THI RD DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, REESE, J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

A pr i l 6, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 2 A0 05 8 . W ILLIAM S v . THE STATE.

P E R C U R I A M

.

A ju ry fo u n d D’ A n d re Mo n t el W i l l i am s g ui l t y o f two co u n t s o f arm ed ro b b ery

.

W i ll i am s ap p eal s fo l l o wi n g t h e d en i al o f h i s m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al

, co n t en di n g t h at :

(1 ) hi s t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e (a) fo r fai l i ng t o fi l e a m o t i o n fo r a m en t al

ev al u at i on b efo re t h e fi l i ng d ead l i n e, an d (b ) b y “ cu m u l at i v el y p reju d i ci n g ” h i m wi th

a co m b i ned effect o f m

u lt i p l e al l eg ed erro rs ; an d (2 ) th e t ri al co u rt erred b y fai l i n g to

h o l d a h eari n g o n h i s m en t al co m p et en cy an d d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n f o r a m en t al

ev al u at i on

. Fo r t h e reas o n s th at fo l l o w

, we affi rm W il l i am s ’ s co n v i ct i o n s b u t i n s t ru ct

t h e t ri al co urt t o co rrect a s cri ven er’ s erro r i n t h e wri t ten s en t en ce u p o n rem i t t i t u r.

In J an u ary 2 0 1 7

, W i l l iam s an d t hree o t h ers were i n di ct ed o n t wo co u n ts o f

a rm ed ro b b ery

. Th e t ri al co u rt s ev ered t h e t ri al s o f t h e d efen dan t s

. W i l l iam s w a ss ch ed u l ed t o b e t ri ed in earl y Feb ru ary 2 0 1 8

. In p rep arat i o n fo r t ri al

, v ari o u s m o t i on s

fi led b y W i l l i am s were t o b e heard o n J an u ary 2 9

, 2 0 1 8. O n J an u ary 25

, 2 0 1 8

, aft er

t h e d ead l in e fo r fi l i n g m ot io n s had p as s ed

, W i ll i am s ’ s t ri al co u n s el fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r

a m en t al ev al u at i o n

. At th e J an u ary 2 9 heari ng

, co u n sel ex p l ai ned t h at hi s co n cern s

ab o ut Wi l l i a m s ’ s co m

p et en cy h ad b eco m e “ m o re i n t en s e” i n t h e recen t week s

p rep ari n g fo r t ri al

, as a res ul t o f wh i ch h e “ fel t ” i t was “ n eces s ary ” to fi le t he m o t i o n.

Th e t ri al co u rt t h en as k ed W i l l i am s s o m e q u es ti o n s reg ard i n g t h e ch arg es

, h i s

co u ns el

, an d th e t ri al p ro ceed i n g s . Fo ll o w i n g t h e q u es t i o n i n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed

t h e m ot i on

, fi n d i n g t h at W i l l i am s d i d n o t d em o n s trat e an y i rrat i o n al beh av i o r a n d

u n d ers t o o d t h e n at u re of t h e tri al

, h i s co u n s el ’ s ro l e, an d t h e po s si bl e co n s eq u en ces

o f a g u il t y

v erd i ct

.

On Feb ru ary 26

, 2 01 8

, W i l l i am s en t ered a n eg o ti at ed g u i l t y p l ea t o bo t h co u n t s

o f arm ed ro b b ery

. As p art of h i s p l ea ag reem en t

, W i l l i am s was t o t es t i fy tru t h fu l l y

ag ai n s t t h e o t h er d efen d an t s

. Aft er W i l l i am s refu sed t o t es t i fy

, t h e St at e m ov ed t o s et

as i d e h i s g u i l t y

p l ea. Th e t ri al co u rt g ran ted t h e m o t i o n , an d W i l l i am s p ro ceed ed t o

a ju ry t ri al

. At th e tri al

, t h e St at e p res en t ed ev i d en ce o f W i ll i am s ’ s co n fes s i o n to

d ri v i ng t h e v eh i cl e du ri n g t h e ro b b eri es

, an d t o k n owi n g t hat t h e o th ers i n t h e v eh i cl e

2were pl an n i n g o n co m m i t ti ng ro b b eri es

. Bo t h arm ed ro b b ery v i ct i m s al s o t e s t i f i ed

,

s u b s t an t i al l y

co rro b o rat in g W i l l i am s ’ s co n fes s i o n.

Th e ju ry s u b seq u en t l y fo u n d W il l iam s g u i l t y o f t wo co u n ts o f arm ed ro b b ery

.

Th e t ri al co u rt s en t en ced h i m t o 2 0 y ears w i t h t h e fi rs t 18 y ears t o s erv e in

co n fi n em en t

. W i l l i am s fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r a new t ri al

, cl ai m i n g

, i n ter al i a, th at h i s t ri al

co u ns el ren d ered i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce. Th e tri al co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n

, an d t h i s

ap p eal fo l l o w ed

.

1

. In ef f ect ive As s i st a n ce of Co u n sel

. To p rev ai l o n t h is cl ai m

, an ap p el lan t m u s t

s h o w b o t h t hat hi s t ri al co u ns el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t an d t hat h e s u f f e r e d

p reju d i ce as a res u l t

. See S t r i ckl a n d v. W a s h i n g t on

, 46 6 U. S. 6 6 8

, 6 8 7 (III) (1 0 4 SCt

2 0 5 2

, 80 LE2 d 6 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ). A n ap p el lan t m u s t s at i s fy bo t h pro n g s o f t h e S t r i ckl a n d

t es t

, an d i f h e fai l s as t o on e p ro n g

, “ i t i s no t i ncu m b en t u p o n [an ap p el l at e c] o u rt to

ex am i n e t h e ot h er p ro n g

. ” S mi th v. S t at e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 73 1

, 73 3 (2 ) (7 70 SE2 d 6 1 0 ) (2 0 1 5 )

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

To es tab li s h d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce

, a n ap p el l an t m u s t o v erco m e th e

s t ro n g p res um

p t i o n t h at h i s co u n sel ’ s co n du ct fal l s w it hi n t he b ro ad

ran g e o f reas o n ab le p ro fes s i on al co n d uct an d s h o w t h at h i s co u n s el

p erfo rm e d i n an o b

ject i v el y u nreas on ab le way i n l i g ht o f al l th e

c i rcu m s tan ces an d p rev ai l i n g n o rm s

. To es t ab l i s h pr e j udic e

, a n a

p pe lla nt

m u s t s h o w t h at t h ere i s a reas o n ab le p ro b ab i l i t y t h at , b u t fo r co u n s el ’ s

3u n p ro fes s io n al erro rs

, t h e res u l t o f t h e p ro ceed i n g wo u ld h av e b een

d i fferen t

.

Jef f er s o n v. S t a t e , 3 6 0 Ga. Ap p. 8 6 9 , 8 7 2-8 7 3 (3 ) (8 6 2 SE2 d 3 4 6 ) (2 02 1 ) (ci t at i on s

an d p u n ct u a t io n om i tt ed ). In rev i ewi n g a cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o n ap p eal

,

t h i s Co u rt u p h o l d s a t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n g s an d cred i b i l i t y d et erm i n at i on s

u n l es s cl earl y e r r o neo u s

, b u t rev i ews d e n o vo t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s l eg al co n cl u s i o n s

.

W a l ker v. S t a t e , 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p . 1 6 3 , 1 6 5 (1 ) (8 1 6 SE2 d 8 4 9 ) (2 0 18 ).

(a) W i l l iam s as s ert s th at h i s t r i al co un s el was i n effect i v e fo r fai li n g t o fi l e a

m o ti o n fo r a m en t al ev al u at i o n b efo re t h e fi l i n g d ead l i n e. W e d is ag ree.

Pret erm it t i n g wh et her t ri al co u n s el ’ s l at e fi l in g o f t h e m o t i o n fo r a m en t al

ev al u at i on co n s ti t ut ed d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce, W i ll i am s can n o t s h o w p reju di ce. Th e

t ri al co u rt co n d u ct ed a p rel i m i n ary h eari n g as t o wh et h er a m en t al ev al u at i o n was

n eces s ary by q u es t i o n i n g W i l li am s

. At t he co n c l u s i o n o f t h e q u es t i o n in g

, t h e t ri al

co u rt d et erm i n ed t h at a m en t al ev al u at i o n was n ot req u ired

. Im p o rt an t l y

, W i l l i am s

el ab o rat es n o arg u m en t s as t o h o w t h e res u l t o f th e p ro ceed i n g s wo u ld h av e b een

d i fferen t h ad h i s co u n s el fi led a t i m el y m o t i o n

, an d h e s i m i l arl y i d en t ifi es no reco rd

ev i d en ce t hat co u l d s u p p o rt an y s u ch cl ai m

. Co ns eq u en t l y

, W i l l i am s i s un ab l e to

s h o w p reju d i ce bas ed o n t he l a t e f i l i n g of t h e m o t i o n

, an d h i s cl ai m o f i n effect i v e

4as s i s tan ce fai l s

. See Ro b in s on v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8 G a. 4 5 5

, 4 6 3 (6 ) (7 8 2 SE2 d 6 5 7 ) (2 0 1 6 )

(t he d efen d an t b ears t h e b urd en o f p ro o f o n b o t h pro n g s of an i n effect i v e-as s i s t an ce

cl ai m

— i f h e fai l s to es t ab l i sh ei t h er p ro n g, a rev i ewi n g co u rt n eed n o t ex am i n e t h e

o t h er); Per r

y v. S t a t e

, 2 6 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1 7 8

, 1 8 0 -1 8 1 (1 ) (6 0 3 SE2 d 5 2 6 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (n o

i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u ns el wh ere pl ea co u n s el m ad e l at e req u es t fo r m en t al

ev al u at i on an d th e t ri al co u rt d ecl in ed t o d o s o

, b ecau s e th e reco rd ev i d en ce d i d n ot

p u t co un s el o n n o t i ce o f t h e n eed fo r an i n -d ep t h i n v es t i g a t i o n o f t h e d efen d an t ’ s

m ed i cal h i s t o ry ).

(b ) W i ll i am s co n t en d s t h at h i s t ri al co u n sel was i n effect i ve b y “ cu m ul at i v el y

p reju d i ci n g ” h i m wi t h a co m b i n ed effect o f m

ul t i p l e al l eg ed erro rs

. Ag ai n we

d i s ag ree.

W i l l i am s li s t s t h e fo l l o wi n g co m p l ai nt s ab o u t h i s t ri al co u n s el : (1 ) h e fai l ed to

o b ject to t h e p ro s ecu t o r m ak i n g co m p ar i s o n s t o t he O. J

. Si m p s o n t ri al i n o p en i n g

s t at em en t s ; (2 ) h e fai led t o o b ject t o t he pro s ecu t or n o t p ro p erl y lay i n g a fo u n d at i o n

t o in t ro d u ce a s u rv ei l lan ce v i d eo reco rd in g ; (3 ) h e fai l ed t o o bject t o t h e p ro s ecu to r’ s

referen ce, w h en i nt ro d uci n g red act ed v i deo reco rd i n g s o f W i l l i am s ’ s i n t erv i ews wi th

l aw en fo rcem en t

, t h at t h ere were “ o th er t h i n gs [o n t h e reco rd i n g s ] t h a t aren ’ t

rel e v a n t ” t o t h e cas e; (4 ) h e fai l ed t o rai s e a m o ti o n fo r d i rect ed v erd ict ; an d (5 ) h e

5fai l ed t o ob

ject at s en t en ci ng wh en t h e p ro s ecu t o r referred t o s t at em en t s m ad e d u ri n g

p l ea n eg ot i at i o n s

.

To es t ab l i s h cu m

u l at i v e erro r, a d efen dan t m u s t s h o w t h at “ at l eas t t wo erro rs

were co m m i t t ed i n t h e co u r s e o f t h e t ri al [, an d ] co n s id ered t o g et h er al o ng wi t h t h e

en t i re reco rd , t h e m

u l t i p le erro rs s o i n fect ed t h e ju ry ’ s d el ib erat i on th at t h ey d en i ed

[t he d efen d an t ] a fu n d am en t al l y fai r tri al .” S t a te v. La n e

, 3 0 8 Ga. 10

, 2 1 ( 4 ) ( 8 3 8

SE2 d 8 08 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). “ [W ] h en rev i ewi n g a cl ai m o f

cu m u l at i v e p reju d i ce, we ev al u at e o n l y th e effect s o f m at t ers d et erm i n ed to b e erro r,

n o t t h e cu m

u l at i v e effect o f n o n-erro rs .” Fl o o d v. St a t e

, 3 1 1 Ga. 8 0 0

, 80 8 -8 0 9 (2 ) (d )

(8 6 0 SE2 d 7 3 1 ) (2 0 2 1 ) (ci tat io n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i tt ed ).

At t h e o u t s et

, we n o t e t h at W i l l i am s h as n ot s u p p o rt ed h i s c l a i m s i n (1 ), (2 ),

(4 ), a n d ( 5 ) w i t h an y arg u m en t o r ci t at i on t o au th o ri t y to sh o w t h at t ri al co u n sel ’ s

p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t

. Th u s

, t h es e cl ai m s are deem ed ab an d o n ed

. See Co u rt o f

Ap p eal s Ru l e 25 (c) (2 ) (“ An y en u m erat i o n o f erro r t h at i s n o t s u p p o rt ed i n t h e b ri ef

b y ci t at i o n o f au t h o ri t y

o r arg u m en t m ay b e d eem ed ab an d o ned .”); Sh i el d s v. S t a t e

,

3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 0

, 1 0 4 (3 ) (c) (7 6 1 SE2 d 5 1 6 ) (2 0 1 4 ). Ev en i f t hes e cl ai m s were n ot

ab an do n ed

, W i l l i am s can n ot s h o w th at t ri al co u n s el co m m i t t ed t wo e r r o r s i n t h e

co u rs e o f t he t ri al

.

6(1 ) Fa i l i n g t o Ob j ect t o Op en i n g S t a t emen t

. Co nt rary t o W i l l i am s ’ s arg u m en t

,

t h e p ro s ecu t o r di d n o t refer to t h e O. J

. Si m p s o n tri al du ri n g o pen i n g s t at em en t s

. Th i s

cl ai m t h u s p res en ts n o t h i n g fo r u s t o rev i ew.

(2 ) Fa i l i n g t o Ob

j ect t o Fo u n d

a t i o n

. Co n t rary t o W i l li am s ’ s p o s i ti o n

, t ri al

co u ns el s t at ed t hat he wo u l d h av e no o b ject i o n t o t h e ad m i s si o n o f t h e s urv ei l l an ce

v i d eo reco rd i n g “ a s l o n g as t h e p ro per fo u nd at i o n ’ s been lai d .” M o reo v er, an

ey ewi t n es s t o t h e e v e n t s d e p i ct ed i n t h e reco rd in g t es t i fi ed t h at i t w as a fai r an d

accu rat e rep res en tat i o n o f t h e ev en t s i t d ep i ct ed ; t h erefo re, an y o b ject io n wo u l d h av e

b een m eri t l es s . See Pea r

s o n v. S t a t e , 3 1 1 Ga. 2 6

, 3 1 (3 ) (a) (8 5 5 SE2 d 6 0 6 ) (2 0 2 1 )

(a v i d eo reco rd i n g i s gen eral l y ad m i s s i bl e wh ere “ on e wh o pers o n al ly wi t n es s ed t h e

ev en ts reco rd ed [] t es t i fi es t h at t h e [reco rd i n g ] accu rat el y po rt ray ed wh at t h e wi t n es s

s aw t ak e p l ace at th e t i m e t h e ev en t s o ccu rred ”) (ci t at i on an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

An d t h e fai l u re t o m ak e a m eri t les s o b ject i o n i s n o t ev i d en ce of in effect i v e as s i s t an ce.

See Ba l l a r d

v. S t a t e , 2 9 7 Ga. 2 4 8

, 2 5 5 (6 ) (i ) (7 7 3 SE2 d 2 5 4 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

(3 ) Fa i l i ng to Ob

j ect t o S t at emen t

s Reg a r d i n g R ed

a ct ed V i d eo

. W i l l i am s

m ai n t ai n s t h at t h e p ro s ecu t o r’ s referen ces t o red act ed v i d eo reco rd i n g s o f i n t erv iews

co n tai n i n g “ o t her t h i n g s t hat aren ’ t rel ev an t ” t o th e cas e were “ al l us i o n s t o i m p ro p er

ex t ri ns i c ev i den ce an d wo rs e, w h at ev er ju ro rs co n ju re s u ch ev i den ce t o be, t h u s t h e

7c o m m e n t s s h o u l d h av e b een o b ject ed t o an d a m o t i o n fo r m i s tri al m ad e.”

(Pu n ct u at i on om i t t ed

. ) “ Reas o n ab l e d eci si o n s as t o wh et h er to rai s e a s p eci fi c

o b ject i on are o rd i n ari l y m at t ers o f t ri al st rat eg y an d pro v i de n o gro u n d fo r rev ers al .”

Ba l l a r d

, 2 9 7 Ga. at 2 54 (6 ) (h ) (ci t at io n an d p un ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). An d ag ai n

, t h e

fai l u re t o m ak e a m eri t les s o b ject i o n i s no t ev i d en ce o f in effect i ve as s i st an ce. See i d.

at 2 5 5 (6 ) (i ). W i l l i am s el ab o rat es n o arg um en t s as t o wh a t a l l eg ed ly “ i m p ro p er

ex t ri ns i c ev i d en ce” m ay h av e b een “ co n ju re[d ] ” i n t h e ju ro rs ’ m i n d s

, an d h e s i m i larl y

i d en t i fi es n o reco rd ev i d en ce t h at co u l d s h ed an y l ig h t o n t h at co n cl u s o ry al l eg at i o n.

He t h erefo re h as n o t m et hi s b u rd en o f s h o wi n g th at h i s t ri al co u n sel ’ s p erfo rm an ce

was d efi ci en t i n t h is res p ect

.

(4 ) Fa i l in g t o Mo ve f

o r a Di r ect ed V

er d i ct

. T ri al co u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o m o v e fo r

a d i rect ed v erd ict di d n o t co n s t it u t e i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce becau s e W i ll i am s was n ot

en t i t l ed t o a d i rect ed v erd i ct

.

Th e st an d ard of rev i ew fo r t h e d en ial o f a m ot io n fo r d i rect ed

v erd ict of acq u i t t al i s t h e s a m e as t h at fo r rev i ewi n g th e s u ffi ci en cy o f

t h e ev i d en ce t o su p po rt a co n v i c t i o n

. Un d er t hat st an d ard we v i ew th e

ev i d en ce in t h e li g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct an d d et erm in e

wh et h er an y rat i o n al t ri er o f fact co u ld h av e fo u n d t he es s en t i al el em en t s

o f t h e cri m e b ey o nd a reas o n ab l e d o u b t

.

8Hu t

zel v. S t a t e

, 3 5 9 Ga. Ap p

. 4 9 3

, 4 9 9 (1 ) (8 5 9 SE 2 d 4 9 5 ) (2 0 2 1) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ). Gi v en W i l l iam s ’ s co n fes s io n

, wh i ch t h e r o b b ery v i ct i m s

s u b s t an t i al l y co rro bo rat ed

, t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed was s u ffi ci en t t o su s t ai n h i s

co n vi ct i o n

. Acco rd i n g l y

, h e was n o t en t it l ed t o a d irect ed v erd i ct an d co u n sel ’ s

fai l u re t o m o v e fo r th e s am e is n o t d efi ci en t p erf o r m an ce. See Mu ckl e v. St a t e

, 3 0 2

Ga. 6 7 5, 6 7 9 (1 ) (b ) (8 0 8 SE2 d 7 1 3 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (wh i l e an u n co rro bo rat ed co n fes s i o n

al o n e can n o t ju s t i f

y a c o n v i ct i o n

, “ n o s p eci fi c m an n er o f co rro bo rat i o n (o f t h e

co n f e s s i o n ) i s req u i red

, an d co rro b orat i o n i n an y p art icu l ar is s u ffi ci en t ”) (ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ); Ja r r et t v. S ta t e

, 2 9 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 5, 5 3 3 (7 ) (c) (6 8 3 SE2 d

1 1 6 ) (2 00 9) (“ Fai l u re t o pu rs u e a fu t il e m o t io n d o e s n o t co n s t i t u t e i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce.”) (ci tat i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ).

(5 ) Fa i l in g to Ob

j ect t o S t a t emen t

s a t S e n t e n ci ng

. In h i s ap p el l at e b ri ef,

Wi l l i am s el ab o rat es n o arg u m en t s as t o (a) wh i ch o f t h e p ro s ecu t o r’ s referen ces

d u ri n g h i s s en t en ci n g h eari n g t o s t at em en t s m ad e d u ri n g p l ea n eg o t i at i o n s were

i m p ro p er, (b ) wh o m ad e an y s uch s t at em en t s, ( c ) h o w t h e referen ces t o s u ch

s t at em en t s were im

p ro p e r

, o r (d ) wh at t h e leg al b as i s wo u l d h av e b een fo r an y

p o t en t i al o b

ject io n s t o s u ch referen ces d u ri n g h i s s en t en ci n g h eari n g

. He t h erefo re

9h as no t m et h i s b u rd en o f s h o wi n g t h at h is t ri al co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t

b y fai l i n g t o o b

ject t o an y s uch u n i d en t i fi ed referen ces

.

(6 ) Cu mu l a ti ve Pr ej u di ce. Becau s e W il l i am s h as fai l ed to es t ab l i s h at leas t t wo

i n s t an ces o f d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce, h is cu m u l at i v e p reju d i ce cl ai m fai l s

. See Fl o o d

,

3 1 1 Ga. at 8 0 8 -8 0 9 (2 ) (d ); La n e , 3 0 8 Ga. at 2 1 (4 ).

2

. Co mp et en cy Hea r i n g

. W i l l i am s arg u e s t h a t t h e t ri al co urt erred b y fai l i n g

t o h ol d a h eari n g o n h i s m en t al co m p et en cy an d d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n f o r a m en t al

ev al u at i on . W e fi n d n o m eri t i n h i s arg u m en t

.

M en t al co m

pet en cy i s p r e s u m ed

, s o ab s en t ev i d en ce of a

d efen d an t ’ s i n co m

pet en cy

, a t ri al co u rt n eed n o t co n d uct a co m p et en cy

h eari n g

. Bu t i f t h e co u rt h as s u ffi ci en t i n fo rm at i on at t he t i m e o f t ri al t o

rai s e a b o n a fi d e d ou b t a b o u t t h e d efen d an t ’ s ab i l i t y t o u nd ers t an d th e

p ro ceed i n g s

, ap p reci at e t h ei r s i g n i fi can ce, o r as si s t hi s lawy er i n

p res en t in g h i s d efen s e, t h e co u rt m u st co n d uct a co m

pet en cy h eari n g

. In

d et erm i ni n g wh et h er t h e t ri al co u rt v i o l at ed [a d efen d an t ] ’ s p ro ced u ral

d u e p ro ces s ri gh t s b y fai l i n g t o h o l d a co m p et en cy h ear i n g

, we m

u s t

fo cu s o n t h ree fact o rs : (1 ) ev i d en ce o f t h e d efe n d a nt ’ s i rrat i o nal

b eh av i o r; (2 ) th e d efen d an t ’ s d em e an or at tri al ; an d (3 ) p ri o r m ed i cal

o p i n i o n [s ] reg ard in g t h e d efen d an t ’ s co m p et en ce t o s tan d t ri al

. Su ch an

an al y s i s fo cu s es o n wh at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d i n l ig h t o f wh at i t k n ew at th e

t i m e o f t h e t ri al o r p l ea h eari n g

.

10Jo n es v. S ta t e

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 18 0

, 1 8 2 (2 ) (8 0 6 SE2 d 6 3 1 ) ( 2 0 1 7 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

Here, at t h e ti m e o f t h e m o ti o n

, t h ere was n ot h i ng b e f o r e t h e t ri al co u rt t h at

rai s ed a b o n a fi d e d o ub t ab o u t Wi l l i a m s ’s ab i l i t y t o u n d ers t an d t h e pro ceed i n g s

.

No t ab l y

, i n h i s wri t ten m ot i o n fo r a m en t al ev al u at i o n

, W i l li am s d i d n o t m ak e a s i n g l e

fact ual al l eg at i o n c a ll i n g i n t o q u es t i o n h i s co m p et en cy

. Du ri n g t h e J an u ary 2 0 1 8

m o ti o n s h eari ng

, W i l l iam s ’ s co u n sel s i m il arl y m ad e n o ar g u m e n t t h at reas o n ab l y

wo u l d cal l i n t o q u es t io n W i l l i am s ’ s co m p et en cy ; co un s el ’ s ex p l an at i o n o f th e b as i s

fo r h i s m o t i o n was l i m i t ed t o t h e fo l l o wi n g: “ I’ v e h ad s o m e co n cern s si n ce I’ v e

rep res en t ed t hi s y o u ng m an

. T h ey becam e m o re, m y co n cern s b ecam e m o re i n t en s e,

i f y ou w o u l d

, i n

, i n recen t week s i n p rep ari n g fo r t o d ay an d fo r t ri al an d al so t al k i n g

ag ai n wi t h m

y cl i en t an d al s o t h e, t he fam il y o f m y cl i en t

. . . .” Mo reo v er, d uri n g t h at

h eari n g

, th e t ri al co u rt en g ag ed i n an ex ten d ed co ll oq u y wi t h W i l l i am s

, i n wh i ch t h e

c o urt en s u red t h at W i l l i am s — wh o i s a h i g h s ch oo l g rad u at e

— w a s a b l e t o

co m m u n icat e w i t h h i s co u n s el an d u n d ers to o d t he ch arg es ag ai n s t h i m

, t h e ro l es o f

co u ns el an d t h e t ri al ju d g e

, t h e St at e’ s b urd en

, hi s ri g h t t o t es t i fy

, an d t h e

c o n s e q uen ces o f a g ui l t y v erd i ct

. Th e t ri al co u rt al s o en s ured t h at t h e St at e was

u n aware o f an y ev i d en ce t h at W i l l i am s “ m ay h av e b een

. . . o p erat i n g u n d er s o m e

11k i n d o f d el us i on o r co m p u l si o n o r th at he w as i n an y way u n ab l e to d i s t i n g ui s h ri g ht

fro m wro n g.”

In h i s m o t i on fo r a n ew t ri al an d ap p el lat e b ri ef, W i ll i am s ag ai n nei t h er al l eg ed

an y fact s n or i den t i fi ed an y reco rd ev i den ce th at wo u l d rai s e a b o na fi d e d o u b t as to

h i s ab i l it y t o u n d ers t an d an d m ean i n gfu l l y p art i ci p at e i n t he p ro ceed i n gs

. An d wh i l e

W i ll i am s cl ai m s t hat t he t ri al co u rt d i d no t “ p erm i t [ h i m ] t o p res en t h i s ev i d en ce an d

arg u m en t o n t h e m o t i o n,” h e d o es no t i d en t i fy wh at ev i d en ce o r arg u m en t h e wo u ld

h av e p res en t ed

, h ad h e b een ab le t o d o s o

. A b s en t su ch ev i d en ce, t h ere are n o g ro u nd s

t o cas t do u b t o n th e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i o n th at t h ere was i ns u ffi ci en t i n fo rm at i o n to

cal l i nt o q u es t i o n W i l l i am s ’ s co m p reh en s i o n o f an d ab i l i t y t o p art i ci p at e i n h i s t ri al

.

See Jo n es

, 3 43 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 8 2 -1 8 3 (2 ); cf. Ba ker v. S ta t e

, 2 5 0 Ga. 1 87

, 1 9 0 (1 ) (2 9 7

SE2 d 9 ) ( 1982) ( “ [ W ] h en ev id en ce was p res en t ed i n d i cat i n g i nco m p et en cy d u ri n g t h e

t ri al , t h ere was a du t y

o n t h e t ri al ju d g e t o i n qu i re i nt o t h e i s s u e o f co m p et en cy an d

h o l d a h eari n g o n th e i ss u e.”); Br o g d o n v. S t a t e

, 22 0 Ga. Ap p. 3 1

, 3 3 (1 ) (4 6 7 SE2 d

5 9 8 ) ( 1 9 9 6 ) (“ [u ] p on recei v i n g i n fo rm at io n wh i ch

, o bject i v el y co n s id ered

, s h o u ld

reas on ab l y rai s e a d ou b t ab o u t t h e d efen d a n t ’ s co m p et en ce,” a t ri al co u rt s h o u ld

co n du ct a p ro ceed i n g t o d et erm i n e w h et h er th e d efen d an t u n d ers t an d s t h e

p ro ceed in g s an d hi s p l ace t h e r e i n a n d can as s i s t i n hi s d efen s e). Co n s eq u en t l y

,

12W i ll i am s h as n o t s h o wn t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n den y i n g h i s m o t i o n fo r a m en t al

ev al u at i on

.

4

. Al t ho ug h n o t rai s ed b y ei t h er part y

, W i l l i am s ’ s wri t ten s en ten ce co n t ai n s a

s cri ven er’ s erro r. W h i l e Wi l l i am s was fo u n d g ui l t y b y a j u ry

, h is fi n al di s p o s i t i o n

fo rm erro n eo u sl y i n d i cat es t h at h e en t ered n on -n eg o t i at ed g u i l t y p l eas t o t h e t wo

o ffen s es o f wh i ch he was co n v i ct ed

. 1 “ [C] l eri cal m i s t a k e s i n ju d g m en t s m ay b e

co rrect ed b y t h e co u rt at an y ti m e o n i t s own in i t i at iv e.” Ba r tel v. S t a t e

, 2 0 2 Ga. Ap p.

4 5 8

, 4 60 (4 ) (4 1 4 SE2 d 6 8 9 ) (1 9 9 2 ); s ee al s o g en eral l y O CGA § 1 7 -1 -3

. Th e t ri al

co u rt t h erefo re i s i n s t ru ct ed t o co rrect t h i s cl eri cal erro r i n t he wri t ten s en t en ce u p o n

ret u rn o f t h e rem it t it u r. See Ba r t el , 2 0 2 Ga. Ap p. at 4 6 0 (4 ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed wi t h d i r ect i on . Di vi s i o n Per Cu r ia m. Al l Ju d

g es co n cu r

.

1 As d i s cu s s ed ab o v e, wh i l e W i l li am s i n i t i al l y p l ed gu i l t y i n Feb ru ary 2 0 1 8

, t h e

t ri al co u rt s u b s eq u en t l y

g ran t ed t h e St at e’ s m o t i o n t o s et as i d e t h o s e g u i l t y p l eas

.

13