State of Washington v. Scott Anthony Glass

Court of Appeals of Washington·Decided May 5, 2015·No. 26686-9·Unpublished

Opinion

FILED

MAY 5,2015

In the Office of the Clerk of Court W A State Court of Appeals, Division III

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION THREE

STATE OF WASHINGTON, )

) No. 26686-9-III Respondent, )

)

v. )

)

SCOTT ANTHONY GLASS, ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION )

Appellant. )

FEARING, J. - We address again whether an accused's public trial rights were violated, and, if so, whether he waived the right to assert those rights on appeal. The trial court asked a potential juror questions in the privacy of court chambers. Based on our high court's recent decision in State v. Frawley, 181 Wn.2d 452,334 P.3d 1022 (2014), we reverse and remand charges against Scott Glass for a new trial.

PROCEDURE

On June 19,2007, the State charged Scott Glass with failure to register as a sex offender. The case went to trial, with voir dire occurring on November 29,2007. At the start of voir dire, the trial court asked potential jurors questions regarding their ability to serve:

[THE COURT:] Has anybody been convicted ofa serious crime and

No. 26686-9-111 State v. Glass

your civil rights not yet restored? Ifnot, please raise your hand. Or ifso.

The record will reflect no response.

Is everybody able to read and write the English language? If not please raise your hand.

The record will reflect no response.

Does anybody have a physical or mental defect that would prevent them from serving? If so, please raise your hand.

Ma'am. Juror number-21.

JUROR: Can I speak with you privately?

THE COURT: Well, I've got to tell you, we just ran into some problems about that. Yes, I'd really like for you to speak with me privately. This is an open court proceeding. And as an open court proceeding the-Court of Appeals Division III has just decided that we can't speak in chambers without the permission of everybody in the courtroom-Does anybody in the courtroom have any objection to speaking in chambers with this particular juror?

If so please raise your hand.

You don't even have to be a prospective juror; you can just be a

visitor. Anybody have any objection?

The record will reflect no response.

[DEFENSE COUNSEL], do you or your client have any objection to that?

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: No, your Honor.

THE COURT: Okay. Then, Ma'am, why don't you come on in and we'll speak in chambers.

Report ofProceedings (RP) at 8-10.

The trial transcript then records a conversation in chambers. The record does not list all those present during the conversation. On the record, Juror 21 disclosed a bladder condition, telling the court: "I've had to go eight times this morning and I'm in pain." RP at 11. The trial court asked the State and Scott Glass' counsel if either had questions of the potential juror. Neither posed any question. Presumably defense counsel was present in chambers during the juror's disclosure. The trial court then asked the State and Glass'

No. 26686-9-III State v. Glass

counsel if either had "any objections if I excuse this juror?" RP at 12. Neither objected. Immediately thereafter, the following colloquy occurred:

THE COURT: Do you want to speak here with your client privately?

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: I don't-

RP at 12. Once again, the record does not reflect if Scott Glass attended the chambers conference. The trial court excused Juror 21.

The jury found Scott Glass guilty of failing to register as a sex offender. The trial court sentenced Glass to 57 months confinement and 36 to 48 months of community custody.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

Public Trial Right

Scott Glass contends the trial court violated his right to a public trial when it interviewed a potential juror in chambers without first conducting a Bone-Club analysis, referencing State v. Bone-Club, 128 Wn.2d 254,906 P.2d 325 (1995). Glass need not object at trial in order to raise this issue for the first time on appeal, and any error is not de minimis. State v. Shearer, 181 Wn.2d 564,569-70,573,334 P.3d 1078 (2014). This court reviews alleged public trial violations de novo. State v. Wise, 176 Wn.2d 1, 9, 288 PJd 1113 (2012).

The United State Constitution's Sixth Amendment, applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment due process clause, directs, in relevant part, that "[i]n all

No. 26686-9-III State v. Glass

criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial." In Re Oliver, 333 U.S. 257,273,68 S. Ct. 499, 92 L. Ed. 682 (1948). Washington's Constitution contains two corollary provisions. Article I, section 10 of the Washington Constitution reads, "Justice in all cases shall be administered openly, and without unnecessary delay." This provision entitles the public and the press, as representatives of the public, to openly administered justice. Allied Daily Newspapers of Wash. v. Eikenberry, 121 Wn.2d 205, 209-10, 848 P.2d 1258 (1993); Cohen v. Everett City Council, 85 Wn.2d 385, 388, 535 P.2d 801 (1975). Article I, section 22 ofthe Washington Constitution provides, in pertinent part, "In criminal prosecutions the accused shall have the right to ... a speedy public trial." The constitutional principles arise from the guarantee of open judicial proceedings being a fundamental part of Anglo- American jurisprudence since the common law. Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia, 448 U.S. 555, 573 n.9, 100 S. Ct. 2814, 65 L. Ed. 2d 973 (1980); Federated Publ'ns, Inc. v. Kurtz, 94 Wn.2d 51,66,615 P.2d 440 (1980) (Utter, J., concurring and dissenting). America had a tradition of open criminal trials that preceded drafting of the Bill of Rights. Seattle Times Co. v.Ishikawa, 97 Wn.2d 30, 35-36, 640 P.2d 716 (1982).

The guaranty of open criminal proceedings extends to the process ofjuror selection, which is itself a matter of importance, not simply to the adversaries but to the criminal justice system. Press-Enter. Co. v. Superior Court ofCA, 464 U.S. 501,505, 104 S. Ct. 819, 78 L. Ed. 2d 629 (1984); In re Pers. Restraint ofOrange, 152 Wn.2d 795,

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804, 100 P.3d 291 (2004). In Bone-Club, this court enumerated five criteria that a trial court must consider on the record in order to close trial proceedings to the public. Wise, 176 Wn.2d at 10. The Bone-Club factors are:

(I) The proponent of closure or sealing must make some showing [of a compelling interest], and where that need is based on a right other than an accused's right to a fair trial, the proponent must show 'a serious and imminent threat' to that right.

(2) Anyone present when the closure motion is made must be given an opportunity to object to the closure.

(3) The proposed method for curtailing open access must be the least restrictive means available for protecting the threatened interests.

(4) The court must weigh the competing interests of the proponent of closure and the public.

(5) The order must be no broader than necessary in application or duration.

Bone-Club, 128 Wn.2d at 258-59 (quoting Eikenberry, 121 Wn.2d at 210-11).

Scott Glass' appeal presents two issues (l) whether the trial court sufficiently analyzed the Bone-Club factors on the record prior to closing voir dire, and (2) whether Glass waived his public trial right such that he cannot assert that right on appeal. Our Supreme Court's recent opinion in State v. Frawley, consolidated with State v. Applegate disposes of both issues. State v. Frawley, 181 Wn.2d 452,334 P.3d 1022 (2014).

During Brian Frawley's trial, the court proposed closing the courtroom to the public during voir dire out of concern that space was not sufficient for both the venire and the public. The court asked whether Frawley would waive his right to have the public present and engaged Frawley in an extensive colloquy, after which the trial judge

No. 26686-9-III State v. Glass

concluded that Frawley waived his right to have the public present during general voir dire. The jury was selected and convicted Frawley of first degree felony murder.

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