IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Docket No. 49266
STATE OF IDAHO, )
)
Plaintiff-Respondent, ) Boise, November 2023 Term
)
v. ) Opinion filed: January 31, 2024
)
GILBERTO FLORES RODRIGUEZ, ) Melanie Gagnepain, Clerk
)
Defendant-Appellant. )
Appeal from the District Court of the Fifth Judicial District of the State of Idaho,
Cassia County. Michael P. Tribe, District Judge.
The order of the district court is affirmed.
Erik R. Lehtinen, State Appellate Public Defender, Boise, for Appellant. Elizabeth
Allred argued.
Raúl R. Labrador, Idaho Attorney General, Boise, for Respondent. John McKinney
argued.
_______________________________________________
MOELLER, Justice.
In 2021, a Cassia County jury found Gilberto Flores Rodriguez guilty of first-degree
murder for the 1995 killing of a 14-year-old girl. Following the verdict, Rodriguez filed a motion
for a new trial asserting multiple grounds for relief, which the district court denied. Rodriguez
advances only one issue on appeal, maintaining that the district court abused its discretion in
denying his motion for a new trial after information came to light that a juror may have slept
through portions of the trial. Because Rodriguez has failed to establish by clear and convincing
evidence that any juror misconduct occurred, we affirm the order of the district court.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In February 1995, 14-year-old Regina Krieger was reported missing from her home in
Burley, Idaho. She was last seen by her father the previous evening before she went to bed. When
her father came to wake her for school, Regina was gone and her bedspread was missing from her
bed. Regina’s father called 911 to report his daughter’s disappearance and stated that “there was
blood on the bedroom floor, and it looked like something had been dragged up the stairs” from her
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basement bedroom. He also reported that there was “blood going up the stairs that led to the
backyard of the residence.” On investigating the Krieger property, deputies found the blood
described by Regina’s father. They also found a “pile of feces” near the back gate, where the blood
trail ended.
Local law enforcement initially treated this as a missing-persons case, with the Cassia
County Sheriff’s deputies originally believing Regina may have run away. Several weeks later,
Regina’s body washed up on the banks of the Snake River. An autopsy determined that she had
been killed weeks before. The cause of Regina’s death was determined to be “a sharp laceration
of the throat with severance of the right and left jugular veins and a stab wound to the chest with
laceration of the left ventricle of the heart.” There were signs of blunt force trauma received prior
to death that may have rendered Regina unconscious, as well as a “defense wound” on her hand
from potentially trying to ward off her assailant. Kerry Patterson, the pathologist who performed
Regina’s autopsy, later testified that Regina suffered “[a] sharp laceration, deep” across her throat
“from ear to ear,” and was then stabbed in the heart. Patterson explained: “Had [Regina] survived
the laceration to the throat, [the stab wound] would have finished it.”
The investigation then turned from a missing-persons case to a murder investigation. While
Regina’s death came close in time to other unsolved murders in the area, no arrests were made or
charges filed for the next 25 years. After the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“the FBI”) became
involved in the case in 2016, three confidential witnesses provided information linking Rodriguez
to Regina’s death. Their statements ultimately resulted in Rodriguez being charged and arrested in
February 2019. The three confidential witnesses provided information relating to (1) details of the
night Regina was killed, (2) how her body was thrown into the Snake River from a bridge, and (3)
various statements Rodriguez had made about killing Regina over the years since her initial
disappearance in 1995. Rodriguez pleaded not guilty to the charge, and he has continued to
maintain his innocence. While the State initially filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty,
it later withdrew this filing.
Because the murder weapon was never recovered, the only physical evidence presented by
the State at trial concerned Regina’s autopsy. There was DNA found on Regina’s body from two
unidentified males, but they did not match Rodriguez. Lacking physical evidence tying Rodriguez
to the murder, the State relied instead on witness testimony, mainly from four key witnesses
interviewed by Cassia County and the FBI: Cody Thompson, Carlos Rocha, Heather Ray, and
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Carlos Tena. These witnesses are all currently incarcerated in various locations. None of them
received plea bargains or reduced sentences in exchange for testifying against Rodriguez. Each
stated that they came forward to testify against Rodriguez because it was the truth and the right
thing to do.
Cody Thompson was the State’s primary witness. Thompson and Rodriguez had been
interrogated by law enforcement several times over the years and both had “told many versions of
their involvement in [Regina’s] death.” Both men had also been “in and out” of prison since
Regina’s murder in 1995. Thompson was 16 years old when Regina was murdered and he attended
the same high school. The record established that Thompson not only purchased drugs from
Rodriguez at that time, but he also sold drugs and collected money for him.
At the trial, Thompson testified about the night Regina was killed and stated he was with
Rodriguez throughout the evening. Thompson explained that he had gone to Rodriguez’s home
because law enforcement officers were looking for him. He was under the influence of
methamphetamine, marijuana, and heroin that night, which left him feeling sick through much of
the evening. Thompson testified that earlier that night, he and Rodriguez drove to the Aguinagas’
residence, who were distant relatives of Rodriguez. Afterward, the two men drove to “an alley”
behind a home. Rodriguez told Thompson to wait in the vehicle. Thompson said he waited in the
car but “got sick,” “puked outside of the car,” and recalled defecating somewhere. Laboratory tests
later found that Thompson’s DNA matched the fecal evidence 1 found in the Krieger’s backyard
the day she disappeared.
When Rodriguez returned to the vehicle, Thompson saw Rodriguez wipe blood off his
hands. There was also blood on his clothes. Rodriguez moved the car to the front side of the house,
and then told Thompson to help him. The two men walked to the side of the house where there
was “[a] body wrapped up in a blanket.” There were no sounds or movements coming from the
wrapped body. Thompson and Rodriguez carried the body to Rodriguez’s car and placed it in the
trunk. Thompson testified: “I was scared. I was terrified. I didn’t know necessarily what to do, if I
should run, from that moment or not.” Thompson said Rodriguez next drove them back to the
Aguinagas’ home to wash up, change, and get rid of their bloody clothing. Afterward, he and
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The actual fecal waste collected from the crime scene was lost from evidence over the years. However, Regina’s
housecoat had also been found nearby, and “[i]t appeared that someone had wiped themselves twice with [the]
housecoat.” Thompson’s DNA matched these fecal stains, placing him in the Krieger’s yard that night.
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Rodriguez took Regina’s body to the Snake River, where they “threw” her body into the river.
Thompson testified that it was only later, when he saw fliers about a missing person at a gas station,
that he realized the body was Regina.
On cross-examination, the defense drilled Thompson on how his story has changed
repeatedly over the years—even between the preliminary hearing proceedings and trial. Cross-examination also established that Thompson had accused others of murdering Regina over the
years. Thompson has even varied on alleging that there was a third person in Rodriguez’s vehicle
the night of Regina’s murder. Thompson admitted he had lied in the past and “made stories up”
because he was afraid of what would happen, but stated that his testimony at trial was “the truth.”
The State called additional witnesses who testified regarding allusions Rodriguez had made
over the years to killing Regina. For example, Heather Ray testified that Rodriguez admitted to
killing Regina, saying “he sliced her,” while Carlos Tena recalled conversations over the years
where Rodriguez described “getting rid of” a girl he called “Freddy Krueger.” This was a
reference, Tena said, to the murder of Regina Krieger. Tena also described a time where Rodriguez
grew nervous and confided that “the feds were poking around again” or “the feds were on his tail”
over “La Gina” or “la guereja,” meaning “the white girl,” which were additional references to
Regina.
Rodriguez presented witnesses to contradict the inference that he had made statements
somehow hinting at or suggesting that he was involved in the murder. Rodriguez did not testify,
choosing to exercise his right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment. The trial lasted six
days. At the conclusion of the trial, on May 25, 2021, the jury returned a guilty verdict and
convicted Rodriguez of first-degree murder.
In the weeks following his conviction, Rodriguez employed a private investigator to
contact jurors and inquire as to “how and why the jury had arrived at its verdict in the face of the
State’s abject failure to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.” Some of the jurors agreed to
speak with the investigator in these post-verdict interviews, and the investigator reported back to
defense counsel that Juror 341 “had been sleeping during much of the testimony and had to be
awakened by the bailiff.” The investigator reported that he met with the bailiff and confirmed that
Juror 341 fell asleep during the trial and had to be awakened by her. There is no indication in the
record that the investigator spoke with Juror 341.
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Rodriguez then filed a motion for a new trial under Idaho Criminal Rule 34 and Idaho Code
section 19-2406(6), asserting three grounds for a new trial: (1) the verdict was the result of juror
misconduct; (2) the verdict was decided “by means other than fair expression of opinion on the
part of all the jurors”; and (3) the verdict was contrary to law and evidence. Rodriguez also
submitted an affidavit from the investigator containing his report and two affidavits from his
attorneys averring that they neither observed nor had been informed of these circumstances during
the trial. The State opposed this motion for a new trial, filing two declarations from prosecutors
and arguing that Rodriguez failed to provide clear and convincing evidence of juror misbehavior.
An evidentiary hearing on the motion was held on July 15, 2021. The bailiff from the trial
was the only witness who testified. During her direct examination by the defense, the bailiff
testified that she “had to awaken” Juror 341 “two or three times.”
Q [by Defense]. And I believe that you told Investigator O’Neill that, during the
course of the trial, on at least three occasions, you observed the juror concerned
asleep, or appearing to be asleep, and you had to awaken him, correct?
A. Yes, sir. I estimated it two or three times.
Q. Okay. It may have been more; it may have been less?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. But certainly he did, to your observation, fall asleep?
A. I believe for a short time.
Q. And, again, I do not want to embarrass anyone or make any suggestion that I’m
castigating anyone, but was that information relayed to the [c]ourt in any manner?
A. Yes, sir. I believe the [c]ourt was aware.
Q. And, again, without asking you to violate any confidentiality that you may feel,
and I understand that entirely, did the [c]ourt instruct you to inform counsel of that
fact?
A. No.
During the State’s cross-examination, the bailiff explained that she had asked Juror 341 if
he was okay because she was aware Juror 341 was a diabetic and occasionally needed a recess to
stabilize his blood sugar. During voir dire, Juror 341 had explained that his condition “sometimes
. . . changes quick.” The bailiff also clarified that she did not know if Juror 341 was actually asleep
but believed he might be because his head was down and in his hands. During cross-examination
by the State, the bailiff elaborated on her earlier testimony:
5
Q [by State]. Did you give any instruction or say anything to Juror No. 341 about
what was going on, as far as their sleeping, or did you learn anything from that juror
about their health condition?
A. I inquired. I asked him if he was okay because of the known health condition.
Q. What was that known health condition?
A. Diabetes.
Q. And did you actually observe how long, because you said you believe he was
asleep for a short period of time, did you ever time it? Do you know how long he
slept?
A. No.
Q. Do you know for a fact that he was asleep?
A. No.
Q. . . . Did he make any statements as to actually being asleep?
A. No.
Q. So, for the record, what exactly did you observe that juror doing that made you
believe he might have been asleep?
A. If I recall correctly, he had his head down in his hands, like looking towards the
desk or floor.
Q. Was there anything else -- was there audible snoring? Was there anything of that
nature?
A. No.
Additionally, the bailiff testified that it was “impossible” for her to determine what
testimony was being presented or “what was going on” in the proceedings at the times when she
noticed Juror 341 lower his head. Rodriguez likewise argued before the district court that “it is
impossible to know how many times Juror 341 fell asleep, what parts of the testimony he missed,
what additional problems of attention he was experiencing, or, if he was asleep at all.”
While the bailiff was the only witness called to testify at the evidentiary hearing, the district
court also considered the additional sworn statements filed with the court. As noted, the defense
team submitted three affidavits, two from the attorneys and one from the private investigator. The
State also submitted declarations from the prosecution team, which sat across from Juror 341
during the course of the trial. Both prosecutors stated they never saw Juror 341 fall asleep, but
occasionally saw Juror 341 lower his head. One deputy prosecutor explained:
3. Juror 341 was seated directly across from where I was seated at the
prosecution table during the trial. I watched all the jurors during the course of the
trial but it was particularly easy to see Juror 341 as he was seated directly across
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from me in the jury box. I understand that it is alleged that he was sleeping during
the court [sic] of the trial. I never once saw him sleeping. I did see him lower his
head but he did that frequently and never left his head down for significant periods
of time. His head was not resting on the table in front of him or on his hands. When
he would lift up his head there were no signs that he had been sleeping. He did not
yawn. His eyes were open and not red. His head was not bobbing or drooping as
though he was falling asleep.
4. There was one time when I saw the bailiff enter the jury box and approach
Juror 341 while his head was down. I could not hear if anything was said but Juror
341 immediately lifted up his head when the bailiff approached him and there were
no indications that he had been asleep. After he was approached by the bailiff I
never saw him put his head down again for more than a few seconds. Thus, any
inattentiveness on the part of Juror 341 was immediately addressed by the bailiff
during the trial.
In contrast, defense counsel stated in a hearing that “[f]rom the way that we were positioned, it
was, at times, impossible to see all but the last two jurors,” and they did not see a “sleep[ing]”
juror during trial. Defense counsel stated: “we didn’t see that, nor were we informed of that by
the [c]ourt or by the bailiff.” Juror 341 was never questioned, either during trial or following the
verdict. The district court took the motion under advisement.
On August 18, 2021, the district court issued a written decision denying Rodriguez’s
motion for a new trial. It concluded that Rodriguez did “not present[] clear and convincing
evidence that Juror 341 was asleep for any significant portion of the trial,” or “that the conduct
reasonably could have prejudiced the defendant.” While the court noted that it had also observed
Juror 341 “put his head down or nod off” three times during the trial, the bailiff always “made sure
the juror was stirred in a timely manner.” The court went on to explain its own observations from
the trial:
On the first day of testimony, the [c]ourt and [c]ourt staff alerted the Bailiff of Juror
341 when the Juror placed his head on the table in the jury box because the [c]ourt
was concerned that the Juror [341] may have been experiencing side effects of
diabetes, which was discussed during the juror’s individual voir dire. The Bailiff
subsequently made contact with Juror 341 without prompting from the [c]ourt or
[c]ourt [s]taff. The [c]ourt did not address the issue with the attorneys on the record
because it was readily apparent what was happening in the courtroom (and the
attorneys and attorney support staff were seated directly facing the jury box – a
function of the courtroom being rearranged to accommodate social distancing of
the jury and audience) such that the [c]ourt did not believe anyone in the courtroom
had not seen the Bailiff climbing over multiple jurors to communicate with Juror
341.
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The district court concluded that there was no juror misconduct “such that ‘a fair and due
consideration of the case has been prevented[.’] ” The court specifically found that Rodriguez’s
allegation that Juror 341 was “sleeping during much of the testimony” was not true. As for
Rodriguez’s assertion that the verdict was contrary to law or evidence, the court denied him relief
on that basis because counsel failed to brief the issue.
At a later hearing, the district court sentenced Rodriguez to a fixed life sentence. Rodriguez
timely appealed.
II. STANDARDS OF REVIEW
On appeal, we review the denial of a motion for a new trial pursuant to Idaho Criminal
Rule 34 under an abuse of discretion standard. State v. Hooley, 166 Idaho 417, 419,
460 P.3d 341,
343 (2020). Idaho Code section 19-2406 provides seven statutory grounds for granting a new trial
in criminal proceedings. This case centers on the third ground, which states that a new trial may
be granted “[w]hen the jury has separated without leave of the court after retiring to deliberate
upon their verdict, or been guilty of any misconduct by which a fair and due consideration of the
case has been prevented.” I.C. § 19-2406(3).
“A trial court has wide discretion to grant or refuse to grant a new trial, and, on appeal,
this Court will not disturb that exercise of discretion, absent a showing of manifest abuse.” State
v. Cantu, 129 Idaho 673, 674,
931 P.2d 1191, 1192 (1997). See also State v. Strange,
147 Idaho
686, 688,
214 P.3d 672, 674 (Ct. App. 2009). This Court applies the four-part Lunneborg standard
when reviewing for an abuse of discretion. Hooley,
166 Idaho at 419,
460 P.3d at 343. An abuse
of discretion does not occur where the lower court “(1) correctly perceived the issue as one of
discretion; (2) acted within the outer boundaries of its discretion; (3) acted consistently with the
legal standards applicable to the specific choices available to it; and (4) reached its decision by the
exercise of reason.”
Id. (quoting Lunneborg v. My Fun Life,
163 Idaho 856, 863,
421 P.3d 187,
194 (2018)).
Additionally, a trial court’s findings of fact are reviewed for clear error. State v. Ish, 166
Idaho 492, 501,
461 P.3d 774, 783 (2020); State v. Rogers,
144 Idaho 738, 740,
170 P.3d 881, 883
(2007). Thus, they should “not be overturned unless they are clearly erroneous.” Rogers,
144 Idaho
at 740,
170 P.3d at 883. “A factual finding is clearly erroneous only if it is not supported by
substantial and competent evidence in the record.” Stuart v. State,
127 Idaho 806, 813,
907 P.2d
783, 790 (1995) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
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III. ANALYSIS
Rodriguez raises only one issue on appeal: whether the district court erred in denying his
motion for a new trial on the basis of juror misconduct. Rodriguez argues that Juror 341 was asleep
during portions of the trial proceedings and testimony. He asserts that this entitles him to a new
trial because he has (1) proved by clear and convincing evidence that the misconduct occurred and
(2) shown that the misconduct reasonably could have prejudiced him. The State responds by
arguing that the district court appropriately exercised its discretion in denying the motion for a
new trial, and further notes that “[t]he district court did not find that Juror 341 actually slept during
any part of the trial.”
The Idaho Constitution provides each defendant with an “inviolate” right to a trial by jury,
Idaho Const. art. I, § 7, while the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects a
defendant’s right to an “unimpaired jury.” Tanner v. United States, 483 U.S. 107, 127 (1987); State
v. DeGrat,
128 Idaho 352, 355,
913 P.2d 568, 571 (1996). This Sixth Amendment right is
“protected by several aspects of the trial process,” including that the jurors’ suitability is examined
during voir dire; the jury is observable throughout the trial by the court, counsel, and court
personnel; and jurors are observable by each other. Tanner,
483 U.S. at 127. Thus, “[m]isconduct
can . . . be reported before a verdict is rendered.” DeGrat,
128 Idaho at 355,
913 P.2d at 571
(emphasis added).
When a defendant moves for a new trial based on juror misconduct, Idaho courts apply a
two-part test to determine whether a defendant is entitled to a new trial. State v. Garcia-Ongay,
169 Idaho 1, 3,
490 P.3d 1, 5 (2021) (citing State v. Seiber,
117 Idaho 637,
791 P.2d 18 (Ct. App.
1989)). First, the defendant must prove by clear and convincing evidence that juror misconduct
occurred. Second, if the trial court makes such a finding, it must also be convinced that the
misconduct reasonably could have prejudiced the defendant. Id.; Strange,
147 Idaho at 689,
214
P.3d at 675. This test traces back to State v. Marren,
17 Idaho 766,
107 P. 993 (1910), where this
Court “set forth its standard for reviewing a defendant’s request for a new trial based upon juror
misconduct.” Seiber,
117 Idaho at 640,
791 P.2d at 21. As the Marren Court explained:
To entitle a person convicted of an offense to a new trial on the ground of
disqualification of a juror, the showing should be clear and conclusive, and the trial
court should be clearly satisfied that the defendant has been denied the impartial
trial guaranteed to him by the Constitution.
17 Idaho at 794–95, 107 P. at 1003.
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While Idaho’s case law on juror misconduct is limited, the standard is clear: to prevail on
a motion for a new trial due to juror misconduct, the defendant must first prove by clear and
convincing evidence that juror misconduct occurred. Garcia-Ongay, 169 Idaho at 3,
490 P.3d at
5; Seiber,
117 Idaho at 640,
791 P.2d at 21. This Court has not dealt directly with a sleeping juror;
however, the Idaho Court of Appeals has concluded that a juror’s inattentiveness, through sleep or
otherwise, may constitute misconduct. Strange,
147 Idaho at 689,
214 P.3d at 675 (citing State v.
Bolen,
143 Idaho 437, 440–41,
146 P.3d 703, 706–07 (Ct. App. 2006)). Federal courts have
similarly held that “[a] defendant could be deprived of the Fifth Amendment right to due process
or the Sixth Amendment right to an impartial jury if jurors fall asleep and are unable to fairly
consider the defendant’s case.” United States v. McKeighan,
685 F.3d 956, 973 (10th Cir. 2012).
See also United States v. Barrett,
703 F.2d 1076, 1083 n.13 (9th Cir. 1983).
Both Rodriguez and the State point this Court to the Idaho Court of Appeals’ decision in
Bolen, 143 Idaho 437,
146 P.3d 703, to compare or distinguish the facts of this case. In Bolen, the
defendant filed a motion for a new trial ten days after the jury found him guilty of sexual abuse of
a child. 143 Idaho at 438–39, 146 P.3d at 704–05. The defendant submitted three affidavits with
his motion: one from himself, one from a paralegal who worked with defense counsel, and one
from a friend of the defendant who attended the trial. Each affiant alleged that three different jurors
were inattentive or sleeping during the trial.
Id. at 439,
146 P.3d at 705. One affidavit stated that a
juror “appeared to be dozing on and off” and “fell asleep several times,” while a second juror was
concentrating on drawing.
Id. A third juror was alleged to have been inattentive and “nodding off
during some portions of the trial.” “[T]he presiding judge was not informed of any alleged juror
inattention or sleeping during the trial,” and the defense counsel “chose not to bring their
observations of alleged inattentive jurors to the trial court’s attention until ten days after the trial
concluded . . . .”
Id. at 441,
146 P.3d at 707. Following an evidentiary hearing on the motion, the
district court concluded “that a new trial was not warranted because the defense did not timely
inform the trial court of the jurors’ alleged inattention when noticed during the trial,” and “the
affidavits did not constitute clear and convincing evidence that juror misconduct had actually
occurred.”
Id. at 439,
146 P.3d at 705.
The Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s decision. Id. at 442,
146 P.3d at 708. It
first determined that the affidavits from the defense counsel and his paralegal demonstrated that
the defense team must have observed the alleged misconduct during trial proceedings but failed to
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bring the issue to the court’s attention until after the trial concluded. See id. at 440–41, 146 P.3d
at 706–07. This was a crucial error. Having failed to raise the issue during trial proceedings, the
defense effectively prevented the trial court from making a timely inquiry or curing the action
during the trial. See
id. Consequently, the defendant was not eligible for post-verdict relief.
Id. at
440,
146 P.3d at 706. The Court of Appeals held:
[I]f jury misconduct occurs during trial and is unknown to the defendant and
defense counsel until after a guilty verdict, relief may lie pursuant to a motion for
a new trial. In contrast, if the jury misconduct is known to the defendant or to
defense counsel and no timely request is made of the trial court to ameliorate the
same or take other curative action, a post-verdict motion for a new trial on that basis
will not lie. . . . As the United States Supreme Court has noted, “[a]llegations of
juror misconduct, incompetency, or inattentiveness, raised for the first time days,
weeks or months after the verdict, seriously disrupt the finality of the process.”
Id. (second alteration in original) (quoting Tanner,
483 U.S. at 120).
The Court of Appeals went on to explain that the defense’s course of action precluded an
earlier, and more appropriate remedy that could have been provided had the allegations of juror
misconduct been raised contemporaneously with the defense’s observations:
Had the trial court been informed of the jurors’ alleged misconduct as set forth in
their affidavits, it could have, in its discretion, conducted an inquiry of individual
jurors to determine whether they were in fact inattentive and/or had been sleeping
during the trial and could have made a contemporaneous record of its own
observations on the matter. If a trial court concludes that juror inattention had
actually occurred, and if relief is requested, the court can take remedial steps
including admonishment of any inattentive juror, replacement of a juror with an
alternate or, in appropriate circumstances, declaration of a mistrial.
Id. at 441, 146 P.3d at 707. The Court of Appeals also determined that the final affidavit—from
the defendant’s friend attending the trial—made “general averments” of inattentiveness that “[fell]
significantly short of satisfying the threshold of clear and convincing evidence that juror
misconduct occurred.”
Id.
A similar result was reached in State v. Strange, where the Court of Appeals addressed a
motion for a new trial based on the jurors’ inability to hear testimony. 147 Idaho at 687–88, 214
P.3d at 673–74. Following Strange’s conviction, a juror independently wrote to the district court
to express her concerns over the courtroom’s acoustics—noting that she, and other jurors, “had
difficulty hearing all that was said during the trial . . . .” Id. at 688, 214 P.3d at 674. A motion for
a new trial and an evidentiary hearing on the motion soon followed.
Id.
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Three jurors testified, including the juror who originally wrote to the court. Id. All three
jurors stated that they had trouble hearing during the proceedings, while another stated “he really
only had issues understanding Strange’s defense counsel.”
Id. “All of the jurors testified that they
could hear every question asked of a witness and all of the witnesses’ answers.”
Id. The juror who
originally wrote the letter to the court “reaffirmed her belief that Strange was proven guilty beyond
a reasonable doubt.”
Id. Additionally, witnesses noted the measures the district court had taken to
remedy the issues after having been made aware of the courtroom’s poor acoustics and sound
system. For example, the court asked defense counsel on multiple occasions to speak louder.
Id.
at 689,
214 P.3d at 675. One juror was provided an “assistive listening device” halfway through
the trial. .
Id. at 688–89, 214 P.3d at 674–75. Then, after the close of evidence at trial, each of the
jurors “upon questioning, indicated that they were able to hear the questions presented to the
witnesses at trial as well as the answers.”
Id. at 689,
214 P.3d at 675. Ultimately, from these facts,
the Court of Appeals concluded that Strange failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that
the jurors’ hearing difficulties constituted juror misconduct. Thus, there was no error by the district
court in denying the motion for a new trial.
Id.
In examining the record in this case, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its
discretion in concluding that Rodriguez failed to meet his burden to establish juror misconduct
through clear and convincing evidence. For example, there is much uncertainty over whether Juror
341 was actually asleep. The bailiff’s testimony, the parties’ declarations and affidavits, and the
district court’s own observations all establish that Juror 341, at unspecified times, had his head
lowered and his eyes closed. However, while the bailiff originally testified that Juror 341 was
“asleep,” she admitted on cross-examination that she was never sure that Juror 341 was actually
sleeping. As set forth above, the bailiff testified that there were no other indications that Juror 341
had “slept,” such as snoring or acting startled when she contacted him to make sure he was awake.
Perhaps most telling is the district court’s own observations of the juror during the
proceedings, a consideration that has received approval from the U.S. Supreme Court in juror
misconduct inquiries. Tanner, 483 U.S. at 125 (“The District Court Judge appropriately considered
the fact that he had ‘an unobstructed view’ of the jury, and did not see any juror sleeping.”). Here,
the district court shared its own observations in its order denying the motion for a new trial. The
district court found that Juror 341 briefly “put his head down or nod[ded] off” three times but was
always promptly stirred by the bailiff who entered the jury box. The court recounted that when it
12
first observed Juror 341 “place[] his head on the table in the jury box,” the court was concerned
Juror 341 was experiencing the “side effects of diabetes.” The court noted that it did not address
the issue openly in the trial “because it was readily apparent what was happening in the courtroom
. . . such that the [c]ourt did not believe anyone in the courtroom had not seen the Bailiff climbing
over multiple jurors to communicate with Juror 341.” This finding, based on the district court’s
own observations, undermines the defense’s assertion that they were completely unaware of a
potentially sleeping juror until after they retained an investigator after trial.
In examining the record and findings, we agree with the district court and hold that it did
not abuse its discretion by concluding that a new trial was not warranted. Rodriguez’s assertion
that Juror 341 was “sleeping during much of the testimony” is unsupported by the record.
Importantly, there is a marked difference between a “sleepy” juror and a “sleeping” juror. All
accounts described Juror 341 as briefly sitting with his eyes closed and his head in his hands at
varying times throughout the trial. Each time he was immediately checked on by the bailiff. Juror
341’s lowered head and closed eyes for three brief moments of the trial were not clear and
convincing evidence that he was asleep or inattentive, nor was it evidence of “misconduct by which
a fair and due consideration of the case has been prevented.” I.C. § 19-2406(3).
We also decline Rodriguez’s invitation to create a new per se ruling on how to address
sleeping and inattentive jurors going forward. Existing case law has already established the
requisite standards and rules for such cases. The Sixth Amendment protects the defendant’s right
to an “unimpaired jury,” and that right is protected, in part, by the observations made by the trial
court, counsel, and personnel, as well as the observations of other jurors. Tanner, 483 U.S. at 127.
As the Court of Appeals explained in Bolen, potential or observed misconduct is best raised before
the trial court and parties to take curative action during the underlying proceedings. See
143 Idaho
at 440,
146 P.3d at 706. “Allegations of juror misconduct, incompetency, or inattentiveness, raised
for the first time days, weeks, or months after the verdict, seriously disrupt the finality of the
process.” Tanner,
483 U.S. at 120.
In the context of allegations that a juror was sleeping or inattentive, trial courts are afforded
great discretion in how to avoid and address the issue. See State v. Moses, 156 Idaho 855, 863,
332
P.3d 767, 775 (2014) (whether to hold an inquiry or take alternative actions regarding an anxious
juror was within the discretion of the trial court); Bolen,
143 Idaho at 441,
146 P.3d at 707 (a trial
court aware of alleged misconduct can, “in its discretion,” conduct an inquiry of individual jurors
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to determine if they had been sleeping); United States v. Barrett, 703 F.2d 1076, 1083 (9th Cir.
1983) (A “trial judge has considerable discretion in determining whether to hold an investigative
hearing on allegations of jury misconduct and in defining its nature and extent.”); State v.
Hampton,
549 N.W.2d 756, 759 (Wis. Ct. App. 1996) (“How to proceed when faced with an
assertion of jury inattentiveness is determined by the trial court’s informed discretion.”). Thus, a
trial court that observes drowsiness or inattention creeping into the jury panel may use its discretion
on when and how to take action to preserve the jurors’ attention. These measures may be as simple
as taking a recess, inviting the jury to stand and stretch their legs for a moment, or supplying the
jury with items that may assist with attentiveness, such as a snack or beverage. If the trial court is
concerned that a juror is actually sleeping, it should make a record of the court’s observations on
the matter and conduct an inquiry of the juror, where warranted. Where relief is requested by a
party, remedial measures may also be taken and lie within the discretion of the trial court. See
Bolen,
143 Idaho at 441,
146 P.3d at 707. Importantly, if the trial court or the attorneys have
concerns, a contemporaneous record of such concerns should be made by the court and counsel
during the trial.
Here, as the district court determined, Rodriguez has failed in his burden to establish by
clear and convincing evidence that Juror 341 was, in fact, asleep during any stage of the trial.
Substantial and competent evidence supported the district court’s findings. As previously noted,
“absent a showing of manifest abuse,” we do not disturb a trial court’s discretionary decision to
deny a motion for a new trial. State v. Cantu, 129 Idaho 673, 674,
931 P.2d 1191, 1192 (1997).
Therefore, we will not find an abuse of discretion here.
While this ruling is dispositive of Rodriguez’s appeal, were we to address the question of
prejudice, his motion would suffer from the same infirmity: a lack of evidence. In Idaho, “[t]o
establish prejudice [for alleged juror inattentiveness], a defendant must show the identity and
duration of the specific testimony, argument or instructions the juror missed.” Strange, 147 Idaho
at 689,
214 P.3d at 675. Not only is the record before us silent as to what portions of the trial Juror
341 may have missed, if any, but the bailiff also testified that it was “impossible” to determine
what testimony was being presented or what was happening in the proceedings each time she
noticed Juror 341 lower his head. As Rodriguez similarly summarized below, “it is impossible to
know how many times Juror 341 fell asleep, what parts of the testimony he missed, what additional
problems of attention he was experiencing, or, if he was asleep at all.” (Emphasis added).
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We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion because Rodriguez failed to
establish by clear and convincing evidence that misconduct occurred, or that prejudice resulted
from it. Thus, there was no basis to award a new trial where all of the jurors were able to hear and
consider fully the evidence presented at trial. Twelve jurors were qualified for service through voir
dire and twelve jurors entered their deliberations with knowledge of the material facts of the case.
While it is likely that each of the twelve had slightly different observations, perceptions, and
recollections of the evidence presented at trial, they still reached a unanimous verdict. Rodriguez
has failed to prove that Juror 341 was somehow disqualified by misconduct from sitting in
judgment of the facts of this case. Thus, we affirm the order of the district court denying
Rodriguez’s motion for a new trial.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the order of the district court denying Rodriguez’s
motion for a new trial.
Chief Justice BEVAN, Justices BRODY, ZAHN, and Justice Pro Tem YEE-WALLACE
CONCUR.
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