U.S. v. Brodnicki
Decision Date | 15 February 2008 |
Docket Number | No. 07-2424.,07-2424. |
Citation | 516 F.3d 570 |
Parties | UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jack BRODNICKI, also known as Jacek Lis, Defendant-Appellant. |
Court | U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit |
Margaret Hickey (argued), Office of the United States Attorney, Chicago, IL, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Beau B. Brindley (argued), Shapiro & Brindley, Chicago, IL, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before BAUER, WILLIAMS, and SYKES, Circuit Judges.
Defendant-Appellant Jack Brodnicki was in the business of creating false social security cards and other identification documents. In July of 2006, Brodnicki was indicted on charges of transferring a false identification document and attempting to possess with intent to unlawfully transfer five or more false identification documents, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1028(a)(2), (a)(3), and (f). A jury found Brodnicki guilty on both counts. On appeal, Brodnicki claims that the district court judge, John W. Darrah, abused his discretion during voir dire. Specifically, Brodnicki contends that Judge Darrah erred by failing to excuse potential jurors Varno and Stompanato after they expressed concern regarding their abilities to be impartial jurors. Brodnicki also argues that Judge Darrah abused his discretion in excusing potential juror Lane for cause when he expressed an inability to be impartial. Brodnicki claims that these errors skewed the jury selection so substantially that his due process rights were violated. For the following reasons, we affirm.
During voir dire, Varno disclosed that her brother-in-law lost his son as the result of a car accident in which "a cop hit him on his driver's side." The accident resulted in a lawsuit, which remained unresolved at the time of her call to jury duty on Brodnicki's case. Judge Darrah asked Varno, "Is there anything about that experience particularly as you—as it would have been related to you by your brother-in-law that has left you with any ill feelings regarding the justice system or the court system?" Varno responded that there was, to which Judge Darrah inquired whether any of those feelings would affect her ability to be fair and impartial in Brodnicki's case. Varno said, "I hope not." The following dialogue ensued:
At the end of the first jury panel's questioning, Judge Darrah called a side-bar to discuss challenges. Brodnicki's attorney moved to strike Varno for cause on the basis of her initial responses to Judge Darrah's questions, but Judge Darrah denied the motion, stating: Brodnicki's attorney used one of his ten peremptory strikes to exclude potential juror Varno, and Varno was excused.
Potential juror Stompanato informed Judge Darrah during voir dire that her uncle worked at the Pentagon for many years. Judge Darrah explained to Stompanato that the federal government was a party to the lawsuit at hand and asked Stompanato whether her uncle's employment with the federal government could cause her to side with one party or the other. Stompanato responded, "I would definitely say I'm more partial to the federal than I would be not partial to the federal government." Judge Darrah inquired further:
At side-bar, Brodnicki's attorney moved to strike Stompanato for cause, citing her bias towards the federal government that she "came right out and said." Judge Darrah responded: Brodnicki's attorney reminded Judge Darrah that Stompanato answered "I would think so," and Judge Darrah replied: Brodnicki's attorney then used one of his peremptory challenges to strike potential juror Stompanato, and Stompanato was excused.
Potential juror Lane was in the second panel of potential jurors. During the questioning of Lane, Lane stated that his son had been badly beaten by police, and that he preferred not to talk about it. Judge Darrah requested that he discuss it at a side-bar, at which Lane explained that his son had been stopped by police on suspicion of drug possession, and that the police beat him so badly that he was unconscious and in the hospital for a week. His son was not charged with any crime arising from that event. The following dialogue then took place:
After the parties had finished questioning the rest of the potential juror panel, Judge Darrah again held a sidebar to discuss challenges. Brodnicki's attorney raised an objection to Lane's dismissal for cause, to which Judge Darrah stated that Lane's "demeanor clearly, clearly indicated that he didn't think he could be fair." Judge Darrah asked Brodnicki's attorney why he had not objected sooner since Lane was now gone. Brodnicld's attorney responded: Judge Darrah explained that "if a juror can assure us under oath that the juror can be fair and impartial regardless of the impediment that's being discussed, that if a juror says that, that they qualify to serve as a juror." Judge Darrah also said:
Brodnicki then exercised his remaining peremptory challenges and the government exercised five of its six peremptory challenges. The jury was sworn in, and the case proceeded to trial. The jury found Brodnicki guilty on both counts.
Brodnicki argues that the district court's refusal to...
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