Com. v. Caldwell

• Decision Date: 10 November 1994
• Parties: COMMONWEALTH v. Michael CALDWELL. (and ten companion cases).
• Court: United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court

Page 1054

641 N.E.2d 1054

418 Mass. 777

COMMONWEALTH v. Michael CALDWELL.

(and ten companion cases).

Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Hampden.

Argued Sept. 9, 1994.

Decided Nov. 10, 1994.

Alan Jay Black, Springfield, for defendant.

Judy Zeprun Kalman, Asst. Dist. Atty., for the Com.

Before LIACOS, C.J., and WILKINS, ABRAMS, NOLAN and LYNCH, JJ.

LYNCH, Justice.

This case arises out of the conviction of the defendant on thirteen indictments including aggravated rape (three indictments), indecent assault and battery (three indictments), assault with intent to commit rape, kidnapping (two indictments), and assault by means of a dangerous weapon (two indictments). ¹ We granted the Commonwealth's application for further appellate review following the Appeals Court's ruling that the defendant was denied his right to a fair trial as a result of the Commonwealth's impermissive use of its peremptory challenges. ² 36 Mass.App.Ct. 570, 572, 634 N.E.2d 124 (1994). We conclude that the Superior Court judge's ruling that the Commonwealth did not use its peremptory challenges to exclude jurors on the basis of race should be upheld.

The Commonwealth exercised peremptory challenges to exclude four black members of the venire from the jury. The defendant objected to these challenges alleging that the prosecutor's challenges were based solely on the jurors' race.

Although the judge did not specifically find that a prima facie case of impropriety had been made, he implicitly recognized that a pattern of discrimination had been established when he requested that the prosecutor supply race-neutral explanations for his challenges. Commonwealth v. Mathews, 31 Mass.App.Ct. 564, 569, 581 N.E.2d 1304 (1991). That a pattern of discrimination existed is also supported by the fact that, as the judge recognized, all of the black members of the venire had been challenged by the prosecutor.

In Commonwealth v. Burnett, 418 Mass. 769, 642 N.E.2d 294 (1994), we discussed in detail the principles to be applied in cases of this nature.

We now turn our attention to whether the judge's acceptance of the prosecutor's challenges to the four jurors was correct.

1. Juror 4-1. When asked to explain his basis for challenging juror 4-1, the prosecutor stated that he objected to her reactions to the voir dire questions regarding police officers. He stated that he found her to be "equivocating" in her responses especially when she stated that she would "try to keep an equal weight" with respect to considering the testimony of police officers in relation to the testimony of other witnesses. The prosecutor noted this juror's reaction and hesitation to the several questions about police officers and pointed out that hesitation was not present in this juror's responses to the judge's other questions.

A juror's demeanor and reactions during the voir dire may constitute a sufficient basis for peremptory removal. Commonwealth v. Mathews, supra, 31 Mass.App.Ct. at 571, 581 N.E.2d 1304. See Commonwealth v. Soares, 377 Mass. 461, 485 n. 27, 387 N.E.2d 499, cert. denied, 444 U.S. 881, 100 S.Ct. 170, 62 L.Ed.2d 110 (1979). However, the prosecutor must have articulated, on the record, an explanation for the challenge that was not vague and general. Commonwealth v. Mathews, supra. The prosecutor's explanation for his challenge of juror 4-1, on the basis of her demeanor, goes beyond a mere vague assertion. The prosecutor clearly pointed out that his objection was based on the juror's reactions and demeanor with respect to the questions concerning police officers. See Commonwealth v. Hamilton, 411 Mass. 313, 317, 582 N.E.2d 929 (1991) (prosecutor's challenge of prospective black juror because of her demeanor and her inconsistent responses to questions was upheld as neutral explanation which pertained to individual qualities). Through this explanation the prosecutor made the requisite link that his challenge was personal to this particular juror and was wholly unrelated to her race. It is apparent that a judge is in a better position than an appellate court to evaluate the legitimacy of the prosecutor's objection based on a juror's demeanor and reactions to certain questions. The judge was able to observe the juror's reactions and was in a better position to determine whether she was equivocating when she answered questions concerning the testimony of police officers. Since the prosecutor's objections to this juror are related to her personal reactions to specific questions as observed by the judge, we shall not disturb his decision upholding the prosecutor's challenge of juror 4-1.

2. Juror 4-2. With respect to juror 4-2, the prosecutor initially stated that he did not know whether she was black, and he presumed that she was not black. Although defense counsel suggested that she was black, the judge noted that he also did not think that she was black; nevertheless he asked the prosecutor to explain his objection. The prosecutor stated that he was informed by the police officer who was assisting him that this officer was familiar with the juror's family and that he may have had dealings with the woman's children. The judge had asked the juror if she had ever lived in the north end of Springfield, where these alleged incidents involving her children took place, to which the juror responded that she had lived in that area. In light of the officer's connection with this juror's children and the fact that the juror did not disclose this information on her questionnaire, the prosecutor felt that she was a risk to have on the jury. In addition, the prosecutor stated that the area where this juror used to live is within a few streets of where the defendant resided with his parents. The prosecutor believed that perhaps some members of this juror's family may have known or had some connection with the defendant's family.

We have held that it is permissible to challenge peremptorily a juror based on the fact that she lived in a neighborhood in which the prosecutor had investigated a multiple homicide. Commonwealth v. Hamilton, supra at 317, 582 N.E.2d 929. The challenge of juror...