ROBINSON v. STATE

ROBINSON v. STATE
2011 OK CR 15
Case Number: F-2009-1168
Decided: 04/21/2011
KEVIN WAYNE ROBINSON, Appellant, v. STATE OF OKLAHOMA, Appellee.

OPINION

SMITH, JUDGE:

¶1 Kevin Wayne Robinson was tried by jury and convicted of Murder in the First Degree in violation of

¶2 Robinson argues in Proposition I that his case must be reversed because he was not afforded nine peremptory challenges. Every defendant in a first degree murder case is entitled by statute to nine peremptory challenges.

¶3 However, it is time to reexamine our decision in Golden. Peremptory challenges are granted by state statute, not the Oklahoma or federal constitutions.

¶4 There is a strong presumption that errors which occur during trial are subject to harmless error analysis, as long as a defendant is represented by counsel and is tried by an impartial judge. Neder v. United States,

¶5 The Supreme Court has addressed the issue of whether denial of peremptory challenges is or is not structural error in a series of cases. In Swain v. Alabama,

¶6 Finally, the Supreme Court recently held that state law, not federal law, determines the consequences when a peremptory challenge is erroneously denied. Rivera v. Illinois, __ U.S. __, 129 S. Ct. 1446, 1450, 173 L. Ed. 2d 320 (2009). In Rivera, the Illinois Supreme Court had applied state law in concluding that denial of the right to peremptory challenges was not structural error. That court found that the error in Rivera's case was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The Supreme Court granted certiorari to resolve the apparent conflict among jurisdictions as to whether the error was structural or subject to harmless error analysis. The Court concluded, "If a defendant is tried before a qualified jury composed of individuals not challengeable for cause, the loss of a peremptory challenge due to a state court's good-faith error is not a matter of federal constitutional concern. Rather, it is a matter for the State to address under its own laws." Rivera, 129 S. Ct. at 1453. The Court further found that good-faith errors of state law do not always result in federal due process violations. A trial decision which violates state law did not violate due process where there was "no suggestion here that the trial judge repeatedly or deliberately misapplied the law or acted in an arbitrary or irrational manner." Rivera, 129 S. Ct. at 1455, citing Martinez-Salazar, 528 U.S., at 316, 120 S. Ct. 774; Ross, 487 U.S., at 91, n. 5, 108 S. Ct. at 2279-80. Discussing the limited and serious nature of issues which constitute structural error, Rivera concludes, "The mistaken denial of a state-provided peremptory challenge does not, at least in the circumstances we confront here, constitute an error of that character." Rivera, 129 S. Ct. at 1455.

¶7 This Court has not always clearly related the standard under which it reviewed erroneous denial of peremptory challenges. However, in cases previous to Golden, this Court consistently applied harmless error analysis in deciding these claims. We twice referred to this as a "structural" error, but applied harmless error analysis. In Marrero, we said that the error was "a structural error that affected the entire trial. This error, under the facts of this case, cannot be said to be harmless." Marrero v. State,

¶8 In two earlier cases we did not discuss the nature of the error, but simply applied harmless error analysis, requiring the defendant to show prejudice. In White v. State,

¶9 Golden cited cases from several other jurisdictions in its general discussion of structural error. Several of these cases did not concern either voir dire issues or, specifically, peremptory challenges. The Supreme Court of Montana has found that the entire jury selection process is structural, securing the defendant's fundamental right to a impartial jury and indelibly affecting the essential fairness of the trial, and not subject to harmless error analysis. State v. Lamere, 112 P.3d 1005, 1013 (Mont. 2005). The Sixth Circuit, addressing a Batson claim, found that the denial of a right to exercise peremptory challenges was structural. U.S. v. McFerron, 163 F.3d 952, 956 (6th Cir.1998).

¶10 The Court of Special Appeals of Maryland considered this question and found that deprivation of the statutory number of peremptory challenges was not structural error. Whitney v. State, 857 A.2d 625 (2004). In Whitney, defense counsel did not know the defendant was entitled to ten peremptory challenges and did not object when the trial court afforded each party four peremptory challenges. On appeal, Whitney claimed this amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel. Considering the question of prejudice, the Court noted that, generally, Maryland case law held that denial of peremptory challenges was reversible without a showing of prejudice. Without disturbing that rule, the Court found that the error "does not rise to the level of presumptive error or structural defect." Whitney, 857 A.2d at 636. The Court found that this error was not so extraordinary as to relieve Whitney of his burden to show he was prejudiced by defense counsel's omission. Id.

¶11 Several jurisdictions revised their case law after the Supreme Court comment in Martinez-Salazar. The Supreme Court of Michigan reversed its earlier cases, holding that denial of peremptory challenges is not structural error, and is subject to harmless error analysis. People v. Bell, 702 N.W.2d 128, 138 (Mich. 2005). In declining to find the error structural, the Court emphasized that, as peremptory challenges are created by statute, this is a non-constitutional right. Bell, 7002 N.W.2d at 139. The Seventh Circuit also reversed its earlier rulings, finding that peremptory challenges are subject to harmless error analysis. U.S. v. Patterson, 215 F.3d 776, 780-81 (7th Cir. (2000), vacated in part on other grounds, Patterson v. U.S.,

¶12 We now review Golden in light of our own previous case law and the Supreme Court's decision in Rivera. Golden concludes that the trial court's error denied the defendant due process and is thus of constitutional dimensions. Golden,

¶13 We turn to the substance of Robinson's claim in Proposition I. The trial court did not afford Robinson his nine peremptory challenges. The trial court used the struck method of jury selection. Thirty-four panelists were called and questioned, after which the parties each were to exercise nine peremptory challenges for jurors, and one each for an alternate juror. The remaining panelists comprised the jury and alternates. The record shows that the trial court lost count when taking the parties' peremptory challenges. The Court announced the number of each challenge as it was made, e.g., "That will be State's No. 1." [Trial Tr. III 165] This worked until the parties reached the fourth challenge, where the following exchange occurred:

Court: State's No. 4?
Ms. Keely: Ms. Bridges, 5-A.
Court: Ms. Bridges will be State's No. 5. The defendant?
Ms. Burgess: 11-A, Dulin.
Court: Juror 11, Dulin, will be Defendant's No. 5.

[Trial Tr. III 166] The trial court and all parties proceeded with the remainder of the peremptory challenges for the jury panel, after which each party exercised a challenge for alternates, and two alternate jurors were selected.

¶14 After the initial exercise of peremptory challenges the trial court read out the remaining panelists comprising the jury by number, along with two alternates. At this point the parties might have noticed the error in peremptory challenges. After the court read fourteen names, defense counsel asked, "What happened to Baucom and Moore?" The trial court replied, "Oh, I missed those two, didn't I?" [Trial Tr. III 169] Defense counsel said yes, and the court replied that it was at fault. [Trial Tr. III 170] The trial court then re-read the juror list of fourteen names, using a different list. At the end of this list, there were still two extra juror names. The trial court said, "Then that means that we will excuse McBride and Markham, is that correct?" and both parties agreed. [Trial Tr. III 171] This was unfortunate. All parties, and the trial court, could and should have realized that, given the number of jurors called and the number of peremptory challenges to be used, there should have been no extra jurors.

¶15 The record reflects that Robinson did not have the opportunity to exercise peremptory challenges against two sitting jurors, and that two potential jurors were excused without having been subject to peremptory challenge. The State concedes that the error occurred, but argues it was harmless. We agree. It is clear that the trial court, acting in good faith, mistakenly counted the number of peremptory challenges remaining, and both parties joined in that good faith mistake. Neither Robison nor the record suggests that the trial court deliberately misapplied the law, or acted irrationally. Robinson does not name any juror he would have excused with the missing peremptory challenges. Nothing in the record suggests, and Robinson does not claim, that any person sitting on Robinson's jury should have or could have been excused for cause. Nothing in the record supports a conclusion that Robinson's jury was anything less than impartial. There is no indication that any sitting juror was biased. Each party had the opportunity to thoroughly voir dire the entire venire. Robinson received a fair trial before an impartial and properly instructed jury. Rivera, 129 S. Ct. at 1456. The trial court's failure to afford Robinson his full complement of statutorily-required peremptory challenges is harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

¶16 We find in Proposition II that no prosecutorial misconduct deprived Robinson of a fair trial. Robinson claims that the prosecutor improperly questioned jurors during voir dire. Robinson failed to object to these questions or comments and we review for plain error. There is none. Voir dire allows both sides to gather enough information about prospective jurors to discover grounds for challenges for cause, and to permit the intelligent use of peremptory challenges. Sanchez,

¶17 We find in Proposition III that sufficient evidence supports Robinson's conviction. To support a conviction for first degree malice murder the State must show that Robinson caused, with deliberate intent, Christianson's unlawful death.

¶18 Robinson also claims in Proposition III that the State failed to prove he acted with malice aforethought. Malice may be formed in the instant before the fatal act, and may be established from the fact of the killing alone. Hancock,

¶19 We find in Proposition IV that error in instruction does not require relief. In Easlick, this Court discontinued use of the "reasonable hypothesis" test for circumstantial evidence. Easlick,

¶20 The trial court should have given the current instruction, which accurately reflects the State's burden of proof. However, before we may grant relief for plain error, Robinson must show (a) an error (a deviation from a legal rule), (b) which is plain or obvious, which (c) affected his substantial rights, by affecting the outcome of the proceeding. Hogan,

¶21 While the incorrect instruction constituted a plain and obvious error, Robinson fails to show it affected his substantial rights. As we noted in Easlick, the "reasonable hypothesis" test for circumstantial evidence was based on distrust of circumstantial evidence. Easlick,

DECISION

¶22 The Judgment and Sentence of the District Court of Tulsa County is AFFIRMED. Pursuant to Rule 3.15, Rules of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, Title 22, Ch.18, App. (2011), the MANDATE is ORDERED issued upon the delivery and filing of this decision.

AN APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TULSA COUNTY
THE HONORABLE KURT GLASSCO, DISTRICT JUDGE

ATTORNEYS AT TRIAL

SHENA BURGESS
MEGAN HENSON
ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDERS
TULSA COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE
423 SOUTH BOULDER, SUITE 300
TULSA, OKLAHOMA 74103
ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT

MICHELLE KEELY
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
TULSA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
500 SOUTH DENVER
TULSA, OKLAHOMA 74103
ATTORNEY FOR STATE

ATTORNEYS ON APPEAL

RICHARD COUCH
ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER
TULSA COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE
423 S. BOULDER AVE, SUITE 300
TULSA, OKLAHOMA 74103
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT

W.A. DREW EDMONDSON
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF OKLAHOMA
LORI S. CARTER
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
313 N.E. 21ST STREET
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73105
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

OPINION BY: SMITH, J.

FOOTNOTES

1 In U.S. v. Hall, 152 F.3d 381, 408 (5th Cir.1998), the Fifth Circuit held that denial of peremptory challenges was structural error. This conclusion was later found to be abrogated by the Supreme Court's decision in Martinez-Salazar.

LUMPKIN, JUDGE: SPECIALLY CONCURRING

¶1 I agree with the rationale and result reached in the present case, but write further to explain that the denial of a peremptory challenge is a due process issue.

¶2 First, I note that Appellant did not challenge the deprivation of the peremptory challenge before the trial court. As such Appellant has waived appellate review of the instant challenge for all but plain error. Wackerly v. State, 2000 OK CR 15, ¶ 7, 12 P.3d 1, 7; Simpson v. State, 1994 OK CR 40, ¶ 2, 876 P.2d 690, 692-93. However, this analysis is only applicable because the United States Supreme Court has determined that the loss of a peremptory challenge is a due process issue.

¶3 The loss of a peremptory challenge is not of a constitutional dimension. Ross v. Oklahoma, 487 U.S. 81, 88, 108 S. Ct. 2273, 2278, 101 L. Ed. 2d 80 (1988). Instead, "[t]he right to exercise peremptory challenges in state court is determined by state law." Rivera v. Illinois, --- U.S. ---, 129 S. Ct. 1446, 1450, 173 L. Ed. 2d 320 (2009). States pass statutes defining the proper procedure and the failure to follow this procedure results in a due process analysis. See Golden v. State, 2006 OK CR 2, ¶ 6, 127 P.3d 1150, 1156 (Lumpkin, V.P.J., dissenting); Lisenba v. People of State of California, 314 U.S. 219, 236-37, 62 S. Ct. 280, 290, 86 L. Ed. 166 (1941). Not every violation of state law rises to the level of a constitutional due process violation.

"[A] mere error of state law," we have noted, "is not a denial of due process." Engle v. Isaac, 456 U.S. 107, 121, n. 21, 102 S. Ct. 1558, 71 L. Ed. 2d 783 (1982) (internal quotation marks omitted). See also Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67, 72-73, 112 S. Ct. 475, 116 L. Ed. 2d 385 (1991). The Due Process Clause, our decisions instruct, safeguards not the meticulous observance of state procedural prescriptions, but "the fundamental elements of fairness in a criminal trial." Spencer v. Texas, 385 U.S. 554, 563-564, 87 S. Ct. 648, 17 L. Ed. 2d 606 (1967).

Rivera, --- U.S. at ---, 129 S. Ct. at 1454. At bottom, the Due Process Clause requires a fundamentally fair trial. Bracy v. Gramley, 520 U.S. 899, 904-05, 117 S. Ct. 1793, 1797, 138 L. Ed. 2d 97 (1997).

¶4 A majority of this Court determined in Golden v. State, 2006 OK CR 2, ¶¶ 13-19, 127 P.3d 1150, 1153-54, that a denial of the complete array of peremptory challenges to which a defendant is entitled to under Oklahoma law constitutes structural error which may not be deemed harmless error. Since Golden, the United States Supreme Court has determined that the erroneous denial of a peremptory challenge does not require automatic reversal of a defendant's conviction as a matter of federal law. Rivera, --- U.S. at ---, 129 S. Ct. at 1452-53. Golden was decided on federal Constitutional grounds and not an independent state law basis. Golden, 2006 OK CR 2, ¶¶ 14-15, 127 P.3d at 1153-54. Therefore, Rivera mandates the overruling of Golden. Michigan v. Long, 463 U.S. 1032, 1041, 103 S. Ct. 3469, 3476-77, 77 L. Ed. 2d 1201 (1983) (holding that state courts are free and unfettered to interpret their state constitutions however the United States Supreme Court's determinations of federal constitutional questions is controlling).

¶5 Turning to our analysis of due process in jury formation, the key question is: "was the jury as finally composed fair and impartial and no member removable for cause." See Rivera, --- U.S. at ---, 129 S.Ct. at 1453-54; Ross, 487 U.S. at 89, 108 S. Ct. at 2279 ("If a defendant is tried before a qualified jury composed of individuals not challengeable for cause, the loss of a peremptory challenge due to a state court's good-faith error is not a matter of federal constitutional concern."); Grant v. State, 2009 OK CR 11, ¶ 22, 205 P.3d 1, 12; Rojem v. State, 2006 OK CR 7, ¶¶ 36-37, 130 P.3d 287, 295; Harris v. State, 2004 OK CR 1, ¶¶ 13-14, 84 P.3d 731, 741; Ross v. State, 1986 OK CR 49, ¶ 11, 717 P.2d 117, 120. As the jury in the present case was fair and impartial no due process violation has been shown.

¶6 As no constitutional error occurred we turn to state law to determine the effect of the error. "Just as state law controls the existence and exercise of peremptory challenges, so state law determines the consequences of an erroneous denial of such a challenge." Rivera, --- U.S. at ---, 129 S. Ct. at 1450. The erroneous deprivation of the peremptory challenge is harmless. 20 O.S.2001, § 3001.1.

¶7 Further, in relation to Proposition IV, I note that in Harmon v. State, 2011 OK CR 6, ¶ 55-57, --- P.3d ---, ---, this Court finally settled the reasonable hypothesis argument and directed the Oklahoma Uniform Instruction Committee (Criminal) to correct the instructions regarding proof of aggravating circumstances just as it had for the rest of our sufficiency of the evidence analysis in Easlick v. State, 2004 OK CR 21, ¶ 15, 90 P.3d 556, 559.

C. JOHNSON, JUDGE: SPECIALLY CONCURRING

¶1 I agree with the result reached by the Court in this case. The Court is proper in revisiting Golden v. State, 2006 OK CR 2, 127 P.3d 1150, wherein my opinion held that the error was "structural error" and reversal was required.

¶2 The recent U.S. Supreme Court case of Rivera v. Illinois, ___U.S.___, 129 S. Ct. 1446, 173 L. Ed. 2d 320 (2009), indicated that state courts could look to basically a harmless error analysis as to the problem with the challenges and "structural error." I agree with the Court in this case that the error could be harmless. There is no question that all parties agreed and it is not the egregious problem that we had in Golden.

¶3 I still have a firm belief that the right of an Appellant to have the proper number of peremptory challenges goes to the heart of a defendant's due process rights. Again, the Court should look at this on a case by case basis, but my belief still is that this is a fundamental right and must be protected. I am authorized to state that Judge David Lewis joins in this writing.