given in open ccurt cannot be qua.lifiec as a cxuciai stage of Petitioner s criminal proceedings, subjecting Petitioner s trial cou.rt s decision to allow the playback outside open coirt to harmle ss error analysis. Where a constitutional error has occurred, subject to harmless error analysis. F.3d 400, (1999) . 416-17 (1997); Neder v. Only if the influence on the verdict, Smith v. United States, [federal habeas] record that the error had a it generally is Horn, 527 U.S. 1, 8-11 court concludes from the substantial and injurious effect or or if it is in grave doubt whether that is so, the error cannot be deemed harmless. Smith, F.3d at 418 (citing California v. 5 the error inquiry pertains, 120 Roy, 519 U.S. as it is here, 2, 120 (1996)) . If to jury instructions, In Rushen, the Court applied harmless error analysis to a trial judge s cx parte communications with a juror about the juror s personal iteraction with a police informant currently testifyi.ng before the. juror. See Rushen, 464 U.S. at 120-21, Neither defense counsel nor the prosecutor learned of the cx parte communications until after the trial. The Rushen Court found that the post-trial hearing held on the matter provided sufficient evidence the communication between the judge and juror was innocuous and that no bias infected the jury s deliberations. See id. 13 F- a a CD C) F - to C a F C) a a CD J$ 0 0 CD F F a ¢ 0 s iD w H ¢ a o F - Ca) - -4 o s F-f n ¢ CD ft ft CD H 0 a ft a CD ft 0 a to C CD C) a a F- F CD to - Hi i- i- - a ft F a F - 0 a a 0 0 CD a F ¢ 0 0 C H to C CD a F to a CD a F CD to ft a a F to 0 Hi C) CD a a ft 0 * CD F F- - 0 ft CD H F Hi to 0 to to C CD to F - a CD a , Os a s a Cd -i ¢ CD F i-h w 0 , a to a H CD i- CD a to C) 0 C CD ft a C o C) CD ft a a ft F CD F I- - a C) p 1< r Pc- kt a 0 t H F a ¢ a to to CD a F - to a F - 0CD C F F- F to CD F C) 0 C a F- F - ft H a F to Hi 0 C) CD a 0 Hi 0 CD H a CD Ct ft 0 C CD to a C) a a F F CD a CD DC a a C to ft CD F- C a C to - F Hi Hi a ft a F - F- to to o a a to CD H a CD to CD H ft 0 rj ¢ C) CD a a ct to F - a to to a F o a F - 0 H 0 Hi CD to to a a 0 F- CD H CD a to 0 a a H a o Hi a to ft a CD C) ft F 4 CD i-I- 0 0- a a 0CD F- 0 * CD a a 0 Hi i-c 0 CD to a CD F a to C) 0 C ft a CD C a F - a H 0 ft a a C) a C CD a C) a a F- F CD C C) a 0 Hi a 0 F - to to o a F - a a CD to c a a 0 CD CD H H 0 H CD to to i a a a CD a C C) a a F- F- CD ft 0 C a Hi a F F F - F a 4 CD F - n CD C) ft m i-h a F - ft a 0 * a to a a CD F a to C) 0 C to a ft F Hi Hi to F- a F - ft a a ft CD to ft a 0F- F to a CD to a 0- a CD H H 0 H F CD to to a a a ct 0 to a ft C a to 0 a C) c < 0 F- a ft a CD a ft C H a F - E a F C) a ¢ ft F CD to to F - H o a a CD C ft F - ft F - ft to a C) 0 ft a CD 4 F 0 F a ft CD to ft a a ft C a C a a F - a ft H C C) ft F 0 a F a to Q. CD Pg 0 C) CD ig t,- c a to CD h Lq a CD ri a 0 0 F F CD a a 4 CD ft a a 0 C) 0 C F- C H 0 H to -1- ft a CD ft a a ft a a F - F C) 4 a a o a C ft F - ft F - ft C) 0 a to ft a CD 4 F 0 F a ft CD to ft a a ft C a 4 a a F a ft H C C) ft F 0 a to F - F- a I- b I- q o H n b CD a CD F a 0 0 F- C H 0 H to I- - ft a CD ft a a ft a to to CD H ft a 0 ft CD to a 0 H a CD ft F 0 F - to CD ft F a C) CD Cl) ¢ C) 0 C H ft a 0 0 CD F - a a CD 0 C ft to F - CD to a ft a CD 0 Hi H CD 0 F a C a a a a C) 0 C H ft a 0 CD a 0 F - a 4 CD C a to 0 ft F - C) C P1 ft a to F - H I n 1- cx I- ia a ¢ a a C) 0 to ft F ft C ft F 0 a CD ft a ft CD to I- 0 4 F - 14 F I t K) IZ lCD I- - ¢ 0 a o F .) e -J Cd ft a a ft a F a ¢ C F (is a 0 H F C F - - ft a CD 0 Hi F to ft to a to C) 0 C) a a H C CD F- H a F CD 0 4 ft a CD CD X CD w a w a a C a 4 a a F a to ft H C C) ft F 0 F - a C CD C) a a F- F CD ft a CD a F CD a F- a 0 a a to C H 4 i-I- CD a ft ft a a ft a a 0 0 F - DcCD F F - F a 0 F- CD a H CD a to 0 a F to ft a CD H CD E a CD ft a CD H - Z CD a F - II ft CD o a CD ft CD H C aa C) a 0 4 CD H a F F ft a CD 0 Hi ft CD K ft C) 0 ft a CD a F a 4 F CD C CD 0CD C to ft 0 C ft a 0 F - ft a F- F to 0 S a a H ft F Hi F C) F a F C a C CD a F a 0CD 0 ft a a a C to a 0 F - to ft H C C) F - ft a CD Ft (Ii C)_ Di U) Di Ft ¢ 0 Ft CD C) HDi Ft El Ft Ft Ft CD tl a C)) CD CD CD a 0 Ft HC) CC) 0 a U) Ft U) Ft Di C) Ft HDi a U) C) Di CD a El C) 0 Ft 0 C) H Ft CD C) Di C) CI) CD a HFt HFt a Di Ft Ft CD Di Ft Di 0 Ft C) CD H Ft HFt HC) Di Ft CD Di CD C) HCD U) a CD a a H3 HC) C) CD H HFt Ft CD Ft Ft C) Hi CD Ft Ft Hi cC) ¢ Ft ¢ C) ¢ 0) Ft CD H a C) C) Ft a Ft H- t HC) C) Di Ft Ft C) Ft Ft H- C) (3 C) U) < H 3 H Z1 0 LXI -3 C) Lxi l tH hj H H H ¢ ¢ -- Di U) U) HU) Ft Di C) C) CD HC) CD Ft Ft CD C) Ft HH CD a CD H CD a C) H CD a Di a Ft C) U) CD C) C) 0 Ft H HDi Ft Di Ft a Ft Di H Ft C) CD Ft 0 Ft Di HFt C) H CD U) C) 0 C) C) Cr1 CD Ft Ft Di Ft CD Ft Di Ft Ft CD C< a a H0 Ft Di Ft CD < Di CI) a 0) - Ft Ft Ft c HFt t- Di Ft a Ft Di Dii C)) CD Di Ft 0. HH CD C) Ft 0 C) C) 0 C) C) U) CD Ft 0 Ft Di U) U) HU) Ft Di C) C) CD CD Ft Ft CD C) Ft H< CD Di Ft Hi ¢ ) c C) 0 C) C) U) CD Ft U) - Ft H0 C) CD H H- Ft CD Ft Ft C5C 0) C) a Di C) < ¢ < Ft a C) CD a a Ft El (3) Hi ¢ o Ft Ft C) Ft Di H- Ft Ft 0 Hi U) CD Ft HFt H0 C) CD H Ft U) Ft Di Ft CD Di C) C) 0 H oi Ft Ft Di Ft Ft Cl 0) ((3 0 C) CD U) Ft CD CD CD (1 El C) CD C) Ft HC) Ft X a HC) a CD C) Ft El C) 0. Ft LJ H0 C) Di Ft U) Ft H 0 Ft CD U) 0 Ft CD H C) HU) CD CD C) Ft Ft Ft 0 U) HU) U) C) CD a HC) a Ft CD C) HU) H0 C) CD Ft a CD H HFt El 0 C) Ft a a LJ Dii CD H Ft 0 H HU) Di Ft Ft CD Di Ft )( HFt CD H CD a Ft H CD C) Ft HU) Di Ft Ft CD Di Ft C) C) Ft C) H U) C) CD Di C) co CD co Ft ¢ Ft Ft 0 HH a Ft HCI) Ft H C) C) a H El C) Ft Di H- U) - Ft CD Ft HFt H0 C) CD H CD H CD Ft 0 H CD H a HFt El Ci) Di Ft C)) CD Di Ft C) C) ¢ U) C) C) C) CD U) U) Ft C) Ft U) CD Ft CD C) Ft HC) Ft C) 0 Ft H( a CD HC) CD Ft Ft CD C) Ft H- Ft 0 H a C)) H CD Ft CD H H CD HFt H0 C) CD H Ft Ft CD ( Di U) C) 0 C) C) U) CD Ft Di C)) Dii CD Ft Ft Di Ft CD U) H- a H C) 0 C) Ft H H- CD H CD H H( H Di HU) CD fl--- C) 0 Ft El Di X H- > ¢ cxi ui Ft ---- Ft 01 01 Ft o 01 Ft ¢ Ft oi a CD * - Ft Ho CD Ft H CD C) CD Ft CX) C) Ft a 0 0 CD Ft - a Ft 01 co a El Di Ft CD H Ft H Di C) Ft a Ft a El Ft ¢ C) 0 Ft a C) CD CD CD Ft C) 0 C) C) CD C) Ft Di H- CD N CD Ci H- 01 Ft El Ft 0 Ft 0 C) U) HC) U) 0 Ft 0) Ft Di .H C) CD U) 0 C) Ft a U) a Di C) C)) C)) CD Ft Ft Di Di Ft El a C) Ft Di H- a a Ft a CD CD H a 0 H HC) El CD a Ft 0 C) Ft El El Di Ft H 0 CI) CD Ft CD C) Ft H Ft 0 C) CD U) Ft CD (3 ¢ it Di C) a CD Ft CD C) a CD Ft a Ft a a CD Ft H CD Ft C) CD U) El C) Ft Di H- C) Ft C) C) U) < H- Fj C) 0 C) Ft C CD H CD H Di HU) CD C) Ft a H CD Q C) HH CD Ft Ft Ft C) 0 C) U) Ft HFt C) Ft H(3 C) Di C) 0 Ft o U) C) 0 C) C) U) CD. Ft N) Ft CD C) Di 4 C Li) La 0 Ft C) CD Ft C) Di Ft Ft CD Ft 0 Ft CD Ft Ft N) Ft N) CD U) CD In U) Di Ft CD. C) CD N (1) N) CU C) CD N Ft CD CD N) Ft CD LCD Ft Di Di Ni Ui Ft C) N) N) Ft Ft (11 U) C) C) CD CD CD LCD CD c ¢ CU Ft 0 CD Ft N) N (1 CD O Di CD C) 0 ci: H C) Q. Ft C) CD CD CD N) U. 0 Z 0 Dl CD Ft Ft N) CD CD C). CD Ft Ft Ft Di Y Ft H H Ft U N) Di H Ft CD CD Di i t,
]]>
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You
should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
