Thames v. Com.

Decision Date12 June 1974
Citation312 N.E.2d 569,365 Mass. 477
PartiesOldest THAMES v. COMMONWEALTH.
CourtUnited States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court

Malvine Nathanson, Boston, for petitioner.

Paul V. Buckley, Asst Dist. Atty. (Alvin Brody, Asst. Dist. Atty., with him), for the Commonwealth.

Before TAURO, C.J., and QUIRICO, BRAUCHER and WILKINS, JJ.

WILKINS, Justice.

The petitioner argues exceptions to the dismissal by a single justice of his petition for extraordinary relief under G.L. c. 211, § 3. 1 The petitioner contends that indictments charging him with rape and robbery should be dismissed because prosecution of those indictments would constitute double jeopardy in violation of the common law of this Commonwealth and of the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

The petitioner was tried before a jury on these indictments on November 28 and 29, 1972. At 11:15 A.M. on the latter day the jury retired for deliberations. During the next four and one-half hours the jury sent two messages to the judge. It does not appear precisely what those messages were, whether they were in writting or how they were delivered. Counsel were not advised of the existence or the content of either communication. About 3:50 P.M. the jury returned to the court room. After the foreman indicated that the jury had not agreed on verdicts, the following colloquy took place: The judge: 'I have had two messages as to your inability to agree, Mr. Foreman. Is there any reasonable hope of securing an agreement?' The foreman: 'There is one person on the jury who thinks there is . . ..' The judge: 'I don't want to know how you stand. If I send you out again to deliberate, do you think--' The foreman: 'Not enough evidence.' The judge: 'Very well. I will declare a mistrial.'

An exception was taken to the judge's declaration of a mistrial. Subsequently a motion to dismiss the indictments on double jeopardy grounds was filed, referred to the trial judge and denied after hearing. Shortly thereafter this petition for extraordinary relief was entered, argued by counsel and dismissed. 2

Several principles of law are not in serious dispute. The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment is applicable to the States through the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Benton v. Maryland, 395 U.S. 784, 794, 89 S.Ct. 2056, 23 L.Ed.2d 707 (1969). This Commonwealth has long had a common law rule against placing a defendant twice in jeopardy. See Commonwealth v. Bowden, 9 Mass. 494 (1813); Commonwealth v. Purchase, 2 Pick. 521, 522 (1824); Commonwealth v. Roby, 12 Pick. 496, 501 (1832). Double jeopardy concepts do not bar second trials in all instances. See Commonwealth v. McCormick, 130 Mass. 61, 62 (1881). A traditional example of a second trial which is not interdicted by double jeopardy principles is one which follows a trial where the jury were discharged because they were unable to come to an agreement. See Commonwealth v. Cody, 165 Mass. 133, 136, 42 N.E. 575 (1896), and cases cited; United States v. Perez, 9 Wheat. 579, 6 L.Ed. 165 (1824); Downum v. United States, 372 U.S. 734, 736, 83 S.Ct. 1033, 10 L.Ed.2d 100 (1963); United States v. Castellanos, 478 F.2d 749, 751 (2d Cir. 1973). A decision of a judge to declare a mistrial will not bar a subsequent prosecution on the same indictment unless, because there was no 'manifest necessity' for it 'United States v. Perez, 9 Wheat. at 580, supra), his action constituted an abuse of discretion. Commonwealth v. Cronin, 257 Mass. 535, 537, 154 N.E. 176 (1926). United States v. Jorn, 400 U.S. 470, 485--486, 91 S.Ct. 547, 27 L.Ed.2d 543 (1971). 3 The question for decision, as it was before the single justice, is whether the petitioner has shown an abuse of discretion by the trial judge in declaring a mistrial. Each case of this type depends, of course, on the particular facts. See Illinois v. Somerville, 410 U.S. 458, 93 S.Ct. 1066, 35 L.Ed.2d 425 (1973).

The petitioner argues that the judge acted precipitously before it was reasonably clear that the jury could not arrive at verdicts. He points out that the jury never explicitly stated that they were unable to reach verdicts that they had only deliberated for just over four and one-half hours when the mistrial was declared.

We believe, however, that the judge acted in the reasonable exercise of his discretion. The record shows that he had already received two messages that the jury were unable to agree. Unlike the judge in the Jorn case, he made an effort to exercise a sound discretion on the crucial question whether there was a 'reasonable hope of securing an agreement.' In response to the judge's question on this subject, the foreman gave an answer which, while it was not directly responsive, showed that one juror thought there was not enough evidence and that the jury had a disposition of eleven to one toward conviction. The judge acted reasonably in the circumstances in not pressing for further deliberations. Knowing what he did about the state of the jury's vote, it is doubtful that he was in a position where he could have fairly expedited any further deliberations by giving a charge such as this court approved for use in proper circumstances in Commonwealth v. Rodriquez, --- Mass. ---, --- - ---, a 300 N.E.2d 192 (1973). Clearly the judge was satisfied that he had received an answer to his question when he stated, 'Very well. I will declare a mistrial.' On this record a conclusion that the jury had indicated that they were not likely to reach a verdict within a reasonable time was warranted, and it was not an abuse of discretion to declare a mistrial. See Grogan v. United States, 394 F.2d 287, 289--290 (5th Cir. 1967), cert. den. 393 U.S. 830, 89 S.Ct. 97, 21 L.Ed.2d 100 (1968); United States v. Brahm, 459 F.2d 546, 550 (3d Cir. 1972), cert. den. sub nom. Medina v. United States, 409 U.S. 873, 93 S.Ct. 205, 34 L.Ed.2d 125 (1972); United States v. Goldstein, 479 F.2d 1061, 1069 (2d Cir. 1973), cert. den. 414 U.S. 873, 94 S.Ct 151, 38 L.Ed.2d (1973). 4 Consequently, further prosecution of the petitioner is not barred, and the single justice rightly dismissed the petition.

Exceptions overruled.

1 The Commonwealth argues the merits of the petition without objecting to the form of the remedy sought. See Gilday v. Commonwealth, --- Mass. ---, --- (Mass.Adv.Sh. (1971) 1349, 1350), 274 N.E.2d 589.

2 The bill of exceptions does not set forth the proceedings before the Superior Court judge on the petitioner's motion to dismiss the indictments on double jeopardy grounds. The Commonwealth, representing that a transcript of the hearing before the Superior Court judge was not available to it prior to the...

To continue reading

Request your trial
46 cases
  • Luk v. Com.
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
    • 27 Noviembre 1995
    ...the prohibition against double jeopardy has long been recognized as part of our common and statutory law. Thames v. Commonwealth, 365 Mass. 477, 479, 312 N.E.2d 569 (1974). G.L. c. 263, § 7 (1994 ed.). Although "[c]ommon law principles may provide greater protections than either the State o......
  • Com. v. Semedo, SJC-09799
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
    • 4 Febrero 2010
    ...to resolve those conflicts." Commonwealth v. Winbush, 14 Mass.App.Ct. 680, 682, 442 N.E.2d 416 (1982), citing Thames v. Commonwealth, 365 Mass. 477, 312 N.E.2d 569 (1974). 456 Mass. 20 On Monday, April 26, 2004, after the jury had been deliberating for approximately nine hours,19 they sent ......
  • Commonwealth v. CARNES, SJC-10523.
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
    • 9 Septiembre 2010
    ...to resolve those conflicts.” Commonwealth v. Winbush, 14 Mass.App.Ct. 680, 682, 442 N.E.2d 416 (1982), citing Thames v. Commonwealth, 365 Mass. 477, 312 N.E.2d 569 (1974). See Commonwealth v. Semedo, 456 Mass. 1, 21, 921 N.E.2d 57 (2010). Jury deliberations began on Friday, June 6, 2008. On......
  • Commonwealth v. Leggett
    • United States
    • Appeals Court of Massachusetts
    • 14 Noviembre 2012
    ...Constitution, it is an explicit statutory right and a deeply rooted common-law principle. See G.L. c. 263, § 7; 4Thames v. Commonwealth, 365 Mass. 477, 479, 312 N.E.2d 569 (1974); Commonwealth v. Hrycenko, 417 Mass. 309, 316, 630 N.E.2d 258 (1994); Commonwealth v. Bloom, 53 Mass.App.Ct. 476......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT