From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Davis v. United States

Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
May 5, 1931
47 F.2d 1071 (5th Cir. 1931)

Summary

holding that jurors' failure to hear or understand the trial judge's instructions was an internal matter that could not be inquired into

Summary of this case from State v. Titus

Opinion

No. 6208.

April 2, 1931. Rehearing Denied May 5, 1931.

Appeal from the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of Texas; James C. Wilson, Judge.

J.B. Davis appeals. On petition for leave to apply to District Court for a new trial.

Petition denied.

Jesse E. Martin and Wm. J. Berne, both of Fort Worth, Tex., for appellant.

Norman A. Dodge, U.S. Atty., of Fort Worth, Tex.

Before FOSTER, SIBLEY, and HUTCHESON, Circuit Judges.



After the appeal to this court was perfected, leave was sought by the appellant to file a motion for a new trial in the District Court because of alleged misconduct of the trial jury. Following the practice established in Perry v. United States, 39 F.2d 52, we directed that the evidence relied on to support the motion be taken before the trial judge under cross-examination and submitted to our consideration. This has been done. The evidence consists only of the testimony of two of the jurors to the effect that in the jury room, while considering the case, the fact that the defendant had not taken the witness stand in his defense was by at least three jurors brought into discussion as indicating guilt, and that that fact had weight with the two jurors testifying in concluding that he was guilty. They testified that they had not heard the instruction of the court that they should not discuss or consider the failure of the defendant to testify. We must sustain the contention made in behalf of the United States that this showing is wholly insufficient as the basis for a grant of a new trial. As a matter of public policy, a juror will not generally be heard to impeach his verdict by testifying to his own misconduct or that of his colleagues. McDonald v. Pless, 238 U.S. 264, 35 S. Ct. 783, 59 L. Ed. 1300; Lancaster v. United States (C.C.A.) 39 F.2d 30. The precise question here raised, whether a juror may testify that improper argument was made by jurors in the jury room, and that it had effect in forming the verdict, was answered in the negative in Williams v. United States (C.C.A.) 3 F.2d 933. See, also, Salibo v. United States (C.C.A., No. 5752), 46 F.2d 790, present term.

It appearing that there is no evidence on which a new trial could properly be awarded, we decline to remit the case to the District Court for the purpose of filing and considering the motion.


Summaries of

Davis v. United States

Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
May 5, 1931
47 F.2d 1071 (5th Cir. 1931)

holding that jurors' failure to hear or understand the trial judge's instructions was an internal matter that could not be inquired into

Summary of this case from State v. Titus

rejecting juror testimony impeaching verdict, including testimony that jurors had not heard a particular instruction of the court

Summary of this case from Tanner v. United States

stating common law rule against impeachment of verdict

Summary of this case from Brown v. United States

In Davis v. United States, 47 F.2d 1071 (5th Cir. 1931), for example, a conviction was upheld despite the post-trial testimony of two jurors that the jury had considered the defendant's failure to take the stand in his own defense as evidence of guilt, and that the jurors had not heard the trial court's instruction that the jury was not to consider or discuss the defendant's failure to testify.

Summary of this case from United States v. D'Angelo

In Davis v. United States, 47 F.2d 1071 (5th Cir. 1931), the court upheld a conviction despite the post-trial testimony of jurors that the jury had considered the Defendant's failure to take the stand as evidence of guilt and that the jurors disregarded the court's instructions not to consider such a failure to testify.

Summary of this case from United States v. Pavon
Case details for

Davis v. United States

Case Details

Full title:DAVIS v. UNITED STATES. In re DAVIS

Court:Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Date published: May 5, 1931

Citations

47 F.2d 1071 (5th Cir. 1931)

Citing Cases

Vause v. United States

The former district attorney and others have executed affidavits which have been filed in opposition. The…

United States v. D'Angelo

The necessary consequence of the rule against examination of the jury's mental process is that convictions…