Douglas Bragg v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2015 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Oct 15 2015, 8:33 am
Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as
precedent or cited before any court except for the
purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata,
collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Elizabeth A. Houdek Gregory F. Zoeller
Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Gary Damon Secrest
Jonathan R. Sichtermann
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Douglas Bragg, October 15, 2015
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
49A02-1412-CR-878
v. Appeal from the Marion Superior
Court.
State of Indiana, The Honorable Stanley Kroh, Judge
Pro Tempore.
Appellee-Plaintiff
Cause No. 49G03-1401-FA-3694
Riley, Judge.
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STATEMENT OF THE CASE
[1] Appellant-Defendant, Douglas Bragg (Bragg), appeals his conviction for
criminal deviate conduct, a Class A felony, Ind. Code § 35-42-4-2 (2012) 1;
sexual battery, a Class C felony, I.C. § 35-42-4-8 (2012); and theft, a Class D
felony, I.C. § 34-43-4-2 (2013).
[2] We affirm.
ISSUE
[3] Bragg raises one issue on appeal, which we restate as: Whether the trial court
abused its discretion when it denied Bragg’s motion to strike a prospective juror
for cause because the juror was a deputy attorney general.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
[4] On January 29, 2014, the State charged Bragg with two Counts of Class A
felony criminal deviate conduct, one Count of Class B felony criminal
confinement, two Counts of Class C felony sexual battery, one Count of Class
C felony intimidation, and one Count of Class D felony theft. On November 5,
2014, the trial court conducted a jury trial.
[5] During the venire, one of the prospective jurors volunteered that he was “not a
law enforcement officer per se” but that he was a “deputy attorney general
1
This section was repealed by P.L. 158-2013, SEC. 438 and P.L. 214-2013, SEC. 37, eff. July 1, 2014.
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[and] a supervisor in [the] appeals division,” working very closely with the
criminal appeals attorneys. (Conf. Transcript p. 45). As such, he felt “a little
uncomfortable about serving as a juror.” (Conf. Tr. p. 45). When questioned
by Bragg that he is “probably leaning towards favoring the State or being biased
by the State,” the prospective juror responded that he had “been doing that for a
long time [and] [s]o there’s a natural tendency probably.” (Conf. Tr. p. 84).
When asked whether he could be fair, the prospective juror noted
Well, I’m not sure that I would ever say that I couldn’t be entirely fair,
but I bring to the table a lengthy experience with these kinds of things.
And I’ve represented the State at the – you know, at the Attorney
General’s level in many, many things.
(Conf. Tr. p. 85). When asked by the trial court “assuming you were
throughout here as a juror—throughout the whole trial, and at the end of the
day, you didn’t think the State met the burden of proof, would you be able to
enter a finding of not guilty,” the prospective juror replied, “Yes.” (Conf. Tr. p.
96). He added, however, “I’m just uncomfortable about it from a []
professional [] point of view.” (Conf. Tr. p. 96). After the trial court refused to
strike the prospective juror for cause, Bragg peremptorily struck him.
[6] Later during voir dire, Bragg used his last peremptory challenge and also
requested to remove two other jurors for cause because they “were pretty clear
that they did not want to be on this jury, they did not feel that they could be
fair” even though they did say “that they would follow the instructions.” (Tr.
p. 207). Bragg also requested an additional peremptory challenge because he
believed that “the attorney general should have been struck for cause” so he
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could have used it to strike another objectionable juror. (Tr. p. 207). After the
trial court rejected the for-cause challenges and denied Bragg’s request for an
additional challenge, Bragg declined to accept the jury venire. The trial court
allowed Bragg to make a record of his denial. At the close of the jury trial, the
jury returned a guilty verdict on one Count of Class A criminal deviate conduct,
one Count of Class C felony battery, and Class D felony theft.
[7] On November 26, 2014, the trial court sentenced Bragg to forty years executed
with ten years suspended and three years probation for criminal deviate
conduct, and two years executed for theft, with sentences to be served
concurrently. The trial court merged the sexual battery charge with the
criminal deviate conduct conviction.
[8] Bragg now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
[9] Bragg contends that he was denied the right to a fair trial because the trial court
abused its discretion in denying his challenge for cause as to the prospective
juror, who is a deputy attorney general and a supervisor in the appeals division.
The decision to grant or deny a challenge for cause to a prospective juror is a
matter within the trial court’s discretion. Kimbrough v. State, 911 N.E.2d 621,
628 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). We will reverse the trial court’s decision only if it is
illogical or arbitrary. Id. Moreover, we afford considerable deference to trial
judges regarding this decision because they see jurors firsthand and are in a
better position to assess a juror’s ability to serve without bias and reach a
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decision based on the law. Id. Finally, we note that the purpose of voir dire is to
determine whether the prospective juror can render a fair and impartial verdict
in accordance with the law and evidence. Id.
[10] The Federal and Indiana Constitutions guarantee the right to an impartial jury.
Ramirez v. State, 7 N.E.3d 933, 936 (Ind. 2014). But selecting impartial juries
depends upon the parties’ discernment and the trial court’s discretion to select a
panel of objective and unbiased jurors “who will conscientiously apply the law
and find the facts.” Oswalt v. State, 19 N.E.3d 241, 245 (Ind. 2014) (quoting
Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 423, 105 S. Ct. 844, 83 L. Ed. 2d 841 (1985)).
Removing prospective jurors—whether peremptorily or for cause—who cannot
perform these tasks is the mechanism parties and trial courts use to achieve an
impartial jury. Emmons v. State, 492 N.E.2d 303, 305 (Ind. 1986).
[11] A juror who is biased either for or against a party may be removed for cause
from a jury panel. I.C. § 35-37-1-5. Bias may be actual or implied. Actual bias
arises when a factual bias for or against one of the parties is shown to exist.
Smith v. State, 477 N.E.2d 311 (Ind. Ct. App. 1985). Implied bias, which is
claimed by Bragg, is a bias attributable by law to a prospective juror, regardless
of actual partiality, due to the existence of a relationship between the juror and
one of the parties. Alvies v. State, 795 N.E.2d 493, 499 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003).
[12] Our courts have previously inferred bias on the part of relatives of persons
employed by the prosecutor’s office, finding the relative incompetent to serve
on criminal jury panels. Haak v. State, 417 N.E.2d 321 (Ind. 1981); Barnes v.
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State, 330 N.E.2d 743 (Ind. 1975). In Haak, our supreme court held that
implied bias existed where a prospective juror was married to an attorney who
had accepted a deputy prosecutor’s position in the county where the case was
being tried. Haak, 417 N.E.2d at 322. In Barnes, the court found the
“possibility of bias,” where a juror was married to a second cousin of a member
of the prosecutor’s staff who was slightly involved in the trial. Barnes, 330
N.E.2d at 746-47. This presumption of bias rested upon the assumption that a
deputy prosecutor, by virtue of his employment, would identify so strongly with
the interest of the State he would be unable to fairly adjudge its case against a
defendant. Smith, 477 N.E.2d at 313-14. As our supreme court reasoned in
Block v. State, 100 Ind. 357, 365 (Ind. 1885), “it is almost impossible, however
incorruptible one may be, not to bend before the weight of interest; and the
power of employer over employee is that of him who clothes and feeds over
him who is fed and clothed.”
[13] Nevertheless, I find this line of cases distinguishable from the situation at hand.
Here, the prospective juror was not a member of—or related to a member of—
the prosecutorial arm of the State that charges and prosecutes criminal actions,
but rather, was employed by a different State agency, i.e., the office of the
attorney general. While the prospective juror, as deputy attorney general,
professed a knowledge of criminal appeals, he was not connected to the
prosecution of the instant case and thus had no “relationship” to “one of the
parties.” See Alvies, 795 N.E.2d at 499.
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[14] Furthermore, by asking its own questions and also allowing both parties to
question the prospective juror, the trial court properly analyzed the alleged bias
and considered the nature of the prospective juror’s presumed bias. Even
though the prospective juror expressed some discomfort “from a professional []
point of view,” he did not assert any bias toward Bragg. (Conf. Tr. p. 96).
Also, I cannot find bias in the prospective juror’s statement that he had a
“probable” “natural tendency” to favor the State. (Conf. Tr. p. 84). See, e.g.,
Oswalt, 19 N.E.3d at 249-50 (our supreme court did not find bias where a juror
expressed discomfort and uttered the statement that he would not want a juror
like himself adjudicating the case). Rather, upon questioning, the prospective
juror affirmed that he could be fair throughout the proceedings and would hold
the State to its burden of proof. The timely disclosure of a juror’s alleged
relationship with a witness or a party, coupled with an assertion that the juror
will remain impartial, adequately protects a defendant’s right to an impartial
jury. McCants v. State, 686 N.E.2d 1281, 1285 (Ind. 1997). “Our justice system
depends on jurors who appreciate the gravity of the cases they are called upon
to try, so long as they demonstrate a commitment to impartiality and a
willingness to dutifully follow the court’s instructions.” Oswalt, 19 N.E.3d at
250.
[15] Accordingly, because I do not find presumed bias in the case of a prospective
juror who is a deputy attorney general under the circumstances before me, I
cannot conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in denying Bragg’s
challenge for cause.
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CONCLUSION
[16] Based on the foregoing, I conclude that the trial court properly denied Bragg’s
motion to strike for cause.
[17] Affirmed.
[18] Bailey, J. concurs in result with separate opinion
[19] Barnes, J. concurs in part and dissents in part with separate opinion
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IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Douglas Bragg,
Appellant-Defendant,
Court of Appeals Case No.
v. 49A02-1412-CR-878
State of Indiana,
Appellee-Plaintiff
Bailey, Judge, concurring in result.
[20] I, unlike my colleague Judge Riley, believe that Prospective Juror S should have
been dismissed for cause. However, in my view, Bragg failed to demonstrate
that he was denied an impartial jury, consistent with our supreme court’s
guidance in Weisheit v. State, 26 N.E.3d 3 (Ind. 2015). Thus, I write separately
to explain my reasoning.
[21] “Our justice system depends on jurors who appreciate the gravity of the cases
they are called upon to try, so long as they demonstrate a commitment to
impartiality and a willingness to dutifully follow the court’s instructions.”
Oswalt v. State, 19 N.E.3d 241, 250 (Ind. 2014). In Oswalt, our supreme court
reiterated: “The Federal and Indiana Constitutions guarantee the right to an
impartial jury” and explained how the mechanism of prospective juror removal
is used to achieve an impartial jury. Id. at 245-46. Peremptory challenges give
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parties the nearly unqualified right to remove any prospective juror they wish,
restricted only by the finite allotment of challenges 2 and the constitutional ban
on racial, gender, and religious discrimination. Id. at 246. The exercise of a
peremptory challenge is not subject to the trial court’s control, and the party
making the challenge is not generally required to explain the underlying
reasons. Id.
[22] By contrast, for-cause motions are available to exclude jurors whose views
would prevent or substantially impair the performance of his or her duties as a
juror in accordance with the instructions given and the oath taken and thus
violate the defendant’s Sixth Amendment rights. Id. Indiana Code section 35-
37-1-5 and Indiana Jury Rule 17 list additional bases for removing a prospective
juror for cause. Id. A juror removed under these constitutional or statutory
provisions is considered an “incompetent” juror while a juror not removable for
cause but stricken at a party’s wish is termed “objectionable.” Id. Strikes for
cause require trial court approval, and so parties may seek appellate review of
unsuccessful for-cause motions. Id.
[23] We review the decision on a for-cause challenge for an abuse of discretion. Id.
at 245. The trial court is in a unique position to observe and assess the
demeanor of prospective jurors as they answer questions, and thus we afford
2
Pursuant to Indiana Jury Rule 18(a), a defendant charged with a Class A felony is entitled to ten
peremptory challenges.
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substantial deference to the trial court’s decision. Id. Error is found only if the
decision is illogical or arbitrary. Id.
[24] Reversible error occurs only when the error has prejudiced the defendant. Id. at
249 (citing Woolston v. State, 453 N.E.2d 965, 968 (Ind. 1983)). When a party
exhausts all peremptories and is forced to accept an objectionable or
incompetent juror, any erroneous for-cause motion is prejudicial because it
deprives the party of a peremptory challenge that could have been used. Id.
‘“The issue of whether the defendant had an impartial jury must focus on one
or more of the jurors who actually sat and rendered the decision,”’ and thus “at
least one incompetent or objectionable juror must actually have served on the
jury.” Id. (quoting Ward v. State, 903 N.E.2d 946, 954-55 (Ind. 2009)).
[25] Bragg contends that Prospective Juror S, by virtue of his lengthy advocacy for
the State in criminal matters, was “impliedly biased.” Appellant’s Brief at 5. A
juror’s bias, supporting excusal for cause, may be actual or implied. Joyner v.
State, 736 N.E.2d 232, 238 (Ind. 2000). “Implied bias” is attributed to a juror
upon a finding of a relationship between the juror and one of the parties,
regardless of actual partiality. Id.
[26] The State argues that Prospective Juror S has a “tenuous” relationship with the
“prosecutorial arm of the State.” Appellant’s Brief at 7. I disagree. Although
Prospective Juror S does not represent the State at the trial court level, he has
long done so at the appeals level. His employment had spanned more than a
decade and, as of the time of trial, he was a supervisor who worked closely with
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attorneys involved in criminal appeals. The appeals process is frequently a
continuation of the criminal proceedings, as a person convicted of a crime in
Indiana has a right to an appeal pursuant to Article 7, Section 6 of the Indiana
Constitution.
[27] Given the unique circumstances of Prospective Juror S’s employment, a finding
of implied bias would have been warranted. Moreover, Prospective Juror S
arguably expressed actual bias in favor of the State. Although he expressed
willingness to follow instructions, he repeatedly acknowledged his favoritism
and his lengthy role as an advocate for the State in appellate matters. Pursuant
to Indiana Jury Rule 13, prospective jurors are required to swear or affirm that
he or she “will honestly answer any question asked … during jury selection.”
We are not in a position to assess the credibility of a prospective juror. No
challenge was made to the truthfulness of Prospective Juror S’s representations.
As such, we must take Prospective Juror S at his word for purposes of review,
and he should have been excused for cause.
[28] That said, two things must occur in order to obtain a reversal of a conviction
based on a claim of error in a trial court’s denial of a juror challenge for cause.
First, a defendant must exhaust all of his or her peremptory challenges if a
challenge for cause is denied. Oswalt, 19 N.E.3d at 247. Second, a defendant
must show that an incompetent or objectionable juror served on the jury as a
result of a trial court’s erroneous rejection of a for-cause challenge. Id. Near
the end of voir dire, Bragg’s counsel advised the trial court that all his
peremptory challenges had been used. Also, the State does not suggest that
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Bragg failed to comply with the exhaustion rule. The first requirement of
Oswalt appears to be satisfied. However, Bragg does not develop an argument
with regard to the second requirement, service by an incompetent or
objectionable juror.
[29] In Weisheit, our supreme court clarified that the appellant who makes a claim
under the Oswalt framework bears the burden of establishing that an
incompetent or objectionable juror served on his jury.
Though Weisheit satisfied the exhaustion rule by exhausting his
peremptory challenges, he does not establish that an “objectionable”
juror served on his jury. He neither identified which particular juror(s)
were objectionable nor explains why he wished to strike the juror(s);
he simply states that in expending all of his peremptory challenges, he
“was forced to accept other jurors who, although not necessarily
positioned to be challenged for cause, were biased against his evidence
in either the guilt phase, the penalty phase, or both.” (Appellant’s Br.
at 49.) Under Oswalt his conclusory assertion that he was forced to
accept biased jurors is not nearly enough for us to find reversible error.
26 N.E.3d at 13.
[30] Bragg focuses his appellate argument upon Prospective Juror S’s alleged
incompetence, and the preservation of one peremptory strike. At the same
time, he suggests that an impartial jury would have included neither Juror A or
O. He does not identify a particular juror that he would have eliminated with a
preserved peremptory strike, nor does he request our review of either Juror A or
O. With respect to these jurors, Bragg summarily states: “The presence of both
Juror O and Juror A on Mr. Bragg’s jury and the inability of his counsel to
strike one of them deprived him of an impartial jury and prejudiced him.”
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Appellant’s Brief at 8. According to our supreme court’s guidance in Weisheit, a
conclusory allegation of forced acceptance of biased jurors is not nearly enough
to support reversal.
[31] For the foregoing reasons, I conclude that Bragg has not established grounds for
reversal of his conviction. I concur in the result reached, that is, the affirmation
of Bragg’s convictions for Criminal Deviate Conduct and Theft. 3
3
Although the jury found Bragg guilty of one count of Sexual Battery, the trial court did not enter a
judgment of conviction thereon.
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IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Douglas Bragg, [Add Hand-down date]
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Cause No.
49A02-1412-CR-878
v. Appeal from the Marion Superior
Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable Stanley Kroh, Judge
Pro Tempore
Appellee-Plaintiff
Trial Court Cause No.
49G03-1401-FA-3694
Barnes, Judge, concurring in part and dissenting in part.
[32] I concur with Judge Bailey’s conclusion that Juror S was subject to removal for
cause because, as a deputy attorney general with responsibility for criminal
appeals, he was at least impliedly biased in favor of the State.
[33] However, I dissent from Judge Bailey’s conclusion that Bragg failed to establish
reversible error in the denial of his for-cause challenge to Juror S. As our
supreme court has succinctly explained, “If on appeal you then prove both the
erroneous denial [of a challenge for cause] and that you were unable to strike
another objectionable juror because you exhausted your peremptories, you are
entitled to a new trial, full stop.” Merritt v. Evansville-Vanderburgh Sch. Corp., 765
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N.E.2d 1232, 1237 (Ind. 2002). Moreover, for purposes of the exhaustion rule,
objectionable jurors are deemed to be equally prejudicial to incompetent jurors,
i.e. ones removable for cause; an appellant need not prove that an objectionable
juror was incompetent. Oswalt v. State, 19 N.E.3d 241, 249 (Ind. 2014) (quoting
Merritt, 765 N.E.2d at 1236 n.6). In Oswalt, counsel for the defendant attempted
to remove Juror 28 for cause, which was denied, but used his last peremptory to
remove Juror 25, not Juror 28, based on his “gut.” Id. at 248. The Oswalt court
held that this satisfied the Merritt exhaustion rule and preserved appellate review
of the denial of the challenge for cause to Juror 28. Id.
[34] In Weisheit v. State, 26 N.E.3d 3 (Ind. 2015), our supreme court addressed a case
in which the defendant failed to specifically identify any juror whom he was
unable to remove because of the exhaustion of peremptories and failed to state
any reason why he wanted to remove any such juror. The court held that the
defendant’s “conclusory assertion that he was forced to accept biased jurors is
not nearly enough for us to find reversible error.” Weisheit, 26 N.E.3d at 13.
[35] My colleague finds this case to be like Weisheit and not Oswalt. I disagree.
Here, trial counsel specifically identified two jurors—Juror O and Juror A–
either of whom she could have struck if she had not had to use a peremptory
challenge on Juror S. Trial counsel noted that both of these jurors had
expressed doubt during voir dire that they could be fair and in presuming that
Bragg was innocent. I believe this specificity satisfies Oswalt.
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[36] “The Federal and Indiana Constitutions guarantee the right to an impartial
jury.” Oswalt, 19 N.E.3d at 245. Peremptory challenges are an important tool
in guaranteeing fair and impartial juries. Id. at 246. Subject to limits such as
prohibiting removal for discriminatory reasons, peremptory challenges to jurors
that counsel or client finds objectionable are more often than not based on
“hunches” that “are difficult if not impossible to explain to a trial court or
opposing counsel . . . .” Id. I do not believe it is a defendant’s burden to
explain in detail why he or she wanted to use a peremptory challenge on a
particular juror. Oswalt identified a “gut” feeling about a particular juror as
being sufficient. Trial counsel here specifically explained why she found Juror
O and Juror A objectionable.
[37] I understand Bragg is accused of committing a very serious and heinous crime.
However, our judicial system is premised on the theory that even the least
pleasing criminal defendant gets a “fair shake.” I do not think that happened
here. The fairness and impartiality of the jury can certainly be called into
question.
[38] I believe Juror S should have been subject to a cause challenge, removed, and
that Bragg has satisfied the exhaustion rule. As such, I believe
his convictions should be reversed, and the cause remanded for a new trial.
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