prosecutor offering a neutral reason for exercising a peremptory strike, are discoverable
by the defendant as part of postconviction writ of habeas corpus discovery. We conclude
they are, and we deny the petition.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In 1994, a jury convicted Bryan Maurice Jones of the first degree murders of
JoAnn S. and Sophia G. (Pen. Code,2 §§ 187, 189), attempted murder of Maria R. and
Karen M. (§§ 664, 187), and the forcible rape, sodomy and oral copulation of Karen M.
(§§ 261, subd. (a)(2), 286, subd. (c), 288a, subd. (c).) The jury also sustained an
allegation that Jones used a deadly weapon in the attempt to murder Maria R. (§ 12022,
subd. (b)), along with special circumstance allegations: Jones murdered JoAnn S. and
Sophia G. during the commission or attempted commission of the crime of sodomy
(§ 190.2, subd. (a)(17)), and he committed multiple murders (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(3)). The
jury sentenced Jones to death (§ 190.1 et seq.), and the judgment was affirmed on appeal.
(People v. Jones (2013) 57 Cal.4th 899.)
1 Batson v. Kentucky (1986) 476 U.S. 79; People v. Wheeler (1978) 22 Cal.3d 258.
2 Further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated. 2
During jury selection, the prosecution used peremptory challenges to excuse two
African-American jurors, and defense counsel objected. (People v. Jones, supra, 57
Cal.4th at p. 916.) The court determined the defense attorney made a prima facie
showing of racial bias. (Id. at p. 917.) The prosecutor offered race-neutral explanations
for excusing the jurors, citing in part a numerical score for each prospective juror that the
prosecution team had devised. (Id. at pp. 917-918.) The trial court found the
explanations credible and permitted the strikes.
The defense attorney made a second Batson/Wheeler challenge after the
prosecutor used a peremptory strike on a third African-American female. The prosecutor
again referenced the numerical analysis, which had been conducted by three people in the
office. The court offered its opinion of the juror, consistent with the reasoning provided
by the prosecutor, and denied the Batson/Wheeler motion.
On appeal, Jones challenged the credibility and genuineness of the race-neutral
explanations, and the Supreme Court deferred to the trial court's assessment. (Id.
at p. 919.) Jones also argued a third juror was improperly excused based on race. (Id.
at pp. 919-920.) The Supreme Court reviewed the record independently regarding the
third African-American juror and determined there was ample evidence that no prima
facie case of group bias had been made. (Ibid.)
Subsequently, in his amended petition for writ of habeas corpus, No. S217284,
Jones alleged ineffective assistance of counsel because his trial counsel failed to raise a
Batson/Wheeler error for the prosecutor's exercise of peremptory challenges against
women, noting 13 of the prosecution's 17 peremptory strikes were against prospective
3
female jurors. Jones further alleged his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to raise a
Batson/Wheeler error on the ground that four of those women were also African-
American.
Following Jones's direct appeal, pursuant to section 1054.9, his habeas attorney
sought postconviction discovery of the jury selection notes.3 The trial court granted the
request in April 2018. In May, the district attorney filed a writ of mandate and/or
prohibition seeking a stay and requesting we vacate the trial court's order, which we
denied. The district attorney appealed. The Supreme Court granted the petition for
review and transferred the matter to this court. We vacated our order denying the writ of
mandate and/or prohibition and issued an order to show cause returnable why petitioner
is not entitled to the relief requested. Jones filed a formal return to the order to show
cause.
DISCUSSION
A
Legal Principles
We review a trial court's ruling on discovery matters under an abuse of discretion
standard. (People v. Ayala (2000) 23 Cal.4th 225, 299.) An abuse of discretion is shown
when the trial court applies the wrong legal standard. (Zurich American Ins. Co. v.
Superior Court (2007) 155 Cal.App.4th 1485, 1493.) The burden falls on the
3 Jones also sought any policy memoranda regarding jury selection at the time of trial. The district attorney represented it has no records of any such policy memoranda to turn over. 4
complaining party to establish an abuse of discretion, and we do not substitute our own
opinion for the trial court's, absent a showing that there has been a miscarriage of justice.
(Kennedy v. Superior Court (2006) 145 Cal.App.4th 359, 366 (Kennedy), citing
Denham v. Superior Court (1970) 2 Cal.3d 557, 566.)
A defendant is entitled to materials to which he would have been entitled at trial,
whether or not he possessed those materials at the time of trial. (In re Steele (2004)
32 Cal.4th 682, 693, 695-696 (Steele); § 1054.9, subd. (b).) This includes materials the
prosecution did not provide at trial because there was no specific defense request but
would have been obligated to provide had there been one. (Steele, at pp. 696-697.) The
defendant bears the burden of demonstrating the materials requested are ones to which he
would have been entitled to discovery at the time of trial. (See Kennedy, supra,
145 Cal.App.4th at p. 366.) In issuing the order to turn over the jury selection notes, the
trial court necessarily concluded Jones met his burden of demonstrating he was entitled to
them at the time of trial. Thus, to demonstrate an abuse of discretion in this case, the
district attorney must demonstrate that at the time of trial, the defendant was not entitled
to the jury selection notes. (Cf. ibid.)
B
Batson/Wheeler Challenges
Because Jones's request for postconviction discovery rests on potential allegations
of a Batson/Wheeler violation, consideration of the three-step Batson framework is
necessary. In the first stage of a Batson/Wheeler challenge, the defendant must make out
a prima facie case that there is an inference of a discriminatory purpose from the
5
prosecutor's use of peremptory strikes. (People v. Lenix (2008) 44 Cal.4th 602, 612-613
(Lenix).) The burden then shifts to the prosecution to offer race- or gender-neutral
justifications for the strikes in the second stage. (Ibid.) At the third stage, the trial court
evaluates whether the race- or gender-neutral explanations are credible. (Snyder v.
Louisiana (2008) 552 U.S. 472, 477 (Snyder); Miller-El v. Cockrell (2003) 537 U.S. 322,
328-329.) "[I]n considering a Batson objection, or in reviewing a ruling claimed to be
Batson error, all of the circumstances that bear upon the issue of racial animosity must be
consulted." (Snyder, at p. 478, citing Miller-El v. Dretke (2005) 545 U.S. 231, 239.)
" 'Determining whether invidious discriminatory purpose was a motivating factor
demands a sensitive inquiry into such circumstantial . . . evidence of intent as may be
at p. 407.) This includes materials compiled by investigators and other agents in
preparation for trial. (People v. Collie (1981) 30 Cal.3d 43, 59 (Collie).)
California's work product protection exists to encourage attorneys to thoroughly
prepare their cases for trial and to investigate the favorable and unfavorable aspects of
their cases, as well as to prevent attorneys from "taking undue advantage of their
adversary's industry and efforts." (Code Civ. Proc., § 2018.020, subds. (a) & (b).)
" '[T]he work-product doctrine shelters the mental processes of the attorney, providing a
privileged area within which he can analyze and prepare his client's case.' " (Collie,
supra, 30 Cal.3d at p. 59, quoting United States v. Nobles (1975) 422 U.S. 225, 238-239
(Nobles).)
We are tasked with determining whether the work product privilege remains
absolute when a court has an obligation to evaluate the intent of the prosecution, and the
written mental impressions themselves may reveal an effort to unlawfully exclude
prospective jurors based on race or gender. Foster, supra, 136 S.Ct. 1737 is instructive
on this point.
In Foster, the United States Supreme Court considered a Batson/Wheeler
challenge based on jury selection notes collected by defense counsel through the Georgia
Open Records Act. (Foster, supra, 136 S.Ct. at p. 1743.) This evidence included copies
7
of the venire list with highlights and notes that identified prospective African-American
jurors; a draft affidavit that referenced a statement by prosecution investigator that
referenced who to select if they "had to pick a black juror"; handwritten notes on three of
the African-American prospective jurors, identifying them as "B # 1," "B # 2," and
"B # 3"; and a typed list of the qualified jurors remaining after voir dire with the letter
"N" next to 10 jurors' names, including all the qualified African-American jurors, to
signify whom to strike. (Id. at p. 1744.) In offering its race-neutral explanations, the
prosecutor referenced the voir dire notes, explaining that they had " 'listed' " one of the
African-American jurors as " 'questionable,' " when they had not; the juror's name had
been included among the prosecution's list of jurors to exclude. (Id. at pp. 1749-1750.)
The court noted that "[t]he contents of the prosecution's file . . . plainly belie the State's
claim that it exercised its strikes in a 'color-blind' manner." (Id. at p. 1755.)
Although Foster does not address whether the jury selection notes were protected
work product, it makes clear the information contained within those notes is relevant to a
determination of a prosecutor's credibility and genuineness. (Foster, supra, 136 S.Ct.
at pp. 1743, 1755.) Thus, it is an example of the evidence of intent that a court should
consider during the third stage of the Batson/Wheeler hearing. (Id. at p. 1748.)
Here there is no dispute that the prosecution's jury selection notes likely contain
the prosecution's impressions, conclusion, or opinions; this is the reason Jones seeks their
disclosure. It is less clear whether those notes will reveal impressions, conclusions, or
opinions about the legal theory of the case. Jones contends the thoughts and impressions
regarding prospective jurors are not germane to trial strategy.
8
We agree there is a difference between a prosecutor's thoughts and opinions about
the quality of the legal case or trial strategy and the thoughts and opinions about the
adequacy of prospective jurors. The second step of the Batson/Wheeler hearing requires
the prosecutor to disclose his or her thinking regarding the prospective jurors by offering
a race- or gender-neutral justification for exercising the challenged peremptory strikes.
(Lenix, supra, 44 Cal.4th at pp. 612-613.) Moreover, the purpose of the third step is to
evaluate the prosecutor's reasoning. (See People v. Winbush (2017) 2 Cal.5th 402, 434
(Winbush); People v. Gutierrez (2017) 2 Cal. 5th 1150, 1158 (Gutierrez) [focus is on
subjective genuineness of prosecutor's reasons].) This is inconsistent with the notion that
circumstantial evidence of those thoughts is absolutely protected.
The district attorney's reliance on Hickman v. Taylor (1947) 329 U.S. 495
(Hickman) does not persuade us otherwise. In Hickman, a tug boat company and its
underwriters hired an attorney to defend against claims from a boating accident. (Id. at p.
498.) The attorney documented his interviews of survivors and refused to turn over the
notes when ordered to do so. (Id. at pp. 499-500.) The United States Supreme Court,
relying on federal work product doctrine, explained: "[W]ritten statements, private
memoranda and personal recollections prepared for or formed by an adverse party's
counsel in the course of his legal duties. . . . fall[ ] outside the arena of discovery and
contravene[ ] the public policy underlying the orderly prosecution and defense of legal
claims. Not even the most liberal of discovery theories can justify unwarranted inquiries
into the files and the mental impressions of an attorney." (Id. at p. 510.) Thus, "the
general policy against invading the privacy of an attorney's course of preparation"
9
requires the party seeking to invade it "to establish adequate reasons to justify
production . . . ." (Id. at p. 512.)
The California Supreme Court has similarly held in the civil context that a witness
statement is protected from disclosure as long as the attorney's impressions, conclusions,
opinions, or legal research are inextricably intertwined with the witness statements, either
because there are explicit comments stating those impressions or because the line of
inquiry reveals the theory of the case.4 (Coito v. Superior Court (2012) 54 Cal.4th 480,
495 (Coito).)
However, neither Hickman, supra, 329 U.S. 495 nor Coito, supra, 54 Cal.4th 480
addresses the situation before us, which does not pertain to witness statements and
instead focuses on the conflict between protecting an attorney's mental impressions and
ensuring the attorney's jury selection decisions are not based on discriminatory intent.
Here, constitutional concerns are at odds with the alleged statutory protections of an
attorney's work product; "[t]he 'Constitution forbids striking even a single prospective
juror for a discriminatory purpose.' " (Foster, supra, 136 S.Ct. at p. 1747, quoting
Snyder, supra, 552 U.S. at p. 478.) "The jury is to be 'a criminal defendant's fundamental
"protection of life and liberty against race or color prejudice." ' [Citations.] Permitting
racial prejudice in the jury system damages 'both the fact and the perception' of the jury's
role as 'a vital check against the wrongful exercise of power by the State.' " (Pena-
4 In Coito, the Supreme Court directs trial courts, "[u]pon an adequate showing," to "determine, by making an in camera inspection if necessary, whether absolute work product protection applies to some or all of the material." (Coito, supra, 54 Cal.4th at p. 496.) 10
Rodriguez v. Colorado (2017) 137 S.Ct. 855, 868.) Given the unique context of the
situation and the importance of avoiding discrimination in jury selection, we cannot
conclude the trial court abused its discretion.
D
Waiver of Work Product Protection
Jones contends he was entitled to the notes at the time of trial because the
prosecutor waived the claim of privilege by referencing details from his jury selection
notes during the Batson/Wheeler hearing. The district attorney argues there was no
waiver of privilege because the prosecutor was not a witness when referencing the jury
selection notes. We agree with Jones. Even assuming the jury selection notes are
undiscoverable core work product, the prosecution's reference to their contents waived
the protection.
The only recognized exception to the absolute protection of core work product is
the waiver doctrine. (Wellpoint Health Networks v. Superior Court (1997)
59 Cal.App.4th 110, 120.) The core work product privilege is waived when a witness
testifies as to the work product's content. (See Nobles, supra, 422 U.S. at p. 239
[investigator who testified waived privilege as to any matters about which he testified].)
Additionally, Evidence Code section 771 requires the production of a writing used to
refresh a witness's memory while testifying if requested by the adverse party. (Evid.
Code, § 771, subd. (a).) The adverse party may cross-examine the witness concerning the
writing and introduce portions of it that are pertinent to the testimony. (Evid. Code,
§ 771, subd. (b).)
11
The district attorney encourages us to adopt the definition of "witness" from the
Code of Civil Procedure in conducting our analysis. The Code of Civil Procedure defines
a "witness" as "a person whose declaration under oath is received as evidence for any
purpose, whether such declaration be made on oral examination, or by deposition or
affidavit." (Code Civ. Proc., § 1878.) However, the issue before us is a discovery matter
that regards criminal law. Other, arguably more relevant code sections also offer
definitions for "witness."
The Penal Code defines "witness" as a natural person who has knowledge of the
existence or nonexistence of facts related to the crime, has submitted a declaration under
oath, has reported a crime, has been served with a subpoena, or who others would
perceive to fit one of the aforementioned categories. (§ 136, subd. (2).) The Evidence
Code, which is "to be liberally construed with a view to effecting its objects and
promoting justice" (Evid. Code, § 2), does not independently define "witness." However,
in the definition of the term " 'unavailable as a witness,' " it treats the word "witness" as
synonymous with "declarant." (Evid. Code, § 240.) It defines a "declarant" as a "person
who makes a statement." (Evid. Code, § 135.) These definitions are broader than the one
offered by the district attorney and suggest more flexibility in who constitutes a witness
in a criminal matter.
In a Batson/Wheeler hearing, resolution of the issues depends entirely on the
reasons the prosecutor provides for exercising a peremptory challenge. Moreover, the
prosecutor is the only source of information regarding his motivations, other than the jury
selection notes. Thus, in this context, the prosecutor effectively serves as a witness as the
12
term is used in Evidence Code section 771. (See also § 136, subd. (2) [witness includes
natural persons others would perceive to be a witness]; Evid. Code, §§ 135, 140 [witness
is a person who makes a statement].) Moreover, when the prosecutor references jury
selection notes to refresh his recollection and offers details from those notes, he waives
any work product protection. (See Evid. Code, § 771.)
Here, the prosecutor referenced details from the jury selection notes throughout
the Batson/Wheeler hearing. He explained the prosecution had numerically evaluated
jurors based on their questionnaires, and he shared the specific numeric ratings with the
court, in addition to other details and observations regarding the challenged prospective
jurors. These references to the jury selection notes waived any work product privilege.
Additionally, while we generally defer to the trial court's factual findings
regarding the credibility of a prosecutor's stated rationale (Winbush, supra, 2 Cal.5th
at p. 434; see Gutierrez, supra, 2 Cal.5th at p. 1159), here the court made no finding
regarding the gender and gender-and-race-based claims the defense is considering as part
of the habeas petition. Thus, justice is best served by allowing Jones to view the jury
selection notes.
Finally, we are not persuaded by the district attorney's argument that the
prosecutor could not have waived the work product privilege because he was not under
oath and therefore was not a witness. Although the prosecutor was not under oath, "[a]n
attorney is an officer of the court, and in presenting matters to the court may employ only
such means as are consistent with the truth[ ] and may not mislead the court in any
fashion." (Bellm v. Ballia (1984) 150 Cal.App.3d 1036, 1039; Jones v. Superior Court
13
(1994) 26 Cal.App.4th 92, 98-99; Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6068, subd. (d); Rules of Prof.
Conduct, Rule 5-200.5) This obligation requires an attorney to render a candid
disclosure. In a Batson/Wheeler hearing, the prosecutor—whose credibility and
genuineness will be assessed by the trial court—is expected to testify honestly regarding
his rationale for exercising a peremptory challenge.
Thus, we conclude that when a prosecutor relies on jury selection notes to refresh
his recollection and shares the details of jury selection notes with the court during a
Batson/Wheeler hearing, upon request, the defense is entitled to review those notes.
Accordingly, the court did not abuse its discretion in determining Jones was entitled to
the jury selection notes pursuant to section 1054.9. (See Steele, supra, 32 Cal.4th
at pp. 693, 695-696.)
5 Rule 5-200 of the Rules of Professional Conduct provides in relevant part: "In presenting a matter to a tribunal, a member: [¶] (A) Shall employ, for the purpose of maintaining the causes confided to the member such means only as are consistent with truth; [¶] (B) Shall not seek to mislead the judge, judicial officer, or jury by an artifice or false statement of fact or law." Business and Professions Code section 6068 provides in relevant part: "It is the duty of an attorney to do all of the following: [¶] . . . [¶] (b) To maintain the respect due to the courts of justice and judicial officers. [¶] . . . [¶] (d) To employ, for the purpose of maintaining the causes confided to him or her those means only as are consistent with truth, and never to seek to mislead the judge or judicial officer by an artifice or false statement of fact or law." 14
DISPOSITION
The petition for writ of mandate and/or prohibition is denied.
HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.
WE CONCUR:
NARES, J.
AARON, J.
15
AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court held that a prosecutor's jury selection notes are discoverable in postconviction habeas proceedings when the prosecutor has referenced those notes during a Batson/Wheeler hearing to provide race- or gender-neutral justifications for peremptory strikes. By relying on the notes to explain their reasoning, the prosecutor waives any claim of work product privilege regarding those materials.
Issues
Are a prosecutor's jury selection notes discoverable by a defendant during postconviction habeas corpus proceedings?
Does a prosecutor waive work product protection for jury selection notes by referencing them during a Batson/Wheeler hearing?
Does the definition of a 'witness' under Evidence Code section 771 extend to a prosecutor providing justifications during a Batson/Wheeler hearing?
Disposition. denied
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“We conclude they are, and we deny the petition.”
“Even assuming the jury selection notes are undiscoverable core work product, the prosecution's reference to their contents waived the protection.”
“Thus, we conclude that when a prosecutor relies on jury selection notes to refresh his recollection and shares the details of jury selection notes with the court during a Batson/Wheeler hearing, upon request, the defense is entitled to review those notes.”