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Appellant, William Satele, Reply Brief - California Courts - State of ...

Appellant, William Satele, Reply Brief - California Courts - State of ...

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foreperson had authored the written note in question in which the foreperson<br />

informed the court (1) the jury was at an impasse and, in a subsequent addendum<br />

written some minutes later, (2) that Juror No. 10 had spoken with her mother.<br />

(18RT 4443:9-28 to 4444:1-17.) As to Juror No. 10's conversation with her<br />

mother, the foreperson said: "She admitted to us right at the table, and it was<br />

brought to my attention as we left - the other jurors brought it to my attention ­<br />

and said they didn't think that was right and -" (18RT 4444:3-12.) The trial<br />

court made no further inquiry <strong>of</strong> the foreperson regarding Juror No. 10's<br />

statements.<br />

As to respondent's assertion that Juror No. 10 "violated a court order for<br />

the third time by intentionally informing the other jurors that her mother and her<br />

friend 'sided with her doubts' as to the death penalty," the record does not support<br />

that conclusion. Juror No. 10 reported that she did not discuss her views about the<br />

issues or about the death penalty with her mother. In colloquy with the court, the<br />

foreperson only said, "she admitted to us right at the table," that she had talked to<br />

her mother. (l8RT 4444:6.)<br />

The foreperson did not report that the jurors had been exposed to the<br />

opinions <strong>of</strong> mother or friend and it would appear neither court nor counsel,<br />

including the prosecutor, came away from the hearing with the foreperson<br />

sufficiently concerned about the jury's exposure to extrinsic matters to request or<br />

hold a hearing with the other jurors or to have the jury admonished about<br />

consideration <strong>of</strong> extrinsic matters introduced by Juror No. 10. (See, e.g., court's<br />

admonition to jury after replacement <strong>of</strong>Juror No. 10; 18RT 4470.)<br />

Beyond the foreperson's written comment that Juror No. 10 reported that<br />

her friend and mother had "sided with her doubts," the record is silent as to any<br />

specific comments by Juror No. 10 that might have led to the foreperson's written<br />

statement.<br />

On the other hand, the record does show that Juror No. 10 expressly<br />

reported that she did not talk about her concerns about the case with her friend<br />

134

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