THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. MICHAEL CHARLES DAVIS, Defendant and Appellant.
No. B004710
Second Dist., Div. Seven
Feb. 26, 1987.
1177
Teri Schwartz, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, and Michael Charles Davis, in pro. per., for Defendant and Appellant.
John K. Van de Kamp, Attorney General, Mark Alan Hart and Sharlene A. Honnaka, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
OPINION
BARRERA, J.*---The defendant was convicted of first degree murder and robbery. He appeals from the judgment imposing a sentence of 25 years to life for the murder and 5 years for the robbery, the latter sentence being stayed in accordance with
THE FACTS
Thaddeus Pracki was strangled to death. When discovered in the hallway of his apartment, his nude body was face down, his head in a pillow, his wrists tied to his ankles behind his back. The 62-year-old victim had six broken ribs, four bite marks on his right arm and numerous bruises and abrasions. His wallet and credit cards were missing. There was no sign of forced entry. About 15 hours earlier, he had been with the defendant and others at Joly‘s, a homosexual bar.
One hour before the body was discovered, the defendant attempted to buy a pair of boots, his companion presenting the victim‘s American Express card for their purchase. The defendant used the victim‘s Texaco card two, three or four times, the defendant was not sure, within a few days of the crime. His fingerprint was lifted from a knife found at the crime scene and probably used to cut the lamp cord that bound the victim. He admitted to Aaron Scott, a friend, that he had killed an old gay guy that he and a friend took out of Joly‘s with the intent to rob.
The defendant testified that he set the victim up at Joly‘s with a “stud”
I
SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE TO SUSTAIN FIRST DEGREE MURDER
The defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the conviction for first degree murder. The jury was instructed on three theories of first degree murder, i.e., willful, deliberate and premeditated; in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of a robbery (felony murder), and by torture. Three special circumstances were alleged, i.e., murder in the commission or attempted commission of a robbery, murder by torture, and multiple murder convictions. None was found to be true. He infers that, by a process of elimination, the jury must have based its verdict on the theory of a willful, deliberate and premeditated killing. Since there was no evidence of prior planning activity, a motive to kill or a deliberate intention to kill, he argues, the evidence is insufficient to meet the test of People v. Anderson (1968) 70 Cal.2d 15, 26-27, 33-34 [73 Cal.Rptr. 550, 447 P.2d 942], and the conviction must be reversed or, at least, reduced to second degree murder.
We disagree. Murder in the commission or attempted commission of a robbery, as a special circumstance, may properly be found to be true only if the defendant intended to kill, or aid another in the killing of, a human being. (
FAILURE TO APPOINT COCOUNSEL
Davis maintains that he was denied due process and equal protection under the law, citing the
III
WAIVER OF COUNSEL
The defendant also argues that he did not voluntarily and intelligently waive his right to counsel but was rather coerced into acting as his own attorney. The argument is meritless. The first judge to deny the cocounsel request examined the defendant at length about his ability to represent himself. The defendant told the judge that he, the defendant, had finished high school, enrolled in junior college and training school courses, albeit he had dropped out, and represented himself, alone or with cocounsel, at his last two preliminary hearings. He was aware of the charges and their serious nature and understood the special circumstances against him. He knew how to do pretrial motions, properly conduct voir dire, make an opening statement, object to irrelevant evidence, meet the issue of impeachment by prior convictions, and present an argument. The judge indicated that the defendant had appeared before him once before and was very astute. The defendant told the judge, “I insists [sic]4 on my rights to participate in my case and I ask the court [to appoint cocounsel].” The judge found the defendant to be mentally competent, literate and fully informed of his right to counsel and to have made a voluntary, intelligent and understanding waiver of his right to be represented by counsel. He afforded the defendant pro. per. privileges.5 (Faretta v. California (1975) 422 U.S. 806 [45 L.Ed.2d 562, 95 S.Ct. 2525].) The defendant was, thereafter, given numerous opportunities to have counsel appointed if he gave up his right to represent himself. He was asked, “You are on in pro. per. status at the county jail, correct?” He answered, “Yes, your honor.” He was then asked, “If you are in pro. per., that‘s what you want; right?” He answered, “Yes.” Clearly, the defendant at all times insisted on his right to control the case however vigorously he
also sought the appointment of cocounsel. Trial courts are not required to engage in game playing with cunning defendants who would present Hobson‘s choices. If a defendant refuses to waive his right to counsel unequivocally but insists on pro. per. status with its attendant privileges, as this defendant did, a trial court may properly conclude that this, in itself, is a waiver of a defendant‘s right to counsel.
IV
DENIAL OF THE SECTION 995 MOTION
Davis urges reversal because his preliminary hearing was impermissibly interrupted in violation of
V
WHEELER ERROR
The defendant also contends that he was denied his constitutional right to a trial by an impartial jury and complains of Wheeler error.7 (People v. Wheeler (1978) 22 Cal.3d 258 [148 Cal.Rptr. 890, 583 P.2d
748].) The defendant is Black. The two victims in the crimes with which he was charged were White. The prosecutor exercised 20 peremptory challenges in selecting the jury, 6 of which were exercised against Blacks.8 Three Blacks were not challenged and were a part of the jury that delivered the verdicts.
The prosecution may exercise a peremptory challenge for any reason it chooses until the exercise of such a challenge interferes with a defendant‘s constitutional right to an impartial jury drawn from a representative cross-section of the community. To assure that constitutional guarantee, no peremptory challenge may be exercised solely on the basis of group bias, i.e., because the challenged juror is a member of a cognizable group generally defined by sex, race or ethnic group. (See, e.g., Duren v. Missouri (1979) 439 U.S. 357 [58 L.Ed.2d 579, 99 S.Ct. 664] [women]; People v. Wheeler, supra, 22 Cal.3d 258 [Blacks]; People v. Trevino (1985) 39 Cal.3d 667 [217 Cal.Rptr. 652, 704 P.2d 719] [Hispanics]. But see also Thiel v. Southern Pacific Co. (1946) 328 U.S. 217 [90 L.Ed. 1181, 66 S.Ct. 984, 166 A.L.R. 1412] [wage earners].) Since no reason need be given for the exercise of such a challenge (
A defendant, who believes that constitutionally impermissible challenges have been made, may raise the issue by moving for a mistrial. (People v. Wheeler, supra, 22 Cal.3d at pp. 280-282.) In ruling on the motion, the trial court must first determine whether the pattern, however the defendant demonstrates it, (id., at pp. 280-281) constitutes a prima facie showing of that pernicious practice. (Batson v. Kentucky (1986) 476 U.S. 79 [90 L.Ed.2d 69, 81, 106 S.Ct. 1712].) The defendant made four such motions addressing the six Blacks stricken from the prospective jury panel, but we have been unable to ascertain whether the trial court made such a determination.
In the first two, the prosecutor began to justify the exclusions immediately upon the making of the motions without giving the court an opportunity to find whether the defendant had demonstrated a prima facie case. In denying the motions, the court did not clearly indicate that it considered the issue.9
In the third, the court asked the prosecutor for justification immediately upon the making of the motion without ruling on the prima facie issue. Here the trial court came closest to an implied finding of a prima facie case10 but we do not easily draw the inference because in the last motion, the court appeared to rule that no prima facie case was shown. In that last motion, however, it, nonetheless, immediately asked the prosecutor for his justification.11 Our attention has not been called to, nor have we found, any
place in the record where anyone used “prima facie case” or any similar term.
Under the
Under the Equal Protection Clause of the
ation of Blacks and the striking of Ms. Bailey because she lived there was, in truth, a striking for group bias. The court commented, “The court doesn‘t detect any effort to eliminate a group of people from any particular area. But what is your explanation for your peremptory challenge to Mrs. Bailey?” The prosecutor articulated his reasons. The court asked the defendant, “You don‘t think it is justifiable when you believe a juror is afraid for her safety, to exercise a peremptory in those circumstances?” The defendant answered and the court concluded, “Well, her response was well, she was very well known there. The court believes that it is quite probable; ... [the inference] is justifiable that she might be influenced possibly by her attitude. The court finds no willful exclusion [of] any particular group or of any cross-section. Again, the court finds that the district attorney has spelled out an adequate reason for a peremptory challenge so the motion is denied.”
ably, other members of cognizable groups; see People v. Trevino, supra, 39 Cal.3d 667) undermine public confidence in the fairness of our system of justice. (Batson v. Kentucky, supra, 476 U.S. at p. 87 [90 L.Ed.2d at pp. 80-81].)
While six Blacks were challenged, comprising 30 percent of the total peremptory challenges exercised by the prosecutor in selecting the jury, at no relevant time were there fewer than two Blacks in the jury box and the panel that delivered the verdicts contained three.14 We take judicial notice of the federal census judicially noticed in People v. Harris (1984) 36 Cal.3d 36 at pages 47-48 [201 Cal.Rptr. 782, 679 P.2d 433]. (
The presence of two and then three members of the cognizable group in the jury box at all times afforded the defendant a representative cross-section of the community and afforded equal protection to all, the defendant, the prospective jurors excused and the community at large. There was no prima facie case of exclusion for group bias demonstrated at any time. (People v. Boyd (1985) 167 Cal.App.3d 36, 48-50 [212 Cal.Rptr. 873].)
If, on the other hand, the trial court impliedly found, however erroneously, that the defendant demonstrated a prima facie case of discriminatory exclusion, may we disturb the finding on appeal? The prosecution is clearly precluded from direct appeal. (
General made no such request, which is understandable, there having been no express finding of a prima facie case. We conclude, therefore, that if the trial court did impliedly make such a finding as to Ms. Cox, Mr. LeFridge, Ms. Blakney and Ms. Bailey by asking the prosecutor for justification (People v. Turner (1986) 42 Cal.3d 711, 719 [230 Cal.Rptr. 656]), we may not disturb it. Further, as to Mr. Springer and Ms. Palmer, the prosecutor may have, however unnecessarily, conceded the issue by proffering justification without waiting for the court to rule on the prima facie issue. We turn, therefore, to an examination of the prosecutor‘s reasons for excluding the Black prospective jurors seeking to determine whether the court‘s rulings of adequate justification are also sustainable on appeal.
Ms. Bailey, Ms. Cox, Ms. Palmer and Ms. Blakney were excused because they either vacillated or were hesitant in answering questions concerning their qualifications to sit on a capital case. (People v. Turner (1984) 37 Cal.3d 302, 313-315 [208 Cal.Rptr. 196, 690 P.2d 669].) Ms. Bailey was excused, as well, because she lived in Venice, California, which is adjacent to Marina Del Rey where the homicide, of which the defendant was acquitted, occurred and she was afraid. Mr. Springer was excused because of “histrionics,” explained by the prosecutor as laughing and joking around. He and Ms. Cox were also excused because, after being instructed that both direct and circumstantial evidence are acceptable as a means of proof and neither is entitled to any greater weight than the other (CALJIC No. 2.00; 1 Jefferson, Cal. Evidence Benchbook (2d ed. 1982) § 19.3, p. 455), he, nonetheless, felt that direct evidence was just a little better than circumstantial evidence and she vacillated on the issue.16 There being no requirement that the showing rise to the level of a challenge for cause, we find that the reasons articulated to this point were reasonably relevant to the case, adequately demonstrated specific bias on the part of the Black prospective jurors challenged (People v. Wheeler, supra, 22 Cal.3d at pp. 281-282) and appropriately rebutted any inference of discriminatory exclusion.
The striking of Mr. LeFridge, however, causes greater concern. He was excused six days after being examined about his general qualifications. It was not until the following day, when the third Black was challenged, that the first Wheeler motion was made. The prosecutor asked if the court wanted
him to state his reasons for excusing Mr. LeFridge. The court responded, erroneously, that the prosecutor was not obliged to do so because the defendant had not objected to the challenge when made, but added that it would allow the prosecutor to put on the record whatever there was.17
Somewhat lulled, then, and without his notes which were apparently at counsel table, he gave as one reason that Mr. LeFridge had been late to court on at least three occasions and he, the prosecutor, did not feel that Mr. LeFridge‘s attitude was a serious one because the prospective juror was not following the court‘s instructions to be on time. We have not found, nor has our attention been called to, anything in the record indicating that Mr. LeFridge was ever late at all. We did find, however, that another Black, Mr. McDade, was strongly admonished by the court for being late at least twice much earlier in the proceedings. Mr. McDade‘s explanation for being late the second time was that he was a single parent, had young children and school had just begun. When the prosecutor was giving his reasons for excusing Mr. LeFridge, the defendant accused the prosecutor of giving “false information,” explaining that “it was not Mr. LeFridge who was late” but rather “the other gentleman with the kid problem.” Both the prosecutor and the court disagreed but the record would seem to support the defendant.18
The second reason given was that Mr. LeFridge did not hold direct and circumstantial evidence with “equal weight.” The record does reflect that when the defendant asked Mr. LeFridge, “Isn‘t it more likely you prefer to take somebody‘s testimony that say I seen that person do this?” he answered, “Yes.” However, after Mr. LeFridge described how he had concluded that certain individuals had stolen his boat, the prosecutor declared, “Now, that‘s circumstantial evidence.” He continued, “Let me ask you this. Do you think that the evidence that you have just described is just as good as direct evidence or not?” Mr. LeFridge answered, “Yes.” Had the prosecutor indicated, as he did when he excused others, that Mr. LeFridge had vacillated despite the court‘s instructions on the issue, given at least twice earlier in the voir dire proceedings, upholding the challenge might have been less difficult. His assertion, however, was more dogmatic and is not supported by the record. We strongly suspect that he was simply not focused. Because the prosecutor was at least somewhat lulled by the court and did not, therefore, consult his notes, we conclude that he made the errors in good faith.
The issue, then, is whether a prima facie showing of discriminatory exclusion is rebutted where the reasons articulated, which adequately demonstrate
specific bias, are predicated on mistaken, but good faith, assumptions about that prospective juror‘s conduct, comments or answers to questions. We conclude that it is. As the Wheeler court said, “[C]hallenges ... are to be used to remove jurors who are believed to entertain a specific bias....” (Italics added; People v. Wheeler, supra, 22 Cal.3d at p. 274; see also People v. Turner, supra, 37 Cal.3d at p. 314.) Although Mr. LeFridge was excused for reasons which the record does not support, it is clear that he was not excused because of his race. The evil addressed in Wheeler and its progeny, and now in Batson, is the striking of prospective jurors because they belong to a cognizable group and are, therefore, suspected of bias for that reason alone. We hold, therefore, that no prima facie case of exclusion for group bias was ever demonstrated and hold further that the prosecutor appropriately rebutted every reasonable inference thereof.
We do not intimate that “good faith” is the equivalent of “sincere” in this context. In resolving a Wheeler motion, a trial court must first determine, and expressly rule on (People v. Turner, supra, 42 Cal.3d at pp. 728-729 (conc. opn. of Panelli, J.)), whether a prima facie case has been demonstrated. If it has, the court must then, by a sincere and reasoned effort (id., at p. 728), determine whether, for each exclusion, the prosecution has adequately demonstrated specific bias, i.e., “a bias relating to the particular case on trial or the parties or witnesses thereto,” however sincere the prosecution‘s “judgment” may be that it has. (People v. Trevino, supra, 39 Cal.3d at pp. 689 and 688, citing People v. Wheeler, supra, 22 Cal.3d at pp. 276 and 284, fn. 32.) When a prima facie case of discriminatory exclusion is demonstrated and the reasons given in justification, of themselves or in light of what has occurred to that point in the voir dire or occurs thereafter, i.e., in light of all the circumstances (People v. Turner, supra, 42 Cal.3d at p. 728), do not adequately demonstrate specific bias, the prosecution fails in its burden to show that the challenged prospective jurors belonging to the cognizable group were not excluded for group bias. (People v. Trevino, supra, 39 Cal.3d at pp. 688-693.) Because the striking of a single prospective juror for group bias is reversible error per se (People v. Wheeler, supra, 22 Cal.3d at pp. 282-283 and People v. Harvey (1984) 163 Cal.App.3d 90, 111 [208 Cal.Rptr. 910]), we suggest that where Wheeler motions have been made and, of course, each denied, whether the trial court has determined that a prima facie case of discriminatory exclusion has been demonstrated or not, the prosecution, while not compelled to do so (People v. Wheeler, supra, 22 Cal.3d at p. 284, fn. 32), may be well advised to make a record at some point after the jury selection process has been completed, articulating any reasons or further reasons it may have for having challenged members of the cognizable group, particularly where the selection process is vulnerable to an analysis of disparate treatment. (See People v. Trevino, supra, 39 Cal.3d at pp. 688-693.) We recognize that to proffer justification when the trial court
has expressly ruled that no prima facie case has been made may be interpreted as a concession of the issue. We believe that to be the lesser evil, however. If the challenges have been made for constitutionally appropriate reasons, there is no harm in articulating those reasons for the record. On the other hand, if no justification is proffered and the trial court errs in its determination that no prima facie case has been made, a reversal will almost certainly follow, the reviewing court having no record upon which to determine whether the challenges were legally justifiable.
VI
ACCESS TO LEGAL MATERIALS
Davis contends further that he was denied due process because his access to legal materials was impaired and he was, thus, prevented from preparing a defense.19 He points out that while he brought the problem to the trial court‘s attention several times during the trial, the trial court denied his requests for continuances and refused to hold a hearing on the issue. Had the requests been granted or a hearing held and appropriate orders to the sheriff or county jail personnel made, he argues, the resultant access could have precluded the admission of highly prejudicial evidence, e.g., inadmissible hearsay about the defendant‘s admissions to Aaron Scott, twice presented to the jury by the investigator‘s nonresponsive answers to the defendant‘s cross-examination.20
In a posttrial review of an alleged error by the trial court in not securing to a defendant adequate access to legal materials, the defendant must demonstrate not only the error but also the consequent prejudice suffered. (People v. Pompa-Ortiz, supra, 27 Cal.3d at pp. 529-530; People v. Smith (1985) 38 Cal.3d 945, 952-953 [216 Cal.Rptr. 98, 702 P.2d 180].)
There was no error. The defendant‘s matter was heard Monday through Thursday, affording him three days each week to use the library, in addition to what was otherwise available.21 There was a break in the proceedings between August 18 and September 6, 1983. The trial court responded to the problem on several occasions by contacting the legal officer at the jail. It ordered that the defendant be given time in the jail law library
and that nothing, not even disciplinary problems within the jail, was to interfere with that. During the course of the trial, the deputy sheriff in charge of the facility kept a record and, orally and in writing, advised the court of the hours available to, and used and refused by, the defendant.
Additionally, a privilege is not a right. Access to a law library, by defendants freely choosing to represent themselves at trial, is not compelled by any constitutional, statutory or common law mandate. While access by such defendants may not arbitrarily be denied, nor, once conferred, terminated or restricted (Wilson v. Superior Court (1978) 21 Cal.3d 816, 823-824 [148 Cal.Rptr. 30, 582 P.2d 117]), there is no requirement that such defendants be afforded specific books or access at specific times or on specific days.22 Subject to writ review for abuse, we leave it in the sound discretion of the trial courts to evaluate the exigencies of the matter at bench and determine what relief, if any, is in the interests of justice. (People v. Smith, supra, 38 Cal.3d at p. 952.)
There was also no prejudice. The defendant would have us conclude that had he been given greater access to the jail law library, he would have sought, found, read and understood the relevant materials precluding the admission of the evidence. We know of no authority that compels this court to engage in such flights of speculative fancy. More importantly, Aaron Scott was in the courtroom for some part of the trial and could have been called by the prosecution to testify. Had he testified to something other than what he told the investigator, the investigator could have been called to the stand. The defendant‘s admissions to Aaron Scott could properly have been adduced thereby and received as substantive evidence of the defendant‘s guilt. (
thereafter, urged the defendant to call on his, now standby, counsel for research purposes. The defendant insisted on his “right to represent [himself] without aid or assistance.”25 Under the circumstances, the defendant can hardly be heard to complain.
VII
LACK OF SLEEP
The defendant contends, as well, that he was denied due process because he was compelled to proceed with the voir dire of the jury panel when, having been deprived of sufficient sleep, he was too tired to meaningfully participate. On the morning of August 16, 1983, during the voir dire of prospective jurors about their qualifications to sit on a capital case (Witherspoon v. Illinois (1968) 391 U.S. 510 [20 L.Ed.2d 776, 88 S.Ct. 1770]; Hovey v. Superior Court (1980) 28 Cal.3d 1, 80 [168 Cal.Rptr. 128, 616 P.2d 1301]), the defendant complained that he had gotten back to the county jail the previous night at 10 p.m., sat in his cell “with a headache” after the lights were turned off, which he guessed was about “11:00, 11:30,” before going to sleep, and been awakened at 4:30 a.m. The trial court concluded that the defendant had gotten at least six hours of sleep and was competent, at that moment, to proceed.
In his sporadic argument on the motion to continue, covering some 25 pages of transcript of which about 7 reflect the questioning of one juror, the defendant was heard and observed by the trial judge who found the defendant as capable to proceed with the selection of the jury as he had been the day and the week before. The court observed the defendant to be energetic and capable of talking “for another half hour” if allowed to do so. The court commented, “I have observed Mr. Davis, and I don‘t believe that he is unnecessarily fatigued, and certainly not too fatigued to ask questions, to listen, to know what‘s going on, and to participate.”
Although he peevishly refused to question prospective jurors that morning, when he did address the problems of the day, he appeared quite lucid. For example, early in the afternoon session, a prospective juror asked to be excused for hardship, explaining that he was the sole calculus teacher at a community college, school was about to start and he could not be replaced. He had earlier indicated that he could not vote for the death penalty unless the murder was the result of torture. The defendant, nonetheless, stipulated that the prospective juror be excused because “I wouldn‘t
want to put him in a position where his mind would be somewhere else and not here in the courtroom. That is very important and I think that would be a problem.” Minds may differ about tactical priorities but the reasoning was cogent.
There was substantial evidence to support the finding of the trial court that the defendant was competent to proceed. There was no abuse of discretion in denying his motion to continue the matter.26
VIII
DENIAL OF THE HITCH MOTION
The defendant contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to exclude testimony about a latent fingerprint lifted from a knife found at the crime scene. There was no blood on that knife when it was found and the decedent had not been stabbed or cut with one. It was, therefore, not taken into custody and it disappeared, the prosecutor representing to the court that it had been disposed of by the decedent‘s executor. The defendant argued that the knife was material because it could have helped him to prove that the print either had not been taken from the knife or, had been transferred to the knife from some object touched by the defendant somewhere other than at the crime scene.
The contention is without merit. The knife was photographed and the tape material used to lift the print reflected the imprint of a knife. Further, the print was lifted almost immediately after the murder and months before the defendant was arrested. More importantly, his fingerprint expert was in court at the time of the motion and, presumably, ready to testify, but the defendant proffered no evidence in support of his arguments. He explained that there were two witnesses then unavailable and he did not want to proceed with “half a Hitch motion.” (People v. Hitch (1974) 12 Cal.3d 641 [117 Cal.Rptr. 9, 527 P.2d 361].) The trial court denied the motion without prejudice.
Our attention has not been called to, nor have we found, anything in the record indicating that any evidence was ever presented in support of the motion. It is the defendant‘s threshold burden to demonstrate some materi-
ality, i.e., some showing that there is a reasonable possibility that the missing (or destroyed) item would constitute evidence favorable to him on the issue of guilt or innocence. (People v. Hitch, supra, 12 Cal.3d at p. 649.) While the defendant argued vigorously for much of two days, argument is not evidence and the trial court did not err in denying the motion.27
IX
REVOCATION OF PRO. PER. STATUS
Finally, Davis contends that the trial court erred in revoking his pro. per. status. The trial court did not. The defendant made vituperative statements and prefaced his “questions” with inflammatory editorial comments throughout the trial. He quite improperly disparaged the court, the prosecutor and the evidence. He was repeatedly warned.
Late in the afternoon on the final trial day of that particular week, he started one question with, “The district attorney notify the deputies to keep me here so he could get down there first, that‘s why they take me to a room and leave me there until 12:30....” It was stricken. Shortly thereafter, referring to an exhibit, he asked, “And there is everything else written in blue and this is written in black, do you understand why?” When the witness answered that he did not, the defendant stated, “That is something the district attorney does these days.” It was stricken. A little later, the defendant was using some exhibits in his examination and the court ordered that they be marked. The prosecutor began to describe them for the record, precipitating these remarks from the defendant, “Does the district attorney mind? He is intruding on my examination. Is he just going to mark them? Would the district [attorney sit] down and close his face? Is he going, going to do any preaching now?” The court struck the remarks but the defendant persisted. “I asked if the district attorney is going to do any preaching?” The court ignored it and asked, “What is the next... [exhibit]?” The prosecutor started to identify it and the defendant objected with, “If the district attorney is going to do all of this, I wonder if he should just stand up and get on the witness stand?” That was stricken. Only a short while later, the court asked, “What are we talking about? This is 136? Is this 137?” The defendant answered, “We are talking about something that the district attorney made, People‘s 135 [the same exhibit to which the defendant earlier referred in commenting that that was ‘something the district attorney does these days‘].” The following colloquy ensued: “MR. LONGO: Objection to that statement that it was made by the district attorney.
“THE DEFENDANT: That is what we are talking about.
“THE COURT: Mr. Davis, again, a warning.
“THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.
“THE COURT: Any further statements of that nature-any further statements whatsoever other than questions will result in your being removed as your own counsel.
“THE DEFENDANT: Your Honor, these are threats. You make your own decision.
“MR LONGO: Objection to [his] speaking to the court---
“THE COURT: All right. Excuse me.
“Mr. Davis, you are now represented by your standby counsel.”
“[T]he trial judge may terminate self-representation by a defendant who deliberately engages in serious and obstructionist misconduct.... The right of self-representation is not a license to abuse the dignity of the courtroom. Neither is it a license not to comply with relevant rules of procedural and substantive law.” (Faretta v. California, supra, 422 U.S. at pp. 834-835, fn. 46 [45 L.Ed.2d at p. 581].) In the opinion of the trial court, the trial had “become close to a farce in the way he [the defendant] was conducting himself on cross-examination and direct examination. And had he been permitted to continue, the jury would have been distracted from the evidence, possibly to the prejudice of the defendant.”
In articulating its reasons for denying the defense attorney‘s request that the defendant‘s pro. per. status be reinstated, the trial court said it well: “The law gives him the right to represent himself, of course, and I believe that he was properly found competent to waive counsel. But I believe, also, that he has deliberately misused his pro. per. status thus far.
“He should not be permitted to disparage opposing counsel and the court, and to disrupt the orderly presentation of the trial.
“The system of justice, after all, is deserving of some respect and is being degraded by the conduct of the trial as it has been going. And I don‘t believe that the court should reinstate his pro. per. status.
“It‘s difficult to conduct argument at the bench because it‘s conducted by the defendant in a loud voice. And he continues to make statements which are improper statements concerning the court‘s impartiality and concerning the evidence and opposing counsel.
“And it‘s the court‘s inherent right to conduct a fair trial. And I don‘t believe that we‘re going to accomplish it if the defendant is allowed to proceed as his own counsel.
“The court warned him repeatedly. The court believes that he well knew what he was doing each time he made an outburst or disruption.”
The defendant complains that the revocation occurred quite late in the trial, he having just concluded the examination of his second witness, and his standby counsel, who had not been privy to the defendant‘s plans for his own defense, was not afforded sufficient time to prepare. If there was a problem, it was of the defendant‘s own doing. (People v. Brownlee (1977) 74 Cal.App.3d 921, 930-933 [141 Cal.Rptr. 685].) We note, however, that counsel was present from the middle of the voir dire, his advisory services were voluntarily relinquished, and it was six days after his appointment that the next witness was called. We further note that the defendant refused to speak to his attorney on any subject relating to the trial until he, the defendant, indicated that he wished to testify in his own defense. The record does not indicate when that was, but, if the presentation of the defense suffered, the defendant is substantially to blame. It may be prudent henceforth, however, to advise a defendant seeking pro. per. status, that, if the status is granted and later revoked or relinquished, the new defense counsel may well be at a disadvantage to the defendant‘s detriment.28
He further complains that his conduct on that day was no more serious or prejudicial than it had been on previous days, intimating a kind of equitable estoppel. We are not persuaded. A trial court is not estopped from revoking pro. per. status merely because it has formerly displayed the skin of a rhinoceros and the patience of Job. It is vested with vast discretion in determining when and where to draw the line. The exercise of that discretion will not be disturbed in the absence of a strong showing of clear abuse.
Judgment affirmed.
Thompson, Acting P. J., concurred.
In seeking to probe the prosecutor‘s motives for exercising peremptory challenges the courts are embarked on a difficult enough enterprise. The trial court must determine the prosecutor‘s state of mind at the time he or she decided to challenge a given juror. Did the prosecutor exclude a juror because the juror was of a minority race or did he do so because of other, legitimate reasons? The appellate court, in turn, must review the prosecutor‘s explanation and the trial court‘s ruling on this question from a cold, hard record. We should not compound our problem by having to speculate about the prosecutor‘s state of mind at the time he or she was justifying an earlier state of mind.
When the record reflects a prosecutor gave a clearly erroneous justification it is seldom possible for us to ascertain from that record-that is, from the words the prosecutor used-whether he or she erred in good faith or not. Only in the most extreme and unusual case will there be enough in the record to allow an appellate court to fix a bad faith label on a prosecutor. In essence, to do so means calling a particular prosecutor a deliberate liar. Yet consider what happens if we automatically assume, as the majority opinion appears to do, that the prosecutor acted in good faith. We essentially sanction any explanation no matter how careless the prosecutor may be with the truth or how unbiased and otherwise qualified the excluded minority juror or jurors may have been.
This is not to say convictions should be reversed every time a prosecutor makes a mistake in explaining why he or she challenged a given juror. But here there is nothing substantial remaining in the explanation itself which would support a contention this prosecutor challenged this juror for permissible, nondiscriminatory reasons. If the defense had established a prima facie case of discriminatory motive I would hold this erroneous explanation insufficient to justify the peremptory challenge of this juror. I would remand for a posttrial hearing at which the prosecutor was given the opportunity to demonstrate through accurate information about the actual juror involved that he had nondiscriminatory reasons for excusing that juror. If the prose-
This procedure rather than a rule excusing “good faith error” is the one best calculated to insure prosecutors “consult their notes” and are thorough in reconstructing their own motives and thought processes. Care instead of carelessness on the part of prosecutors, in turn, should give trial judges a sounder basis for deciding these motions. Thus, this approach rather than the position urged in the majority opinion seems best calculated to advance the policies promoted by Wheeler and its progeny.
In the instant case, however, the prosecutor‘s faulty explanation does not become relevant. The evidence independent of the explanation about this particular juror showed this prosecutor was not striking minority jurors for racially motivated reasons. The prima facie case of discriminatory exclusion was lacking. Consequently, I support the judgment of affirmance despite my reservations about the “good faith error” rule announced by my colleagues.
Appellant‘s petition for review by the Supreme Court was denied June 18, 1987. Mosk, J., was of the opinion that the petition should be granted.