I N TH E S UPR EM E C O U R T O F M I S S I S S I PPI N O. 2 0 0 6 - D R - 0 0 1 7 4 - S CT GARY CARL S

I M M ON S , J R.
v. S TATE O F M

I S S I S S I PPI
D AT E O F JU D G M E N T : 09/ 02/ 1997 TRI A L J U D G E: H O N
. BI LL J O N ES C O URT F RO M W HI C H AP P E

ALE D: JAC K S O N C O UN T Y C I RC UI T

C O URT ATT O R N E Y S FO R A PPE L L A N T : G

A R Y C A R L SI M M O N S, JR .- PR

O SE ATTO RN EY S F O R A

P P ELLEE: O F F I C E O F THE ATTO RN EY G EN ERAL B Y : M A R VI N L . W H I T

E , J R
. D I S TRI C T ATTO RN EY : D A LE H A RK EY N ATU RE O F THE C A S E: C I VI L - D EATH P EN A LTY - P O S TC O N VI C TI O N RELI EF D I S P O S I TI O N : LEA V E TO S EEK P O S T- C O N VI C TI O N RELI EF D E N I E D- 11/ 16/

2006 M O T I O N F O R R

E HE AR I N G F I L E D: M AN DAT

E I S S UE D:
E N B A NC . S M I TH , CH I EF

J US TI CE, F O R TH E CO UR T: ¶ 1
. O n O c to b e r

1 1 , 1 9 9 6 , G a

r y C a rl S i m m o n s , J r . , a n d T i m o t h y J o h n M i l a n o w e r e i n d i c te d f or t h e ca pi t al m u rder of J ef f er y Wol f e w hi l e en

g ag ed i n t h e com m i s s i on of a rob ber y . T h ey
w e r e a l s o c h a rg e d wi t h t h e ki dn a ppi n g a n d r a pe of C ha r l e ne L e a s e r . T h e i r t ri a l s w e r e s e v

e r e d; S i m m on s ’ s t ri al com m en ced A u g u s t 25 , 1 99 7, an

d t h e j u r y r e t ur n ed a g u i l t y v erdi ct on al l
cou n t s i n t h e i nd i c t m e nt f

o ur day s l ater . A s eparate s en

t en ci n g h ear i n g w as h el d o n t h e ca pi t al
m u rd e r c o n v i c ti o n , a n d th e ju ry u n a n i m o u s l y f o u n d th at S i m m o n s s h o u l d b e s e n te n c e d to d e ath
.2

¶2
. S i m m o n s a p p e a l e d t o t h i s C o u r t a n d r a i s e d t w e n

t y - s e v e n i s s u e s f o r c o n s i d e r ati o n . Th i s C ou r t a f f i r m ed S i m m on s ’ con v i ct i on s an d sen t en ces on D ece m ber 13 , 2 00 1, an

d d en i ed
r e h e a ri n g on Febr u a r y 7, 2002. S

im m o n sv

. S ta te , 8 0 5 S o . 2 d 4 5 2 (Mi ss . 2 0 0 1 ). S u bsequ en tl y , S i m m on s f i l ed a pet i ti on f or w ri t of cer t i o r a r i w i t h t

h e U n i t ed S t ates S u

pr em e C ou r t t hat w a s de n i e d on O c tobe r 7, 2002. Si m m ons v

. M i ss i ss i ppi , 5 3 7 U
. S
. 8 3 3 , 1 2 3 S
. C t. 142, 154 L . Ed. 2d 51 ( 2002)
. ¶ 3. S i m m on s r et u r n ed t o t h i s C ou r t an d f i l ed an a p p l i c a t i o n f

or po s t - con

v i ct i on r el i ef pr e s e n ti n g t e n gr o und s f

o r r e l i e f t h at t h i s c ou r t de n i e d on J a n u a r y 29, 2004. S

i m m on sv. S

t at e, 8 6 9 S o . 2 d

9 9 5 (M i s s . 2 0 0 4 ). T

h i s C o u rt d e n i e d re h e a ri n g o n A p ri l 2 2 , 2 0 0 4
. S immo n s a g a in f i l e d a pe ti ti on f or w ri t of c e r ti or a ri t o t h e U n i t e d St at e s Su

pr e m e C ou r t , w h i c h w a s de n i e d on N ov e m be r 1, 2004. Si m m ons v

. M i ss i ss i ppi , 543 U .S. 960, 125 S. C t . 436, 16 0 L
. E d
. 2d 325 ( 2004)
. ¶4
. O n

O c to b e r 1 5 , 2 0 0 4 , S i

m m o n s f i l e d a p e ti ti o n f o r w ri t o f h a b e a s c o rp u

s wi th th e U n i t e d St at e s D i

s t ri c t C ou r t f or t h e Sou t h e r n D i s t ri c t of M i s s i s s i ppi w h i c h w a s am e n de d on O c tobe r 17, 2004. Si m m ons v

. E pps , N o . 1 : 0 4
- C V
- 4 9 6 ( G u ) (S
. D
. M i s s . ). T h e S tate f i l e d i ts
an s w er on D ece m ber 22 , 2 00 4. S i

m m on s f i l e d a m em or an du m i n s u pp or t of h i s peti ti on an d t h e St ate f i l ed a m em or an du m s u pp or ti n g i t s an s w er on O ctob er 3, 20 0 5
. T he c a s e rem ai n s pe n di n g be f or e t h e U n i t e d St at e s D i

s t ri c t C ou r t f or t h e Sou t h e r n D i s t ri c t of M i s s i s s i ppi
. ¶5
. S i m m o n s h a s n o w f i l e d wi th th i s C o u rt a s e c o n d , s u c c e s s i v e a p p lic a t io n fo r p o s tc on v i c ti on r e l i e f u n de r M i s s C ode . A

n n . §§ 99- 39- 1 e t

s e q.3 A N A L Y S IS I . S I M M O N S ’ S M O TI O N I S B AR R ED ¶6. S i m m o n s’ s pet i ti o n i s barred u n d er Mi ss. C o d e A

n n . § 9 9
- 3 9
- 2 7 ( 9 ) w

h i ch r ead s i n p e rti n e n t p a rt: : T h e di s m i s s al or den i al of an appl i cat i on u n der t hi s s ect

i on i s a f i n al j u dg m en t an d sh al l be a bar

t o a se con

d o r s u cce s s i v e appl i cat i on un d e r t hi s ar

ti cl e. E x c e pt e d f r om t h i s pr oh i bi ti on i s a n a ppl i c ati on f i l e d p ur s u

a n t to Sec ti on 99- 19- 57 ( 2 ) , M i

s s i s s i pp i C od e of 19 72 , r ai

s i n g t h e i s s u e of t h e con v i ct ' s s u per v en i n g i n s a n i t y pri or t o t he e xe c ut i

on of a s e n t e n c e of de at h . A di s m i s s a l or de n i a l of a n a ppl i c ati on r e l ati n g t o i n s a n i t y u n de r S e c t i o n 99- 19- 57( 2) , M i s s i s s i ppi C ode of 1972, s h a l l be r e s j u

di c at a on t h e i s s u e a n d s h a l l l i k e w i s e b a r a ny s e c on

d or s u c c e s s i v e a ppl i c ati on s on t h e i s s u e . Li k e w i s ee x c e pt e d f r om t hi s pr ohibi t i on aret hos ec as e

s i n w hic h t hepr i

s one r c an de m ons t r

at e e i t h e r t hat t he rehas be e n an i

nt e r v e ni ng d e c i s i on of

t heSupre m eC our t of e i t he r t heSt at eof Miss i s s i p p i o r t h eU n it e d S t a t e s w h ic h w o u ld

h a v ea c t u a lly

a d v e r s e ly af f ec t e d t h e o u t com e of

hi s conv ict i on or s ent ence or t h at h e h a s e v i de n c e , n ot r e a s o n a b l y d i s c o v e ra b l e at th e ti m e o f tri a l , w h i c h i s o f s u c h n atu re th at it w o u ld be pr act i cal l y con cl u s i v e t h at h ad su ch been i n t rodu c ed at t ri al i t w ou l d h av e c a u s e d a d i f f e re n t re s u l t i n th e c o n v i c ti o n o r s e n te n c e . Li k e wi s e e x e m p te d a r e th o se c a se s i

n w h i c h th e p ri so n e r cl a i m s th at h i s s e n ten c e h a s e x p i redo r h i s probati on , pa r ol e or c on di ti on a l r e l e a s e h a s be e n u n l a w f u l l y r e v oke d. M i s s . C od e A

n n . § 99
- 39
- 27 ( 9) ( em

ph as i s added) . S i

m m on s pr ev i ou s l y pr es en t ed an appl i cat i on f or po s t - con v i ct i on r e l i e f to t h i s C ou r t t h at was den

i ed on J an u ar y 29 , 2 00 4 an

d t h e m oti on f or r e he a r ing w a s d e n

i e d on A pri l 22, 2004. S

im m o n sv

. S ta te , 869 So. 2d 996 (Mi ss . 2 0 0 4 ). T

h e ref o re, th i s m o ti o n i s b a rredb y Mi ss . C o d e A

n n . § 9 9
- 3 9
- 2 7 (9 ). ¶ 7. S i m m on s con t en ds t h at he e s c a p e s t hi s bar becau s e h e bel i ev es t h ere h as been an i n te rv e n i n g d e c i s i o n b y th i s C o u rt th at wo u l d h av e a d v e r s e l

y a f f e c te d th e o u tc o m e o f th e
s e n t e n c i n g ph a s e of h i s t ri a l , t h u s a l l owi n g h i m to proc e e d u

n de r M i s s . C ode A

n n . § 99- 39- 27( 9) . Si

m m on s r e l i e s on a s i n g l e s e n t e n c e f rom t h e w i t h dr a w n opi n i on i n R u ben s t ei n v.4

S ta te , t o t

h e ef f ect t h at t h e M i s s i s s i p p i R u l es of E v i den ce do n ot appl y to sen t en ci n g proc e e di n gs . Si m m on s a rg u e s t h i s w a s t h e f i r s t ti m e t h i s C ou r t h a s h e l d t h at t h e r u l e s of
ev i den ce do n ot appl y to t h e s en t en ci n g ph as e of a deat h pen al t y t ri al
. ¶ 8
. S i m m o n s c o n t e n d s t h i s f o r c e s t h e C o u r t to v a c ate h i s d e at h s e n t e n c e b e c a u se t h i s C o u rt det er m i n ed t h at a s e l f
- s er v i n g v i deo m ade by S i m m on s af t er t h e m u rder w as i r r el ev an t an d i n a dm i s s i bl e h e a r s a y du ri n g t h e s e n t e n c i n g p ha s e o f

h i s t ri a l
. S im m o n sv

. S ta te , 805 So. 2d 4 5 2 , 4 8 8 (¶ 9 3 ) (M is s . 2 0 0 1 ). T h i s i s s o m e w h at stra n g e g i v e n h o w h a rd S i m m o n s w o rk e d to ke e p t h e v i de ot a pe f r om be i n g i n t r o du c e d i n to e v i de n c e du ri n g t h e t ri a l ph a s e be c a u s e of h i s
s u ppos e d a dm

i s s i on s t h e r e i n . Id . at ¶ 94. Si m m on s a rg u e d on dir e c t a p p e a l

t h at “ t h e de n i a l of t h e v i de ot a pe a s m i ti g a ti on e vi d e nc e p r e v

e n t e d h i m f rom de m on s t r ati n g to t h e j u r y r e m or s e .” Id . at ¶ 95. T h i s C ou r t f ou n d i n t h at a ppe a l t h at t he t a p e w o ul d h

av e a l l ow e d Si m m on s to “ e ndru n th e h e a rs a y p ro h i b i ti o n ” s i n c e h e w a s p re s e n

t d u ri n g th e tri a l a n d e l e c te d n o t to te s ti f y ; th e t ap e w o u l d h av e at m o st b o l ster ed h i s test i m o n y i f h e h ad t est i f i ed , o r p r o h i b i t ed cr o sse x am i n ati o n i f he ha d n

ot . Id . at

¶ 93 . T h i s C ou r t al s o p oi n t ed ou t t h at s u ch ev i den ce was
c or r e c tl y pr e s e n t e d t h r ou g h t h e t e s ti m on y of Si m m on s ’ s f ri e n d, D e n n i s G u e s s . Id . at ¶ 97. ¶ 9. S im

m o ns a rg

u e s i n c or r e c tl y t h at t h i s C ou r t h a s n e v e r be f or e h e l d t h at t h e r u l e s of
e v i d e n c e d o n o t a p p ly to th e s e n te n c i n g p h a s e o f a d e ath p e n a l ty c a s e . H o w e v

e r, th i s C o u rt i n R a n d a ll v . S ta te ,806 So. 2d. 185, 231- 32 ( M i s s . 2001) , h

a s pr e v i ou s l y h e l d:
e v e n i f w e f i n d th at t h e d e tai l s o f [t h e d e f e n d a n t’ s] p ri o r co n v i c ti o n a re appr op ri ate, t h at M i s s . R . E v i d. 40 3 st i l l r equ i r e d t h ei r ex cl u s i on . H ow ev

er , as t h e St ate ar g u es , R u l e s 101 and 1101( b) ( 3) s t at et hat t heR ul

e s of E v i de nc edo not appl y t o s e nt e nc i

ng he ar i ngs . T h u s , th i s a rg u m e n t i s a l s o wi th o u t m e ri t.5

( e m ph a s i s a dde d) . Pr oc e du

r a l ba r n ot wi t h s t a n ding, a l t e r n ati v e l y , w e c on

s i de r t h e m e ri t s of S i m m o n s ’s a r g u me n t . W e f

i n d th at R ubens t e i n a

n d R a n d a ll w e r e av a i l a bl e to Si m m on s f or
a su p p l e m e n tal b ri e f , f o r a re h e a ri n g m o t io n a fte r t

h e d i rec t ap p e a l

d e c i si o n , a n d f o r h i s
or i g i n al po s t - con v i ct i on appl i cat i on . T h eref or e, w e h

ol d t h at R u b e n s te in i

s no t a n i nt e r ve ni ng de c i s i on u n de r M i s s . C ode . A

n n . § 99- 3 9
- 27( 9)
. See Ni x o n v . S ta te , 6 4 1 S o . 2 d

7 5 1 ( Mi ss. 1 9 9 4 ) (i n terp reti n g th e i n terv e n i n g d e c i si o n s e x e m p ti o n ). I I . S I M M O NS W

RO NG LY P LA C E S F A I T H I N R U B E N S T E IN ¶ 10
. S i m m on s ’ s r e l i a nc e u

po n a s i n g l e s en t en ce i n t h e ori g i n al R u b e n s te in op i

n i on t h at w as
n o t re l e a se d f o r p u b l i c at io na n d w a s s ti l l su b jec t t o rev i si o n o r w i th draw a l i s i m p ro p e r. R u b e n s t e i n f i l e d a m o ti o n f o r r e h e a ri n g o n J a n u a r y 2 0 , 2 0 0 6 , w

h i c h t h i s C o u r t g r a n t e d
. On A u g u s t 10 , 2 006, t

h i s C ou r t wi t h dr e w t h e ori g i n a l opi n i on c i t e d by Si m m on s a n d r e pl a c e d i t
wi t h on e t h at doe s n ot c on t a i n t h e s e nt e nc e u

pon w h i c h Si m m on s r e l i e s . R u b e n s te in v

. S ta te , 2006 M i s s . L e x i s 411 ( M i

s s . A ug. 10, 2006) . Si m m on s c a n n ot n ot r e c e i v e pos t - c on

v i c ti on
r e l i e f ba s e d t h e wi t h dr a w n opi n i on i n R u b e n s te in
. C ON C L U S I ON ¶ 11
. S i m m o ns en ti r el y r el i es on on e s en t en ce i n t h e ori g i n al R u b e n s te in o p i

ni o n w hi c h w a s
wi t h dr a w n . T h e opi n i on w h i c h r e pl a c e d i t doe s n ot c on t a i n t h e l a n g u a g e u po n w h i c h Si m m on s
r e l i e s . R u b e n s te in v . S ta te , 2 0 0 6 M i s s . L e x i s 4 1 1 (M i

s s . A u g . 1 0 , 2 0 0 6 ). F u

rth e rm o re , th e
s u c c e s s i v e p e ti ti o n b a r i n M i s s . C o d e A

n n . § 9 9
- 3 9
- 2 7 (9 ) p r e v e n t s S i m m o n s f ro m ra i s i n g th i s
m oti on f o r po s t - con

v i ct i on r el i ef . S i m m on s at t em pt s to el u de t h e bar u n der t h e i n t er v en i n g6

de c i s i on e x c e pti on i n M i s s . C od e A nn. § 9 9
- 39- 27( 9) , bu t t h e l a n g u a g e Si m m on s r e l i e s u pon i n R u b e n s te in w as al

r eady av ai l abl e i n R a n d a ll v . S ta te , 8 0 6 S o . 2 d

1 8 5 , 2 3 1
- 3 2 (

¶13 1 ) ( Mi

ss. 2 0 0 1 ), a n d S i m m o n s s i m p l y n e g l e c te d to u s e i t. ¶ 12
. T h eref or e, w e den

y S i m m on s l eav e to see k p ost - con

v i ct i on r el i ef
. ¶ 13. L E A

V ET O S E E K

P E T I T I O N F O R P O S T -C O NV I C T I O N RE L I E F

DE NI E D. W A L L E R A ND C O B B , P . J J . , DI A Z , E A S L E Y

, C A RL S O N , DI C K

I NS O N A

ND RA NDO L PH , J J . , C O NC U

R. GR AVES , J . , CO N CUR S I N R ES ULT O N LY .