People v. Solorio ( 2017 )

Filed 11/16/17
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE PEOPLE, D070794
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. JCF30660)
FRANCISCO JAVIER SOLORIO,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Imperial County,
L. Brooks Anderholdt, Judge. Reversed.
The Badillo Law Firm and Jose Garza Badillo for Defendant and Appellant.
Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Collette C. Cavalier and Teresa
Torreblanca, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Francisco Javier Solorio appeals his conviction for first degree murder (Pen. Code,
§ 187, subd. (a)), arguing that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a new trial on
grounds of jury misconduct. Although it denied his motion, the court made a factual
finding that the jury discussed Solorio's decision not to testify "several times" despite
repeated admonitions not to consider that topic. Prejudice from this type of misconduct
is presumed, and on this record we cannot conclude the presumption of prejudice was
rebutted. (People v. Lavender (2014) 60 Cal. 4th 679, 692 (Lavender).) Accordingly, we
reverse and remand the matter for a new trial.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
A jury convicted Francisco Javier Solorio of the first degree premeditated murder
of his neighbor, Albert Ramos. (Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a).) The prosecution presented
evidence that Solorio, motivated by revenge, killed Ramos four months after Ramos
stabbed Solorio's brother, Rudy.
Solorio and Ramos lived on same side of the same block in Brawley, California.
Their residences were separated by two houses. Tamara R.1 and her daughter Sara J.
lived across the street and were friends with both Solorio and Ramos. After Rudy was
stabbed, Solorio told them he would handle matters on his own rather than approach law
enforcement. Solorio told Sara he planned to "cap" Ramos, "blast him," and "kill him"
1 As of January 1, 2017, California Rules of Court, rule 8.90 (Rule 8.90) became
effective. Rule 8.90(b) requires appellate courts to "consider referring to" certain
individuals "by first name and last initial or, if the first name is unusual or other
circumstances would defeat the objective of anonymity, by initials only," in order to
protect those individuals' privacy. Although the rule lists victims, not witnesses, as
subject to the rule, we refer to the two eyewitnesses in this case by their first names and
last initials, and thereafter by their first names only, to protect their privacy.
2
for stabbing Rudy. When someone burned Ramos's car afterwards, Solorio told Tamara
that things "would only get worse."
In March 2013 Tamara and Sara had just returned from a one-hour shopping trip
with Ramos. Both had a clear line of sight and saw the incident unfold as Ramos walked
from their parked car toward his house across the street. As Ramos was walking, Solorio
stepped outside his property, walked toward Ramos, pointed a gun wrapped in a bandana
at him, and said, "remember what you did to my brother?" Ramos said, "Fuck you" and
threw a plastic cup he was holding at Solorio. Solorio grabbed Ramos around the neck,
and shot him three times in the arm, head, and chest, killing him.
At trial, Tamara and Sara testified that Ramos was not armed, did not threaten
Solorio, and did not approach, confront, or hit Solorio at any point during the incident.
Sara recalled saying, "Don't do it" loud enough for Solorio to hear when she saw him pull
out the gun.
Tamara immediately called 911. Solorio could be heard in the background
exclaiming, "He had a knife!" Tamara could be heard saying, "That's bullshit Javier.
That's bullshit. I saw it." A knife was recovered at the scene, and Solorio had a
superficial knife wound on his arm. The prints on the knife did not match Ramos or
Solorio and instead were a possible match for Solorio's brother, Steven. Steven told the
responding police officer Brian Smith that upon arriving home, he saw someone on top of
his brother and heard three shots fired.
3
Solorio did not testify at trial, but his counsel argued the killing was in self-
defense. In a taped police interview played for the jury, Solorio told officers about
Ramos's drug use, assaultive behavior, and stabbing of Rudy four months earlier. Solorio
stated that Ramos had repeatedly punched him and made him fear for his life. At trial,
police officers testified that there were no signs of trauma or swelling on Solorio's face or
bruises or scrapes on Ramos's hands to support the theory that Ramos attacked Solorio.
Solorio's brothers Rudy and Victor testified about Ramos's unprovoked stabbing
of Rudy and threatening statements to Victor. A neighbor named Ofelia testified that
Ramos was scaring her children, engaging in unusual behavior, and had attacked two of
her uncles. One of those uncles testified about the attack, and a father and son in the
neighborhood described Ramos's threatening behavior in the four months before his
death. Ramos's toxicology results indicated that at the time of his death, he had
methamphetamine and amphetamine in his bloodstream.
After the verdict, Solorio filed a motion for a new trial on grounds of jury
misconduct, arguing that the jurors repeatedly discussed Solorio's decision not to testify
during deliberations. The court held an evidentiary hearing and determined that although
misconduct occurred, it was not prejudicial. On that basis it denied the motion for a new
trial.
Solorio was sentenced to serve 50 years to life in prison, consisting of 25 years to
life for first-degree murder, plus 25 years to life for the firearm enhancement. (Pen.
Code, § 12022.53, subd. (d).)
4
DISCUSSION
Additional Background
Solorio filed a new trial motion on the ground of juror misconduct. (Pen. Code,
§ 1181, subd. (3) [allowing a new trial for jury "misconduct by which a fair and due
consideration of the case has been prevented"].) He argued that jurors violated the court's
instruction not to consider Solorio's decision not to testify.2 In support of his motion
Solorio attached a declaration by Juror 11, the foreperson, that stated:
"During the deliberations, the entire jury brought up and discussed
the fact that the defendant Francisco Solorio did not testify in his
own behalf. Some jurors were asking why the defendant did not
testify. Some jurors thought that the defendant Solorio felt guilty
and he knew he 'did it' and that is why he did not testify."
Solorio also submitted declarations by defense investigators, Juror 6, and (an unsigned
declaration by) Juror 9 suggesting the jury had discussed "at length" that Solorio did not
take the stand because he had something to hide.
The People opposed Solorio's motion on grounds the proffered declarations were
inadmissible under Evidence Code section 1150, subdivision (a).3 In the alternative, the
2 Solorio also based his new trial motion on one juror's hearing difficulties but does
not raise that issue on appeal.
3 Further references are to the Evidence Code, unless otherwise specified. Section
1150, subdivision (a) provides: "Upon an inquiry as to the validity of a verdict, any
otherwise admissible evidence may be received as to statements made, or conduct,
conditions, or events occurring, either within or without the jury room, of such a
character as is likely to have influenced the verdict improperly. No evidence is
5
People urged the court to hold an evidentiary hearing to resolve disputed factual issues.
(People v. Hedgecock (1990) 51 Cal. 3d 395, 415 [trial court may conduct an evidentiary
hearing (a Hedgecock hearing) to resolve conflicting allegations of juror misconduct].)
The court determined that the quoted portion of Juror 11's declaration above was
admissible, whereas declarations of Juror 9 and defense investigators were inadmissible.
(§ 1150, subd. (a).) It found a material factual dispute between Juror 11's declaration and
Juror 6's declaration and decided to hold a Hedgecock hearing.4 The court subpoenaed
all 12 jurors to testify and followed a script, asking jurors if they recalled whether the
topic came up, if they participated and how many participated in those discussions, how
long the discussions were, and whether jurors were admonished.
The court found all of the jurors to be credible and rejected Solorio's attempt to
impeach the credibility of Juror 9 with the defense investigator's testimony.
 Jurors 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9 had no recollection of the topic coming up.
admissible to show the effect of such statement, conduct, condition, or event upon a juror
either in influencing him to assent to or dissent from the verdict or concerning the mental
processes by which it was determined." (See People v. Cissna (2010) 182 Cal. App. 4th
1105, 1116 (Cissna) ["No evidence may be presented concerning the subjective
reasoning processes of a juror that can neither be corroborated nor disproved . . . ."].)
4 The court found a material disputed fact because Juror 6's declaration did not
reference any discussion on defendant's decision not to testify. In addition, Juror 11's
declaration did not address how many jurors participated in the improper discussion, how
long the discussion lasted, whether jurors were admonished not to consider defendant's
decision not to testify, and if so, whether discussions on the topic ended after the
admonishment.
6
 Juror 12 did not recall whether or not the topic came up.
 Juror 5 recalled the topic coming up briefly and that any discussion took "maybe a
minute." He did not recall the foreperson or anybody else giving a reminder that
jurors were not to discuss or consider that issue.
 Juror 7 recalled a "short discussion" lasting "several minutes" among "half" of the
jurors but thought the discussion stopped once the foreperson stated it could not be
considered.
 Juror 10 recalled a "really short" discussion after one juror brought it up, which
stopped once she and Juror 11 reminded the others they could not consider it.
 Juror 11, the foreperson, recalled a group of six or seven jurors repeatedly
discussing Solorio's decision not to testify. The discussion happened several times
over the course of an hour. Each time the topic came up, Juror 11 and one or two
other jurors would admonish the group that they could not consider that issue.
The group of jurors would stop, talk about other things, and circle back to the
topic. At some point after about an hour, all conversation on the subject stopped,
and the matter never came up again during deliberations.
The court credited Juror 11's version of events that the matter came up more than
twice during deliberations and was promptly admonished each time it came up. Although
Juror 11's declaration was not received into evidence, the court considered his testimony
in conjunction with his declaration.
Specifically, the court found:
"We do not have before us, although an inquiry was made of the
jurors, when these discussions took place. Regardless of when they
took place, they ceased upon admonishment and went on and
continued their deliberations." [. . .]
"The discussions of this issue were raised several times over the
course of about an hour within the 12 to 13 hours of deliberations.
They were promptly admonished, promptly ceased discussion."
The court found that there was misconduct, giving rise to a presumption of bias:
7
"Was there misconduct in this case? Yes, it's obvious. Just the mere
raising of the issue of the failure to testify is misconduct, even if it's
stopped and only mentioned one time . . . . So there is a presumption
of bias."
Thereafter, the court applied a two-part test from People v. Tafoya (2007) 42 Cal. 4th
1475 to assess whether the presumption of prejudice had been rebutted:
"Test one talks about a bias being found if the extraneous material
judged objectively is inherently and substantially likely to have
influenced a juror. [¶] And test two, if that test is found to be
negative, you look at the totality of the circumstances."
The court concluded there was no prejudice under the first test because each time
the topic came up, jurors "were promptly admonished" and "ceased discussion." It found
support in People v. Avila (2009) 46 Cal. 4th 680 (Avila), which it read as indicating that
the topic came up more than once and admonishments rebutted the presumption of
prejudice.6 It also gave "great consideration" to the fact that eight jurors had no
5 In Tafoya, a juror discussed the Catholic church's opinion about the death penalty
with a priest and presented that opinion to the jury during penalty phase deliberations.
(People v. Tafoya, supra, 42 Cal.4th at p. 190.) The court considered whether, on review
of the "entire record," there was "a substantial likelihood of juror bias." (Id. at p. 192.)
6 Avila involved the same type of jury misconduct at issue here—discussion of
defendant's decision not to testify. The trial court misread Avila in concluding that jurors
in the case had discussed the topic "three or four times." As we read it, two jurors
recalled the issue coming up once in the guilt phase—"the offending juror was
immediately reminded he could not consider this factor and the discussion ceased."
(Avila, supra, 46 Cal.4th at p. 727.) Thereafter, in the penalty phase, "the comment was
not made until after the verdict was reached and the bailiff contacted." (Ibid.) Again,
"the offending juror was reminded that this consideration was not permitted." (Ibid.)
8
recollection that the discussions occurred, stating that the discussion "was so insignificant
at the time that they have no recollection of it now."
Turning to the second test, the court found "no substantial likelihood of bias"
based on the totality of the circumstances:
"There were 12 or 13 hours of deliberations, yes. Was there
misconduct? Yes. Was the issue discussed or raised by the jury that
should not have been? Yes. Is the jury perfect? No. Are they
human? Yes. Do they make mistakes? Yes. Was it inherently and
substantially prejudicial? Based upon the testimony of the 12 jurors,
and twice by Juror Number 9, this Court is not convinced, weighing
it all, that there was any inherent and substantial likelihood of bias
against the defendant in this particular case."
"Furthermore, this court, as noted in People v. Tafoya, considers the
issue in light of the evidence in this particular trial. This was a case
in which it was readily admitted from the beginning that the
defendant shot the victim. No doubt that was admitted. The issue
was the issue of self-defense. There was weeks and weeks of
testimony and numerous witnesses we heard on the issue and several
eyewitnesses were brought from out of state, a mother and daughter
that testified. So the Court has as well in its determination of this
issue considered the evidence in this particular case against the
defendant."
"Recalling as well that the defendant did speak during the trial, in
effect, because his interview was played and his statements to the
officer were played or stated to the jury as to his profession of self-
defense. So the Court did weigh all of the testimony and evidence
received as well in its determination to deny the defendant's motion
for new trial."
The parties agree that jury misconduct occurred but disagree whether it was
prejudicial. Solorio argues that the presumption of prejudice was not rebutted because
the jury repeatedly discussed his silence at trial despite admonishments. The People
9
argue that even accepting Juror 11's testimony that the topic was discussed several times,
prompt admonitions were sufficient to rebut the presumption of prejudice.
Analysis
The jury was instructed with CALCRIM No. 355 not to "consider, for any reason
at all, the fact that the defendant did not testify" and not to "discuss that fact during your
deliberations or let it influence your decision in any way." The trial court found that
jurors engaged in misconduct when they ignored the instruction and discussed Solorio's
failure to testify several times over the course of an hour during deliberations. (Lavender,
supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 687.) Each time, the foreperson admonished other jurors not to
consider the topic, and they would move on to other issues before circling back to it.
We accept the court's credibility determinations and factual findings if supported
by substantial evidence but independently assess whether prejudice arose. (Avila, supra,
46 Cal.4th at pp. 726–727; Lavender, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 682.)7 "When the record
shows there was misconduct, the defendant is afforded the benefit of a rebuttable
presumption of prejudice." (Cissna, supra, 182 Cal.App.4th at p. 1116.) "This
presumption is provided as an evidentiary aid to the defendant because of the statutory
7 The People question Juror 11's account that the topic was discussed more than
once. However, the testimony of Juror 11 alone is sufficient to support the court's finding
that the topic came up "several times" and that the offending jurors were promptly
admonished each time. (In re Marriage of Mix (1975) 14 Cal. 3d 604, 614.) We therefore
defer to this finding. (Cissna, supra, 182 Cal.App.4th at p. 1118; Avila, supra, 46 Cal.4th
at pp. 726–727.)
10
bar against evidence of a juror's subjective thought processes and the reliability of
external circumstances to show underlying bias." (Ibid.; § 1150, subd. (a).)
As one court recently put it, "[t]he law concerning prejudice lacks clarity."
(People v. Echavarria (2017) 13 Cal.App.5th 1255, 1264 (Echavarria).) Whereas some
cases focus on whether the presumption of prejudice arising from misconduct has been
successfully rebutted, others consider whether the prejudice was sufficiently substantial
to warrant reversal. (Ibid. [collecting cases]; see People v. Von Villas (1995) 36
Cal. App. 4th 1425, 1445 (dis. opn. of Woods, J.).) As we discuss, it is also unclear
whether in the context of the type of misconduct present here, we should, as the trial court
did, consider the strength of trial evidence against the defendant in assessing prejudice.
Lavender involved the same type of jury misconduct. During deliberations, jurors
commented on the defendants' failure to testify. (Lavender, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 687.)
The Supreme Court explained that the presumption of prejudice arising from such
misconduct "may be rebutted by an affirmative evidentiary showing that prejudice does
not exist or by a reviewing court's examination of the entire record to determine whether
there is a reasonable probability of actual harm resulting from the misconduct." (Ibid.,
italics added.) In another case involving the same type of jury misconduct, our high court
stated that the presumption of prejudice is rebutted if a review of the entire record
demonstrates no substantial likelihood of actual harm. (People v. Leonard (2007) 40
Cal. 4th 1370, 1425 (Leonard).)
11
Neither Lavender nor Leonard actually considered the strength of the evidence on
the question of guilt in assessing prejudice. Lavender remanded the matter to the trial
court to resolve factual ambiguities in the record to assess prejudice. (Lavender, supra,
60 Cal.4th at p. 693.) It provided several factors that could on remand establish that no
prejudice actually resulted from juror comments on the defendant's decision not to
testify. (Id. at pp. 687–692, discussed post.) Nowhere did the opinion direct the trial
court to consider the strength of the trial evidence against defendants in assessing
prejudice. Likewise, Leonard found the presumption of prejudice rebutted because jurors
did not draw adverse inferences from the defendant's decision not to testify. (Leonard,
supra, 40 Cal.4th at p. 1425.) Leonard's review was confined to what happened during
deliberations, not the trial evidence.
The parties have not cited, nor have we found, a case that evaluates prejudice from
the type of misconduct we have here based on the strength of the evidence at trial. In
suggesting that a review of the "entire record" is appropriate, Lavender and Leonard cite
two cases involving altogether different forms of jury misconduct. In People v. Danks
(2004) 32 Cal. 4th 269, a juror's circulation of biblical verses during penalty phase
deliberations was found not prejudicial given "compelling" penalty phase evidence
presented. (Danks, at pp. 305, 307.) In Hasson v. Ford Motor Co. (1982) 32 Cal. 3d 388,
a juror's reading a novel and doing crossword puzzles while evidence was being
presented at trial was found not prejudicial given "overwhelming proof of liability"
presented at trial. (Hasson, at pp. 415, 417.)
12
We question whether we may, in this context, consider the strength of the trial
evidence of Solorio's guilt. As Lavender recognized, "a defendant's decision not to
testify[ ] [is] a topic that does 'not involve extra record material' and . . . concerns a matter
'already obvious to the jurors.' " (Lavender, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 692, fn. 2.) Lavender
seems to hint that the prejudice analysis may differ depending on the type of jury
misconduct at issue. (Ibid. ["We are not presented with, and therefore do not discuss, the
proper analysis of a jury's improper receipt of information from 'extraneous sources.' "])
Here, the misconduct does not go to juror bias from considering extraneous information,
but instead to a defendant's constitutional right against self-incrimination.
"[T]he purpose of the rule prohibiting jury discussion of a defendant's failure to
testify is to prevent the jury from drawing adverse inferences against the defendant, in
violation of the constitutional right not to incriminate oneself." (Leonard, supra, 40
Cal.4th at p. 1425.) A criminal defendant has a Fifth Amendment right "to remain silent
'unless he chooses to speak in the unfettered exercise of his own will' "—a right that
would be meaningless if jurors could draw adverse inferences from his or her choice.
(Carter v. Kentucky (1981) 450 U.S. 288, 305; Leonard, at p. 1424.) Juror 11's
13
declaration indicates that jurors drew precisely the adverse inference that the Fifth
Amendment eschews, stating Solorio did not testify because "he knew he 'did it.' "8
Jury misconduct in this case went directly to the ultimate issue—Solorio's guilt for
murder. In In re Stankewitz (1985) 40 Cal. 3d 391, the Supreme Court cautioned that the
presumption of prejudice is stronger when "the misconduct goes to a key issue in the
case." (Id. at p. 402 [juror's misconduct in stating during deliberations that he had been a
police officer for 20 years and knew a robbery had taken place went to the ultimate issue
of guilt for felony-murder, raising presumption of prejudice].) When the presumption of
prejudice is stronger, the prosecution must put forth greater proof to rebut it.
(Echavarria, supra, 13 Cal.App.5th at pp. 1267–1268.)
We will follow Lavender's approach and consider whether the prosecution
rebutted the presumption of prejudice with evidence that no prejudice actually resulted.
Applying each of the Lavender rebuttal factors, we conclude the prosecution has fallen
short.
The first rebuttal factor considers whether jurors drew adverse inferences of guilt
from the defendant's decision not to testify. (Lavender, supra, 60 Cal.4th at pp. 689–690,
8 The trial judge noted that although Juror 11's declaration had not been received
into evidence, he had read it, and "obviously it affects my consideration of the testimony
by Juror Number 11 . . . ." Because it appears the court considered this declaration in
making its findings, we consider it on appeal. We disregard, however, Solorio's citation
to declarations deemed inadmissible by the trial court.
14
692.) Comments of mere "wonderment and curiosity" are normally innocuous. (People
v. Hord (1993) 15 Cal. App. 4th 711, 727 (Hord).) "It is natural for jurors to wonder about
a defendant's absence from the witness stand." (People v. Loker (2008) 44 Cal. 4th 691,
749 (Loker).) " '[M]erely referencing that they wish he would have testified is not the
same as drawing negative inferences from the absence of testimony.' " (Leonard, supra,
40 Cal.4th at p. 1425.) Thus, for example, in Leonard the court found no prejudice from
the jury's brief discussion where there were no adverse inferences expressed regarding the
defendant's decision not to testify. (Ibid.)
"When comments go beyond natural curiosity and their content suggests
inferences from forbidden areas, the chance of prejudice increases." (Hord, supra, 15
Cal.App.4th at p. 728.) "For example, if a juror were to say, 'The defendant didn't testify
so he is guilty,' or 'we will have to find the defendant guilty of the greatest charges to
ensure he will be adequately punished,' the comments go beyond mere curiosity and lean
more toward a juror's drawing inappropriate inferences from areas which are off limits."
(Ibid.) That is the box we find ourselves in—Juror 11's declaration makes it clear that
jurors were drawing adverse inferences of guilt. Thus, the first rebuttal factor was not
met. (Lavender, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 690; Hord, at p. 728.)
The second rebuttal factor considers the length of discussion about the topic.
(Lavender, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 692 [noting disputed factual issue as to whether the
issue was merely mentioned or discussed at greater length].) In Hord, the court found the
presumption rebutted where the juror merely made an "oblique remark about a party not
15
saying anything to protect himself" and there was no apparent lengthy discussion into
inappropriate areas. (Hord, supra, 15 Cal.App.4th at pp. 727–728.) "Transitory
comments" about the topic are usually innocuous, "particularly when a comment stands
alone without any further discussion." (Ibid.; see Leonard, supra, 40 Cal.4th at p. 1425
["brief discussion" of the topic was not prejudicial].) The fact that only a few jurors
recall any comment on the topic may tend to "indicate[] that the discussion was not of
any length or significance." (Avila, supra, 46 Cal.4th at p. 727.)
Here, the court made a factual finding based on Juror 11's testimony that the topic
was raised "several times over the course of about an hour within the 12 to 13 hours of
deliberations." The trial court did not make a factual finding as to how many jurors
participated in the discussion, but it noted that Juror 11 put the number at six or seven
jurors, whereas eight jurors had no recollection of any discussion on the topic. 9
Although the inferences are not entirely consistent, on this record we are unable to
conclude that the discussion about the defendant's choice not to take the stand was so
transitory or brief that it rebutted the presumption of prejudice.
The third rebuttal factor—the crux of Lavender—considers whether jurors were
reminded not to consider the defendant's decision not to testify. (Lavender, supra, 60
Cal.4th at p. 690.) If the foreperson promptly reminded jurors when the improper
9 Juror 7 corroborated Juror 11, testifying that "about half the jurors" engaged in the
discussion.
16
statement was made, that would "(in the absence of objective evidence to the contrary)
. . . constitute strong evidence to rebut the presumption of prejudice." (Ibid.; see Loker,
supra, 44 Cal.4th at p. 749 [prompt admonition rebutted presumption of prejudice]; Hord,
supra, 15 Cal.App.4th at p. 711 [same]; Avila, supra, 46 Cal.4th at pp. 725–727 [same;
the topic came up once in the guilt phase and once in the penalty phase after the verdict
but the juror was admonished both times].)
By contrast, a prompt reminder would be insufficient to rebut the presumption of
prejudice if there were objective circumstances indicating that the reminder was
ineffective. (Lavender, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 692.) As the Supreme Court explained in
Lavender, "a persistent refusal [by the jury] to follow the court's instructions would tend
to confirm the prejudicial effect of the misconduct claimed by defendants." (Ibid.)10 For
example, in Cissna, a juror's daily conversations with a nonjuror about topics that
included the defendant's failure to testify was prejudicial in the face of repeated
instructions by the trial judge not to discuss the case. (Cissna, supra, 182 Cal.App.4th at
pp. 1111, 1119.) Likewise, an agreement among jurors to disregard the court's
instructions would be prejudicial misconduct requiring reversal. (Krouse v. Graham
(1977) 19 Cal. 3d 59, 81.)
10 In Lavender, there was an unresolved factual question as to whether there was
"objective indication that one or more jurors was unable or unwilling to follow the court's
instructions once reminded of them." (Lavender, supra, 60 Cal.4th at pp. 691–692.) The
court directed the trial court on remand to address this factor in making its findings.
17
Here, the trial court found that jurors repeatedly discussed Solorio's decision not to
testify. Despite admonitions each time the topic was brought up, jurors circled back to
the topic "several times." There was, therefore, "objective evidence establishing a basis
to question the effectiveness of the reminder." (Lavender, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 687.)
Where repeated reminders were given that Solorio's lack of testimony could not be
considered, we cannot say they were sufficient to rebut the presumption of prejudice.
To the extent it is appropriate to consider the overall strength of the evidence
against Solorio presented at trial, we would still find the presumption unrebutted. If the
trial evidence were so overwhelming, why would the jury repeatedly discuss their view
that Solorio must be guilty because he did not take the stand? Given the nature of
improper statements here—that Solorio did not testify because he was guilty—and the
repeated revisiting of this matter over a one-hour period despite admonitions, we would
find at least a "reasonable probability" that actual harm resulted from the misconduct
even if we were to consider the "entire record." (Lavender, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 687;
cf. People v. Nesler (1997) 16 Cal. 4th 561, 583 ["repeated references" to improper
subjects during deliberations established a substantial likelihood of prejudice].)
We recognize that "[j]urors, like all human beings are imperfect" and that "the
criminal justice system must not be rendered impotent in quest of an ever-elusive
perfection." (Lavender, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 681; In re Carpenter (1995) 9 Cal. 4th
634, 654.) Nevertheless, on the record before us, we find no basis to find that the
prosecution rebutted the presumption of prejudice. Solorio is entitled to a new trial due
18
to prejudicial juror misconduct, and we reverse his conviction for retrial. (Stankewitz,
supra, 40 Cal.3d at p. 402.)11
DISPOSITION
The judgment is reversed and the matter is remanded for a new trial.
DATO, J.
WE CONCUR:
HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.
IRION, J.
11 Solorio also challenges the trial court's exclusion of a defense expert's testimony
attempting to quantify Ramos's risk for drug-induced irrational violence at the time of the
shooting. (See generally People v. Wright (1985) 39 Cal. 3d 576, 582–584.) Because we
reverse based on juror misconduct, we have no need to address this additional argument.
19