United States v. Nix

264 F. Supp. 3d 429
District Court, W.D. New York·Decided August 21, 2017·No. 6:14-CR-06181 EAW·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER

ELIZABETH A. WOLFORD, United States District Judge

Over four months after a jury was selected and three months after that jury [431]*431convicted defendants Matthew Nix and Earl McCoy (collectively, “Defendants”) of all counts in the Third Superseding Indictment, they have filed a motion challenging the jury selection process. Defendants argue that the prospective jurors summoned in their case did not represent a fair cross-section of the community because they included only three African American individuals, only one of whom was qualified to serve as a juror.

Defendants seek the following relief: (1) dismissal of the Third Superseding Indictment on the grounds that the venire from which the trial jury was selected was not a fair cross-section of the community, in violation of the Jury Selection and Service Act of 1968, 28 U.S.C. §§ 1861 et seq. (“JSSA”) and the Sixth Amendment; and (2) an opportunity to obtain discovery to support the motion. (Dkt. 361).

Because Defendants’ motion is both untimely and without a legal basis, the Court denies the motion in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Defendants were indicted by a Third Superseding'indictment, returned on January 5, 2017, that alleged violations of the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1961(a), and related firearms and narcotics changes, in connection with a spree of home invasions in 2014. (Dkt. 165). At a proceeding on December 2, 2016, the Court set a trial date of February 3, 2017 (Dkt. 157; Dkt. 158), which was eventually moved to February 13, 2017. (Dkt. 203). Before the trial, the parties engaged in extensive motion practice (e.g., Dkt. 174; Dkt. 175; Dkt. 179; Dkt. 180; Dkt. 183; Dkt. 186; Dkt. 187; Dkt. 191; Dkt. 206; Dkt. 208; Dkt. 214), and, in the weeks leading up to the trial, there were at least six separate court appearances to address trial issues (see Dkt. 177 (1/6/17); Dkt. 189 (1/13/17); Dkt. 192 (1/20/17); Dkt. 203 (1/26/17); Dkt. 230 (2/7/17); Dkt. 298 (2/10/17)). At no time leading up to or at voir dire did Defendants raise any challenge concerning the jury selection process utilized to summon prospective jurors.

Jury selection occurred on February 13, 2017. (Dkt. 229). The veniré appeared to contain three African American individuals. The Government, through its own investigation, discovered that one of those three individuals had a prior felony conviction and elected to use one of its peremptory challenges to strike that potential juror,1 Ultimately, the petit jury contained two African American jurors.

On March 17, 2017, after, a five-week jury trial, Defendants were convicted of all 12 counts. (Dkt. 265). On April 7, 2017, after the return of the verdict and prior to sentencing, Defendants filed post-trial motions pursuant to Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 29(c) and 33. (Dkt. 286; Dkt. 289). In those post-trial motions, Defendants argue, inter alia, that one of. the two African.-American jurors (Juror No. 3) was ineligible to serve on the jury pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1865(b)(5) due to undisclosed felony convictions, and his failure to disclose this information during voir dire requires a new trial because of juror bias. The Court held an evidentiary hearing concerning Juror No. 3’s qualifications to serve on the jury on June 12 and 14, 2017. (Dkt. 348; Dkt. 353). At the hearing, Juror No. 3 confirmed that he did have prior felony convictions. Defendants’ post-verdict motions challenging Juror No. 3’s inclusion oh the jury remain pending.

[432]*432On June 19, 2017, Defendants filed the instant motion. (Dkt. 351). The Government filed a response in opposition to the motion on July 5, 2017. (Dkt. 360). The Court addressed the motion at an appearance on July 6, 2017, at which time it reserved decision. (Dkt. 362).

DISCUSSION

1. Defendants’ JSSA Challenge is Untimely and Procedurally Defective.

Defendants argue that jury selection in this case did not comply with the JSSA, thereby resulting in an unrepresentative jury. (Dkt. 351 at ¶ 15). The JSSA provides that “all litigants in Federal courts entitled to trial by jury shall have the right to grand and petit juries selected at random from a fair cross section of the community in the district ... wherein the court convenes.” 28 U.S.C. § 1861. It requires district courts to devise a plan for random jury selection that ensures “the random selection of a fair cross section of the persons residing in the community in the district ... wherein the court convenes.” Id.■ § 1863(b)(3).

Section 1867 specifies the procedures for challenging jury selection procedures under the JSSA. See id. § 1867. Section 1867(a) governs the timing of such a challenge:

In criminal cases, before the voir dire examination begins, or within seven days after the defendant discovered or could have discovered, by the exercise of diligence, the grounds therefor, whichever is earlier, the defendant may move to dismiss the indictment or stay the proceedings against him on the ground of substantial failure to comply with the provisions of this title in selecting the grand or petit jury.

Id. § 1867(a). “[T]he statute clearly requires that a challenge ... be made at or before the voir dire.” United States v. Silverman, 449 F.2d 1341, 1344 (2d Cir. 1971) (citing H.R. Rep. No. 1076, 90th Cong., 2d Sess. (1968), reprinted in 1968 U.S.C.C.A.N. 1792, 1805 (hereinafter “H.R. Rep. No. 1076”) (“Subsection[] (a)... specif[ies] that challenges must be offered before the voir dire begins.”)). Further, a motion raising such a challenge must “contain[ ] a sworn statement of facts which, if true, would constitute a substantial failure to comply with the provisions of’ the JSSA. 28 U.S.C. § 1867(d). Under § 1867(e), that procedure is “the exclusive means by which a person accused of a Federal crime ... may challenge any jury on the ground that such jury was not selected in conformity with the provisions of’ the JSSA. Id. § 1867(e).

Defendants’ JSSA challenge is both untimely and procedurally defective. Defendants do not address the timeliness of .their motion. (See Dkt. 351). In this case, jury selection occurred on February 13, 2017. (Dkt. 229). Accordingly, Defendants’ challenge was due, at the latest, before the voir dire began on that day.2 See § 1867(a) (requiring challenge “before the voir dire examination begins, or within seven days after the defendant discovered or could have discovered, by the exercise of diligence, the grounds therefor, whichever is earlier1’ (emphasis added)); Silverman, 449 F.2d at 1344 (explaining a challenge is due at or before the voir dire); see also [433]*433Kingsbury v. United States,

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United States v. Nix, 264 F. Supp. 3d 429 (W.D.N.Y. 2017).

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