Brown v. Hughes

483 F. Supp. 793, 1980 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10990
CourtDistrict Court, D. Arizona
DecidedFebruary 6, 1980
DocketCiv. No. 79-858 PHX VAC
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 483 F. Supp. 793 (Brown v. Hughes) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brown v. Hughes, 483 F. Supp. 793, 1980 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10990 (D. Ariz. 1980).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

CORDOVA, District Judge.

This petition for a writ of habeas corpus presents the question whether the constitutional command against exposing one to double jeopardy precludes the State of Arizona from again trying Moscoe J. “Buck” Brown on the same charges as those upon which the jury was unable to agree in the first trial. Petitioner Brown asserts that the trial judge prematurely and contrary to law determined that the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict and declared a mistrial, thereby depriving Brown of his constitutional right to have a verdict from that specific jury. The petitioner has exhausted his state remedies, hence the issue is properly before this Court.

[795]*795The declaration of a mistrial resulted from the following circumstances:

Petitioner was charged by the State of Arizona in a two count amended information with the crimes of attempt to import marijuana and conspiracy to import marijuana. After lengthy pretrial proceedings, trial commenced on February 22, 1979 before the Superior Court of Maricopa County, Arizona. Presentation of witnesses and evidence to the jury continued for 22 actual trial days. At the conclusion of argument on motions for judgment of acquittal or a directed verdict, the trial court noted that the instant case was “the closest case” that it had ever heard where a defendant’s mo-' tion for a judgment of acquittal was being denied.

On Friday, March 22, 1979, the jurors began their deliberations. The deliberations lasted for approximately 5 to 6 hours on that date. On Monday, March 25, 1979 at 4:30 p. m., after the jurors had deliberated approximately 5V2 hours, the Court requested that all counsel meet in chambers to determine the status of the jury’s deliberations. In chambers counsel were informed by the trial court that the jury foreman, at 4:02 p. m., had submitted a written note to the court through its bailiff. The note stated that the vote was “11 not guilty to 1 guilty”, that the jury was at an impasse, and they requested guidance from the Court. The Court’s bailiff orally informed the Court and counsel that according to the foreman, the “holdout” juror was refusing to vote “not guilty” on the basis of some “moral” reason.

Counsel for the petitioner urged the Court to deliver a supplemental instruction to the jury advising the jury that they could only base their decision upon the facts as they determined them to be and upon the law as given by the Court. The Court denied petitioner’s request.

At 4:42 p. m. counsel for petitioner requested that a recess be taken until the next morning. Counsel for the State responded that the views of the foreman determine whether there is a mistrial or not, and urged that inquiry be made of the foreman to determine if a mistrial should be called. The Court denied Petitioner’s request, stating that it would grant a recess only if the foreman answered yes to an inquiry as to whether further deliberations would be profitable. Counsel for petitioner opposed the declaration of a mistrial. Counsel for the State responded, voicing his desire to “get out” if I could by 5:00 p. m.

At this point in the proceedings, the Court received a message conveyed orally from the foreman of the jury through the bailiff requesting that the jurors be given “at least” 30 more minutes to deliberate. The Court granted the foreman’s request.

At 7:00 p. m. in chambers, the Court advised counsel that it would inquire of the jury if further deliberations would be productive. Petitioner strongly opposed a mistrial at this point in time. Petitioner requested that the jury be polled when inquiry was made. The Court denied the request for a poll of the jury. Petitioner took the position that if a mistrial was declared at this point, that double jeopardy would attach.

The jury was called into open court, and the Court, addressing itself to the foreman only, asked whether he was of the opinion that it would be productive to recess for the evening. The foreman responded that it would not. Without a poll and without giving the foreman the opportunity to deliberate with the other jurors regarding the recess or the issue of deadlock, the Court found the jury deadlocked and declared a mistrial.

The Arizona Supreme Court refused to review the mistrial ruling. Petitioner then filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in this Court.

Where a mistrial is premised upon the trial judge’s belief that the jury is unable to reach a verdict, the trial court is allowed broad discretion in deciding whether or not “manifest necessity” justified discharge of the jury. The considerations to be balanced, as stated by the Court in Arizona v. Washington, 434 U.S. 497, 98 S.Ct. 824, 54 L.Ed.2d 717 (1978) are as follows:

[796]*796“On the one hand, if [the trial court] discharges the jury when further deliberations may produce a fair verdict, the defendant is deprived of his ‘valued right to have his trial completed by a particular tribunal.’ But if he fails to discharge a jury which is unable to reach a verdict after protracted and exhausting deliberations, there exists a significant risk that a verdict may result from pressures inherent in the situation rather than the considered judgment of all the jurors.”

A State may not put a defendant in jeopardy twice for the same offense, and because jeopardy attaches before a judgment becomes final, this constitutional protection embraces the defendant’s valued right to have his trial completed by a particular tribunal. Arizona v. Washington, supra. Considering the importance of this right, the prosecutor must bear the burden of demonstrating “manifest necessity” for any mistrial declared over the objection of the defendant.

The Supreme Court has eschewed the mechanical application of an abstract formula and has stated that in considering whether a trial should be terminated without a judgment, the trial court should “take all circumstances into account”. United States v. Perez, 9 Wheat. 579, 6 L.Ed. 165 (1824). It follows then, in light of this authority, that the reviewing court should consider only those circumstances existing at the time of the trial court’s decision as revealed by the record of the proceedings.

In determining whether a trial court has lawfully declared a mistrial because of a hung jury, the courts have set forth the following significant factors which the trial judge may use to determine whether there is a probability that the jury can reach a verdict within a reasonable time:

(1) A timely objection by defendant;

(2) The jury’s collective opinion that it cannot agree;

(3) The length of the deliberations of the jury;

(4) The length of the trial;

(5) The complexity of the issues presented to the jury;

(6) Any proper communications which the judge has had with the jury; and

(7) The effects of possible exhaustion and the impact which coercion of further deliberations might have on the verdict. (Arnold v. McCarthy, 566 F.2d 1377 (9th Cir. 1978)).

The crucial factor is the jury’s own statement that it was unable to reach a verdict. United States v. See,

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
483 F. Supp. 793, 1980 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10990, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brown-v-hughes-azd-1980.