FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, RI C KM A N, P. J.

, and BROWN, J.

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

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

M ar ch 8, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A2 05 4 . HARRIS v . THE STATE.

B R O W N , J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g a b en c h t ri al

, Dway n e An t h o n y H arri s

, J r. was co nv i ct ed o f t h ree

co u nt s of ag grav at ed as s au l t an d a s i n g l e co un t each o f cri m i n al at t em p t t o co m m i t

arm ed ro bb ery

, p o s ses s i on o f a fi rearm d u ri ng th e co m m i s s io n o f a fel o n y

, p o s s es s i o n

o f a fi rearm b y a fi rs t o ffen d er p r o b a t i o n er, an d p o s s es s i o n o f m et h am p het am i ne.

Harri s n o w ap p eal s fro m t h e d en i al o f h i s am en d ed m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, arg u i n g t h at

t ri al co u ns el ’ s d eci s i o n t o co nced e Harri s ’ g u i l t o n t h e ch arg e of p o s ses s i o n o f

m et h am p h et am i ne co n s ti t u t ed a s t ru ct ural erro r, req u i ri n g Harri s t o recei v e a n ew

t ri al

. He al s o as sert s i n effect i v e as si s t an ce o f co u n s el b as ed o n co u ns el ’ s d eci s i o n to

co n ced e g u i l t o n t h e m et h am p het am i n e ch arg e an d co u n sel ’ s m i s u n d ers t an di n g o f t h em en s rea el em en t o f p o ss es s i o n o f a co n tro l led s u b s t an ce. Fo r reas o n s ex p l ai n ed m o re

fu l l y b el o w, we fi n d n o erro r an d affi rm

.

On ap p eal fro m a ben ch tri al

, t h e d efen d an t i s n o l o n g er e n t it l ed t o a

p res u m p t i o n o f i n n o cen ce, an d we t h erefo re “ v i e w t h e ev i d en ce in fav o r o f t h e

fact fi n d er’ s co n cl u s i o n

, g i v i n g d u e reg ard t o th e t ri al co urt ’ s o p p ort u n i t y t o ju d g e

wi t n es s cred i b il i t y .” (Ci t at i on an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed

. ) M osby v

. S t a t e

, 3 5 3 Ga. Ap p.

7 4 4

, 7 4 5 (8 3 9 S E 2 d 2 3 7 ) (2 02 0 ). So v i ewed

, t h e ev i d en ce s ho ws t h at i n t h e earl y

m o rn i n g h o u rs o f J u n e 2 8

, 2 0 1 8

, a fem al e an d t wo m al es were ret u rn i ng t o t h e

fem al e’ s ap art m en t aft er p i ck in g u p fo o d at Hu d d l e Ho u s e. As t h e t ri o ap pro ach ed t h e

ap art m en t

, t h ey w ere co n fro n t ed b y a m an d res s ed i n b l ack

, weari n g a s carf co v eri n g

h i s face an d wi el d i n g a gu n

. Th e m an p o i n ted t h e g un at t h em an d d em an d ed

, “ g i v e

m e ev ery t h i n g y o u g o t .” W hen t h e m en res po n d ed t h at th ey di d n o t h av e an y t h i n g to

g i v e h i m

, t h e g u n m an co ck ed t he g u n an d wav ed t he gu n in t hei r faces

, an d a s cu ffl e

b et ween t h e gu n m an an d o n e o f t h e m al es en s u ed

. Th e g u nm an s tru ck th e m al e i n t h e

h ead wi t h t h e g u n, t h e g u n d i s ch arg ed

, an d t h e g u n m an fl ed t h e s c e n e

. T h e m al e

s t ru ck o n t h e h ead s u s t ai n ed a b l eed i n g h ead wo un d t h at req u i red t reat m en t at a l o cal

h o s p it al

.

2Fo l l owi n g th e m al e’ s rel eas e fro m t h e h o s p i t al

, h e an d t h e fem al e v i ct i m wen t

t o t h e po l i ce s t at io n t o g i v e s t at em en t s

, d u ri ng w h i ch t h e fem al e t o l d p o l i ce s h e

reco g n ized t h e g u n m an as a m an n am ed “ Bl o ck .” 1 So m et i m e aft er t h ey left t he p o l i ce

s t at i o n

, d i s p at ch recei v e d a rep o rt o f an i n ci d en t in v o l v i n g on e p ers o n t h reat en i n g

a n o t h e r wi t h a g u n an d a car s i m il ar t o t he m al e v i ct i m ’ s

. Feari n g t h e m al e v i ct i m

m i g h t b e co n fro n ti n g h i s as s ai l an t , t h e i n v es t ig at i n g o ffi cer res p o n d ed t o th e s cen e,

wh ere h e fo un d t h e v i c t i m

, w h o ack n o wl ed g ed h e h ad b een l oo k i n g fo r Bl o ck

. He

al s o t ol d t h e offi cer h e h ad fo u nd an d co n fro n t ed Bl o ck

, b u t Bl o ck fl ed t he s cen e in

h i s t ru ck

, wh i ch t h e v i ct i m d es cri b ed to t h e o ffi cer. T h e o ffi cer s h o wed t h e v i ct i m a

p i ct u re o f Harri s t h at h ad b een p o s t ed o n Faceb o o k

, an d t h e m a l e vi ct i m i d en t i fi ed

Harri s as t h e m an h e k n ew as Bl o ck

.

Bas ed o n th e i n fo rm at i o n p ro v i d ed b y t h e m al e vi ct im

, l aw en fo rcem en t

can v as sed th e area an d l o cat ed Harri s as l eep in h i s t ru ck

. Aft er p l aci n g Harri s u n d er

arres t

, p o l i ce i m

p o un d ed h i s t ru ck an d o b t ai n ed a s earch warran t fo r t h e v e h i c l e.

Du ri n g t h e ex ecu t i on o f t h e w arran t

, p o l i ce fo u n d cl o t h in g

, i n cl u d i n g a b l ack s h i rt

,

a red b an dan a, an d a g u n h o l s t er b u t n o g u n

. Ad d it i on al l y

, o n t he fl o or m at n ex t t o t h e

1 Th e m al e v ict im ad m i t t ed d u ri n g t ri al t h at h e di d no t t el l p o li ce wh en i n i t i al l y

i n t erv i ewed t h at h e k n ew t h e as s ai l an t as “ Bl o ck ” b ecau s e he “ w as g o i n g to t ak e t h e

m at t er i n [t o h i s] o wn h an d s

. ”

3d ri v er’ s s eat

, p o li ce fo u n d a s m al l p l as t i c b ag co n t ai n in g a s u b s t an ce t h at res em b l ed

m et h am p h et am i ne. Tes t s of t h e s u b s t an ce p erfo rm ed at t he s t at e cri m e l a b s h o wed

t h at t h e p l as t i c bag co n t ai n ed l es s t h an a g ram of m et h am p h et am i n e. W h en

i n t erv i ewed b y p o l ice, Harri s ad m i t t ed t h at he s om et i m es wen t b y t h e n am e Bl o ck

,

b u t h e d en ied an y

i n vo l v em en t i n t h e i n ci d en t

.

Bas ed o n t h e fo reg oi ng ev i den ce, Harri s was i n d i ct ed fo r t h e cri m es at i s s ue.

Ag ai n s t th e ad v i ce o f co u n s el

, Harri s wai v ed hi s ri g h t t o a ju r y t r i a l

, a n d t h e cas e

p ro ceed ed t o a b en ch t ri al

. Im m ed i at el y befo re t ri al

, H arri s d ecl i n ed a p l ea o ffer t h at

wo u l d h av e req u i red h im to p l ead g u i lt y t o a s i n g l e co u n t o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, t h e

ch arg es rel at ed t o p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm

, an d p os s es s i o n o f m et h am p h et am i n e, in

ex ch an g e fo r a t en -y ear s en t en ce, wi t h t wo y ears t o b e s erv ed i n in carcerat i o n

. Tri al

co u ns el l at er t es ti fi ed at t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g t h at wh en h e co m m u n i cat ed

t h e St at e’ s o ffer t o h i m

, Harri s “ was ad am an t t h at h e co u l d n ’ t t ak e i t becau s e h e

co u ld n ’ t co m e o u t h ere an d ad m i t t o s o m et h i n g h e d i d n o t d o.”

At t ri al

, t h e fem al e v i ct i m t es t i fi ed t hat at t h e t i m e o f t he i n ci d en t

, s h e was

fam i l i ar wi t h a m an s h e k n ew as “ Bl o ck ” b ecau s e h e was an as so ci at e o f t h e i n ju red

m al e v i ct im

. Sh e fu rt h er ex p l ai n ed t h at d u ri n g t h e s cu ffl e, the g u n m an ’ s face co v eri n g

4fel l o ff, an d sh e reco gn ized hi m as Bl o ck

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, s h e i d en t i fi ed Harri s i n co u rt

as t h e as s ai l an t

.

Th e i n ju red m al e v i ct i m tes t i fi ed t h at h e an d Harri s were fri en d s an d saw each

o t h er “ al l t h e t i m e.” An d th e s eco nd ti m e t h e g u n m a n s p ok e t o h i m

, t h e v i ct i m

reco g n ized t h e v o i ce as b el o n g i n g t o H arri s

. He al s o id en t i fi ed H arri s i n co u rt as t h e

m an wh o as s au lt ed an d at t em p t ed t o ro b h i m

.

Harri s t es ti fi ed in h i s o wn d efen s e an d ack n o wl ed g ed t h at s o m e peo p l e k n ew

h i m as Bl o ck

. Harri s al s o ad m it t ed t h at h e h ad i n t h e p as t p urch as ed d ru gs fro m t h e

i n ju red m al e v i ct i m

, b ut h e d en i ed ev er p u rch as i n g m e t h a m p het am i n e fro m t h e

v i c t i m

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, Harri s den i ed an y i n vo l v em en t i n t h e as s au l t an d at t em p t e d

arm ed ro b b ery

. Harri s al s o d en i ed p o s s es s i ng an y t y p e o f h an dg u n an d cl ai m ed t h at

o n t h e n i g h t in qu es t io n

, h e h ad b een at t h e res i d en ce wh ere t h e m al e v i ct i m

at t em p t ed t o co n fro n t h i m

t he fo l l o wi n g d ay

.

Acco rd i ng t o Harri s, at t h e t i m e o f t h e i n ci d en t, h e was w ork i n g a s a p ai d

i n fo rm an t fo r th e M o n ro e Po l i ce Dep art m en t

, an d t h e i nju red m al e v i ct i m

, t he fem al e

v i ct i m

, an d t h e fem al e v i ct i m ’ s b ro t h er al l s o ld d ru g s

. Th u s

, H arri s t h eo ri zed t h at t h e

v i ct i m s learn ed t h e p ol i ce h ad as k ed Harri s t o b u y d ru g s fro m t h e m al e v i ct im an d h i s

as s o ci at es as p art o f a s t i n g o p erat i o n

. Harri s fu rt h er s pecu l at ed t h at aft er l earn i n g o f

5t h e p l an n ed s t i n g

, t he vi ct i m s fal s el y accu s ed h i m o f t h e at t em p t ed ro b b ery

, as s au l t

,

an d rel at ed cri m es

.

Harri s d en i ed o wn ers h i p o f t h e cl ot h in g fo u n d i n t h e tru ck an d t h e g u n h o l s t er,

ex p lai n i n g t h at t he ho l s t er was i n t h e t ru ck at t h e t i m e he an d h i s fat h er p u rch as ed t h e

v eh icl e. 2 Ad d i t i o n al l y

, Harri s d en i ed an y k n o wl ed g e o f t h e m et h am p h et am i n e fo u n d

i n t h e t ru ck

, st at i n g t hat if t he s ub s tan ce at is su e was m et h am p h et am i n e, i t b el o n g ed

t o s o m eo n e o t h er t h an h i m

. Harri s o p i ned th at t h e m et ham p h et am i n e c o u l d h av e

fal l en o u t as s o m e un i d en t ifi ed p ers o n ex i t ed th e t r u c k

, b u t “ s i n ce [h e] was i n t h e

t ru ck , [h e] was g o i n g t o t ak e res p on s i b i l i t y fo r i t .”

Du ri n g cl o si n g arg um en t

, d efen s e co u n sel arg u ed th at t h e St at e h ad fai l ed to

p ro v e bey o n d a reas o nab l e d o ub t an y cri m e o t h er t han p o ss es s i o n o f

m et h am p h et am i ne. W i t h res p ect t o t h e cri m e o f p o ss es s i o n

, t ri al co u ns e l c o n ced ed

Harri s ’ g u i l t

, ack n o wl ed g i n g t h at t h e m et h am p h et am i n e was fo u n d i n a t ru ck o v er

wh i ch Harri s h ad s o l e co n t ro l

.

2 Harri s co n fi rm ed d u ri n g h is t es t i m o n y t h at t he t ru ck b el o ng s t o h i s fat h er.

6Fo l l o w i n g cl os i ng arg u m en t s

, t h e j u d ge fo un d Harri s g u i l ty o f each o f t h e

ch arg ed cri m es 3 an d g av e a d et ai l ed ex p l an at io n o f t h e ev i d en ce o n wh i ch t h e co u rt

b as ed i t s v erd i ct

. W i t h res p ect t o t h e ch arg e o f p o s s es s i o n

, t h e t ri al co u rt s t at ed :

[T] h e d efen d an t an d ev ery b o d y ack n o wl ed g es an d I’ m s o fi n d i n g t hat

[Harri s is ] cl earl y g u i lt y of p o s s es s i o n of m et h am ph et am i n e

. . . . I m ean

,

[t he m et h am

ph et am i n e] was at h i s f

e e t wh en [p o l i ce] d ro ve u p [t o h i s

t r uck ]

. [Harri s ] g o t o u t o f t h e t ru ck

, an d [t h e m et ham ph et am i n e] w as

fo u n d [o n ] t h e d ri v er’ s s i d e i n t he fl oo rb o ard [an d i s] cl earl y v i s i b l e i n

t h e p h o t og rap h s [t ak en at t h e s cen e an d i n t ro d u ced i n t o ev i d en ce]

.

Th e co u rt s en t en ced Harri s t o 3 0 y ears

, wi t h 1 0 y ears t o b e s erv ed i n co n fi n em en t an d

t h e b al an ce o n pro b at i o n

. Harri s t h en ret ai n ed n ew co u n s el an d fi led a m o t i o n fo r n ew

t ri al

.

At t h e h eari n g on t h at m o t i o n

, t ri al co un s el t es t i fi ed t h at b y t h e t im e of cl o s i n g

arg u m en t s

, h e f

e l t t hat t h e t ri al h ad n ot g o n e wel l

. He ex p l ai ned t h at n ei t h er h e n o r

t h e St at e h ad an t i ci p at ed t he i n ju red m al e v i ct im ap p eari n g t o t es ti fy as he h ad b een

“ i g no ri ng t h e s u b p oen a[s ] .” An d

, t ri al co u n s el had no t an t ici p at ed Harri s tes t i fy i n g

an d t ri ed t o d is s u ad e h i s cl i en t fro m d o i n g so

. Tri al co u n s el fu rt her s t at ed t h at h e was

3 Th e co u rt m erg ed t w o co u n t s o f ag grav at ed as s au l t wi t h t h e c o u n t o f

at t em p t ed arm ed ro b b ery

fo r s en t en ci ng p u rp o s es

.

7n o t p art ic u l a r l y co n cern ed ab ou t t he m et h am p h et am in e ch arg e becau s e i t carri ed a

m ax i m u m pen al ty o f t h ree y ears

, an d h e b el i e v e d t h a t an y s en t en ce o n th at ch arg e

wo u l d b e p ro b at ed

. 4 In s t ea d

, t h e a t t o rn ey was fo cu sed o n d efen d in g ag ai n st t h e s ix

rem ai n i n g ch arg es

, at l eas t fo u r o f wh i ch were v io l en t f e l o ni es

. M o reo ver, co u n s el

was aware t h at t h e m et h am ph et am i n e ch arg e was u n rel at e d i n an y w ay t o t h e m o re

s eri ou s ch arg es a t i s s u e

. Gi v en t h es e fact s

, an d g i v en t h e St at e’ s ev i den ce o n

p o s s es s i o n o f m et h am

p h et am i n e, t ri al co u n s el d eci d ed t h at t he b e s t ch an ce o f

m i n i m i zi n g Harri s’ p ri s o n t i m e was t o co n ced e g u i l t on th e d ru g ch arg e an d arg u e fo r

acq u it t al o r m ercy o n t h e rem ai n i n g ch arg es

.

Tri al co un s el ad m i t t ed t h at h e d i d n o t d i s cu s s h is d eci si o n t o co nced e g u i l t o n

t h e ch arg e o f p o s ses s i on wi t h H arri s

, ex p l ai n i n g h e m ad e t h e d eci si o n “ o n t h e fl y ,”

aft er h e g o t u p an d s t art ed hi s cl o s i n g

. Co u n sel ack n o wl ed g ed t h at at t h e t im e o f t ri al

,

h e d i d n o t u n d ers t an d t h at t h e St at e was req u i red to p ro v e n o t o n l y t h at Harri s

p o s s es s ed t h e m et ham

p h et am i n e, b u t al s o t h at Harri s k n ew t h e s u b s t an ce i n q u es t i o n

was m et ham

p h et am i n e. E v en kn o wi n g t h at th e St at e was req u i red t o p ro v e Harri s was

aware t h at t h e s u b s tan ce i n h i s t ru ck was m et h am p h et am i n e, h o w ev er, t ri al co u n s el

4 Th e reco rd sh o w s t hat t h e t ri al co u rt d i d

, i n fact

, p ro b at e Harri s’ s en t en ce fo r

p o s s es s i o n o f m et h am

p h et am i n e.

8s t il l fel t t h at co n ced i n g g u i l t on t h e m et h am p het am i n e ch arg e p res en t ed t h e b es t

p o s s i b i l i ty fo r l es s en i n g Harri s ’ t i m e i n p ri s o n. Sp eci fi cal l y

, t ri al co u n s el p o i n t ed to

t h e ev i d en ce rel at ed t o t he p o s s es s i o n ch arg e, wh i ch s h o wed th e m et h am p h et am i n e

was fo u nd i n p l ai n v iew i n a v eh i c l e wh ere Harri s was th e so l e o ccu p an t

. Co u n s el

fu rt her n o t ed t h at t here was n o e v i d e n c e t h at an y on e el s e had eq u al acces s t o t h e

t ru ck

. In l i g h t o f t h es e fact s

, t h e at t o rn ey fel t th at m ak i n g th e co n ces s i o n wo u l d h av e

i n creas ed h i s cre d i b i l i t y w i t h t h e co u rt as h e arg u ed fo r acq u i t t al o r m ercy o n t h e

rem ai n i n g ch arg es

. Co u n s el ex p l ai ned th at h i s d eci s io n t o co n ced e g u i lt o n t h i s o n e

ch arg e w as a ju dg m en t cal l

, b a s e d o n t h e e v i d en ce p res en t ed at t ri al an d o n h i s 2 3

y ears o f ex p eri en ce p ract i ci n g l aw i n t h e ci rcu it wh ere t h e t ri al was h el d

.

Harri s t es t i fi ed at t h e n ew t ri al h ear i n g a n d s t at ed t h at t ri al co u n s el n ev er

i n fo rm ed h i m o f t h e pl an t o co n ced e g u i lt o n t h e m et h am ph et am i n e ch arg e an d t h at

Harri s n ev er g av e tri al co u n sel p erm i s s i o n t o co n ced e g u i l t o n th at ch arg e. Harri s

fu rt her s t at ed t h at wh en h e h eard h i s at t o rn ey ’ s cl o si ng arg u m en t

, “ [i ] t was l i k e a s l ap

i n t h e face,” an d i t fel t l i k e t ri al co u n sel was t h ro wi n g h i m “ u n d er t h e b u s ” an d

“ wo rk in g wi t h t h e DA.” Fo l lo wi n g t h e heari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered an o rd er

d en y i n g t h e m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al , as am en d ed . Harri s n o w ap p eal s fro m t h at o rd er.

91

. Rel y i n g o n t h e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt ’s d eci s i o n i n McCo y v.

Lo u i si a n a

, _

_ _ U. S. _

_ _ (1 3 8 SCt 1 5 0 0

, 2 0 0 LE2 d 82 1 ) (2 0 1 8), Harri s as s ert s t h at

t ri al co u n s el ’ s un i l at eral d eci s i o n t o co n ced e Harri s’ g u i lt o n th e m et h am p h et am i n e

ch arg e d u ri n g cl o s i n g arg u m en t v i o l at ed h is Si x t h Am en d m en t ri g ht t o co n d u ct h i s

d efen s e an d au to m at i cal l y en t i t l es h i m to a n ew t ri al

. W e d i s ag ree

, fi n d i n g t h at

Harri s ’ arg u m en t i s b as ed o n t o o b ro ad a read in g o f McCo y

.

In McCo y

, t h e Su p rem e Co urt h el d t h at it i s u n co n s t i t ut i o nal an d a s t ru ct u ral

erro r, req u iri ng n o s h o wi n g o f p reju d ice, f o r d e f e n s e co u n s el t o co n ced e g u i l t o v er

a d efen dan t’ s “ i n t ran s i g en t an d u n am b i g uo u s ob

ject io n ” t o d o i n g s o

. 1 3 8 SCt at 1 5 0 7

(I), 1 5 1 1 (III). Th e cas e i nv o l v ed a d efen d an t ch arg ed wi th th e fi rs t -d eg ree m u rd er o f

h i s es tran g ed wi f

e ’s rel at i v es

. Id

. at 1 5 0 5 -1 5 0 6 (I). Tri al co u n s el b el i ev ed t h at t h e

ev i d en ce ag ai n s t h i s cl i en t was s o o v erwh el m i n g t h at ab s en t a co n ces s i o n at t h e g u i l t

p h as e of t ri al t h at t h e d efen d an t was t h e k il ler, a d eat h s en t en ce wo u ld b e im p o s s i b l e

t o av o id at t h e p en al t y p h as e. Id

. at 1 5 0 6 (I). Wh e n i n f o r m ed o f co u n sel ’ s s t rat eg y

,

t h e d efen d an t ex p l ici tl y in s tru ct ed co u n s el n o t t o m ak e th at co n ces si on

, an d i n s t ead

i n s i s ted t h at co u n sel s eek an acq u i t t al

. Id

. Bas ed o n h i s d is sat i s fact i o n wi th co u n sel ’ s

s t rat eg y

, t h e d efen d an t al s o s o ug h t t o t erm in at e h i s rep res en t at i on

, b u t t h e t ri al co u rt

d en ied t h e req u es t . Id

.

10W h en t ri al co un s el d uri n g h i s o p en i n g s t at em en t t o l d t h e ju ry t h at

, aft er h eari n g

t h e St at e’ s ev i d en ce, “ t here was ‘ n o way reas on ab l y p os s i b l e’ ” t h at i t co u l d reach an y

co n cl u s i o n o t h er t h an t h at th e d efen d an t had cau s ed t h e vi ct im s ’ d eat h s

, t h e d efen d an t

i m m ed i at el y p ro t es t ed

, co m p l ai n i ng t o t h e t ri al co u rt o u t s i de t h e ju ry ’ s p res en ce.

McCo y

, 1 3 8 SCt at 15 0 6 (I). Th e d efen d an t s u b s eq u en tl y t es t i fi ed i n h i s o wn d efen s e,

as s ert i n g h i s i n n o c e n c e a n d rel y i n g o n an al i b i d efen s e t hat t h e Su p rem e Co u rt

d es cri b ed as “ d i f

f i c u l t t o fat h o m

. ” Id

. at 1 5 0 7 (I). Co u n s el ag ai n co n ced ed t h e

d efen d an t ’ s g u i l t du ri n g h i s cl o s i n g arg u m en t

, an d t h e ju ry ret u rn ed a g u i l ty v erd i ct

o n al l t h ree co un t s o f fi rs t -d eg ree m u rd er. Id

.

Th e Su p rem e Co u rt u l t i m at el y co n cl u ded t h at t he d efen d an t was en t i t l ed t o a

n ew t ri al

, reas o n i ng th at am o n g t h e ri gh t s g u aran t eed t o a d e f en dan t b y t h e Si x th

Am en d m e n t i s th e “ [a] u t o n om y t o deci d e

. . . t h e o b ject i v e o f [h i s ] d efen s e,”

i n cl u d i n g wh et h er t h e o bject i v e o f t h at d efen s e i s t o m ai n t ai n a n a s s e r t i o n o f

i n n o cen ce ev en i n t he face o f o v erwh el m i n g ev i den ce. 5 McCo y

, 1 3 8 SCt at 1 5 0 8 (II)

5 Th e Co u rt eq u at ed t hi s “ ri g h t t o au t o no m y ” w i t h a d efen dan t ’ s ri g h t t o d eci d e

“ wh et h er t o p l ead gu il t y

, wai v e t h e ri gh t t o a j u ry t ri al

, t e s t i f y i n o n e’ s o w n b eh al f,

an d fo rg o an ap p eal .” 1 3 8 SCt at 1 5 0 8 (II) (A), ci t in g Jo n es v. Ba r n es

, 4 63 U

. S. 7 4 5,

7 5 1 (II) (1 0 3 SCt 3 3 08 , 7 7 LE2 d 9 8 7 ) (1 98 3 ).

11(A). An d

, t h e v i o l at i on o f a d efen d an t ’ s ri g h t t o m a k e s u c h a c h o i ce co ns t i t u t es a

s t ru ct u ral erro r n ot s ub

ject t o h arm l es s -erro r rev iew. 6 Id . at 1 5 1 1 (III).

Harri s co n t en d s t hat h i s at t o rn ey ’ s u n il at eral d eci s i o n t o co n ced e gu i l t o n t h e

m et h am p h et am i ne ch arg e aft er Harri s p lead ed n o t g ui l t y t o th e ch arg es an d “ o ffered

e xc ulpa tor y te stim o n y ” u n lawfu l l y u su rp ed h i s Si x t h Am en d m en t au t o nom y to de c ide

t h e g o al s o f hi s d efen s e. W e d is ag ree. Fi rs t, n ot h in g i n th e Co u rt ’ s h o l d i n g req u i res

co u ns el t o ob t ai n t h e ex p res s co n s en t o f a d efen d an t p ri o r t o co n ced i n g g u i l t

. In d eed

,

t h e Co u rt n ot ed th at i t s h o l d in g i n McCo y i s en t i rel y co n s i s t en t wi t h Fl o r i d a v. Ni xo n

,

5 4 3 U. S. 1 7 5 ( 1 2 5 SCt 5 5 1, 1 6 0 LE2 d 5 6 5 ) (2 00 4 ), i n wh i ch t h e Co u rt prev i o u s l y

h el d t h at an at t orn ey i s n ot p er s e i n effect i v e fo r ad o p t i n g a s t rat eg y t o co n ced e g u i l t

,

ev en i f h is cl i en t d o es n o t ex p res s ly co n s en t t o t h at s t rat eg y

. McCo y

, 1 3 8 SCt at 1 5 0 9

6 Th e Su p rem e Co u rt ex p l ai n ed t h at “ [s ] t ru ct ural erro r affect s t h e fram ewo rk

wi t h i n wh i ch t h e t ri al p ro ceed s , as d i s t i n gu i sh ed fro m a l ap se o r fl aw t hat i s s i m p l y

an erro r i n t h e t ri al p ro ces s i t s el f.” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i tt ed

. ) McCo y , 1 3 8

SCt at 1 5 1 1 (III). A n erro r m ay b e co n s i d ered s t ru ct u ral : (1 ) w h en t h e ri g h t v i o l at ed

“ i s n o t d e s i g n ed to p ro t ect t h e d efen d an t fro m erro n eo u s co n v i ct i o n b u t i n s t ead

p ro t ect s s o m e o t h er i n t eres t

, s u ch as t h e fu nd am en t al leg al p ri n ci p le t h at a d efen d an t

m u st b e al l o wed t o m ak e h i s o wn ch o i ces ab o u t t h e pro p er way t o p ro t ect h i s o wn

l i bert y ”; (2 ) wh en t h e effect s o f t h e erro r “ a r e t o o h a r d t o m eas u re, as is t ru e o f t h e

ri gh t t o co u n s el of ch oi ce”; an d (3 ) wh en t h e erro r s i gn al s “ fu n d am en t al u n fai rn es s ,”

as wh e n a j u d g e fai ls “ t o tel l t h e j u ry t h at i t m ay n o t co n vi ct u n l es s i t fi n d s t h e

d efen d an t ’ s gu i l t b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t .” (Ci t at i o ns an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Id

.

12(II) (B). See Ni xo n

, 5 4 3 U. S. at 1 9 1 -1 9 2 (II). Th u s

, th e ab sen ce o f H arri s ’ affi rm at i v e

co n sen t t o co n ced i n g g u i l t do es n o t al o n e en t i t l e h i m t o a n ew t ri al u n d er McCo y

.

Nex t

, we can n o t ag ree t h at a d efen d an t ’ s n o t g u il t y p l ea e q u at es t o an

“ i n tran s i g en t a n d u n am

b i g uo u s o b

ject i o n ” t o co n ced i n g g u i lt

. McCo y

, 1 3 8 SCt at

1 5 0 7 (I). As t o Harri s ’ “ ex cu l pat o ry t es t im on y ,” we n o te t h at h i s t es t i m o n y reg ard i n g

t h e m et h am

p h et am i n e was co n fl i ct i n g ; wh i l e h e d en i ed t h at t h e m et h am p h et am i n e

was h i s

, h e al s o t es t i fi ed th at “ s i n ce [h e] was i n th e t ru ck

, [ h e ] was g o i n g t o t ak e

res p o n s i b i l i t y fo r [t he m et h am p h et am in e] .” U n de r the se c ir c um sta nc e s, w e c an n o t s ay

t h at t ri al co u n s el ’ s co n ces s i o n o f Harri s ’ g u il t o n t h e m e t h a m p h e t am i ne ch arg e

v i o l at ed Harri s ’ “ Si x th Am en dm en t -s ecu red au t o no m y ” s u ch th at h e i s au t o m at i cal l y

en t i t l ed t o a n ew t ri al

. 7 Id . at 1 51 1 (III).

2

. A l t ern at i v el y

, Harri s co n t en d s t h at he i s en t i t l ed t o a n ew t ri al b ecau s e t ri al

co u ns el ren d ered i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce by co n ced i n g g u i l t o n t he m et h am p h et am i n e

ch arg e, fai l i ng to reas o n ab l y co m m un i cat e wi t h Harri s ab o u t t h is s t rat eg y

,

7 W e n o t e th at t here i s s om e u n cert ai n t y as t o wh et h er McCo y ’ s h o l d i ng ex t en d s

t o n o n -cap it al cas es

. See, e.g

. , Un i t ed S t a t es v. Ro semo n d

, 3 2 2 F S u p p

. 3 d 4 8 2

, 4 8 6

(S.D.N.Y. 2 0 1 8) (“ W h il e th e Co u rt wel l u n d ers t an d s Ro s em on d ’ s co n ten t i o n t h at t h e

n arro w ho l d i n g o f McCo y s ho u l d b e ex t en d ed b ey o n d cap i t al cas es an d t h at t h i s

q u es ti o n wi l l b e res o l v ed i n d ue co u rs e b y ap p el l at e co u rt s

, t h ere i s n o n eed to d eci d e

i t h ere.”), aff’ d

, Un i t ed S t at es v. Ro s emo n d

, 9 5 8 F3 d 1 11 (2 n d Ci r. 2 0 2 0 ). W e as s u m e

wi t h o u t d eci d i n g t h at McCo y i s n o t l im i t ed t o cap it al cas es

.

13co n trad i ct i n g Harri s ’ t ri al t es t i m o n y

, an d fai l i n g to u n d ers t an d t h e es sen t i al el em en t s

o f t h e o ffen s e o f m et ham

ph et am i n e p o s s es s io n

. T o prev ai l o n hi s cl ai m

, Harri s “ m u s t

s h o w b o t h t h at h i s co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was p ro fes si on al l y d efi ci en t an d t h at

, b ut

fo r th e u n p ro fes si o nal perfo rm an ce, t h ere is a reas o n ab l e p ro bab i l i t y t h at t h e o u t co m e

o f t h e p ro ceed i n g wo u l d h av e b een d i fferen t

. W e n eed n o t rev i ew b o t h p art s o f t h i s

t es t i f [Harri s ] fai l s t o p ro v e o n e o f th em .” (Ci t at i on an d p u n ct uat i o n o m it t ed .) S t

.

Ger m a i n v. S ta t e

, _

_ _ Ga. Ap p

. _

_ _ (_

_ _ SE2 d

_

__ ) (d eci d ed J an uary 1 4 , 2 0 2 1 ).

(a) “ A l t h o u g h i t i s cl ear t h at [Harri s ’ ] lawy er m i su n ders t o o d t h e [m en s rea

el em en t of p o s ses s i o n o f a co n tro l l ed s u b s t an ce]

, [ 8 ] i t d o es no t f o l l o w t h at t h i s

m i s u n d ers t an d i n g n eces s ari l y affect ed h i s st r a t e g i c deci s i o n[ ] t o [co nced e g u i lt o n

t h e m et h am

p h et am i n e ch arg e] . If t h e l awy er reas o n ab l y wo u l d h av e m ad e t h e s am e

s t rat eg i c d eci s io n s

. . . it can n o t b e s ai d t hat t h e m i s t ak e of law affect ed t h e co n d u ct

o r p erfo rm an ce of t h e l awy er.” S hi el d s v. S ta t e

, 3 0 7 Ga. A p p

. 8 3 0

, 8 3 2 -8 3 3 (1 ) (a)

(7 0 6 S E 2 d 1 8 7 ) (2 0 1 1 ). Here, t ri al co u n s el ’ s t es ti m o n y at t h e m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al

h eari n g s h o ws t h at ev en ab s en t co u n s el ’ s m i s un d ers tan d i n g

, h e wo u l d hav e co n ced ed

g u i l t o n t h e m et ham

p h et am i n e ch arg e in an effo rt t o en g en d er cred i b il i t y wi t h t h e

8 “ [T] h e cri m i n al i n ten t req u i red [fo r p os s es si o n o f a co n t ro l l ed s u b s t an ce] i s

i n t en t t o po s ses s a d ru g wi t h k n o wl ed g e o f th e ch em i cal i d en t i t y o f th at d ru g

. ” Du va l l

v. S t a t e , 2 8 9 Ga. 5 4 0 , 5 4 2 (7 1 2 SE2 d 8 5 0) (2 01 1 ).

14ju d g e, p os s i b ly av o i d in g co n vi ct i o n o n t h e m o re s eri o us ch arg es or l es s en i n g Harri s ’

t i m e i n p ri s o n

. An d

, we h av e p rev i ou s l y h el d t h at “ [i ] t i s n o t ob ject i v el y u n reas o n ab l e

t o co n ced e g u i l t o n a l es s er o ffen s e i n an effo rt t o av o i d co n v i ct io n on a m o re s eri ou s

ch arg e.” Pa

yn e v. S t a te

, 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. 6 77

, 6 83 (2 ) (7 9 1 SE2 d 4 51 ) (2 0 1 6 ),

d i s ap p ro v ed o f o n o t h er gro un d s

, W o r t h en v. S t a t e

, 30 4 Ga. 8 6 2 (8 2 3 SE2 d 2 9 1 )

(2 0 1 9). See al s o Fa vo r

s v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 8 4 2, 8 4 6 (4 ) (a) (7 7 0 S E 2 d 8 55 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

Gi v en t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t ri al

, i n cl u d i ng Harri s’ o wn t es t i m o n y as wel l as t h e

fact t hat Harri s co n s en ted to a b en ch tri al

, we can n o t s ay i t was an u nreas o n ab l e t act i c

t o co n ced e g u i l t o n t h e les s s eri o u s m et h am p h et am in e ch arg e. See Pa yn e

, 3 3 8 Ga.

Ap p

. at 6 8 3 (2 ) (n o t d efi c i e n t p erfo rm an ce t o co nced e g u i l t o n fl eei n g o r el u d i n g

p o l i ce ch arg e to b e “ cred ib l e” an d t o av o i d co n v i ct i o ns o n m o r e s eri o u s ch arg es ).

A c c or dingly

, H a r

r is h as n o t o v erco m e t h e pres u m p t io n o f p rof

e ssiona l r e a sona

ble ne ss

t o s h o w d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. See S h i el d s

, 3 0 7 Ga. Ap p . at 8 3 2 -8 3 4 (1 ) (a).

(b ) As part o f h i s cl ai m t hat co u n s el was in effect i v e fo r co n ced i ng g u i l t o n t h e

m et h am p h et am i ne ch a r g e, H arri s t ak es i s s u e wi th co u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o co n s u l t wi th

h i m reg ard in g t h i s s t rat eg y

. W e fi n d th i s arg u m en t m eri t l es s

. “ [A] n at to rn ey ’ s fai l u re

t o fu l fi l l t h e d u t y t o co n s ul t reg ard i n g t ri al s t rat eg y d o es no t i n an d o f i ts el f co n s t i t u t e

i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce.” Hen d r i x v

. S ta t e

, 2 9 8 Ga. 60

, 6 4 (2 ) (a) (7 7 9 SE2 d 3 2 2 )

15(2 0 1 5). “ In th e c on t ex t o f a fai l u re-t o -co n s u l t cl ai m s uch as t hat al l eg ed h ere, t h e

d efen d an t m

us t e s t a b l i s h t hat h i s co u ns el ’ s fai l u re t o co ns u l t was preju d ici al t o h i s

d efen s e, i .e., t hat t h ere i s a reas o n ab l e p ro b a b i l i t y t h a t, b u t fo r co u n s el ’ s fai l u re to

co n su l t

, t h e res u l t o f hi s t ri al wo u l d h av e been d i fferen t .” (Ci t at io n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) Bl a ckwel l v. S t a t e

, 3 0 2 Ga. 8 2 0, 8 2 6 ( 3 ) ( 8 0 9 SE2 d 7 2 7) (2 0 1 8 ). To

d em o n s t rat e p reju d i ce h ere, Harri s wo u l d h av e t o es t ab l i sh a reas on ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y

t h at

, h ad co u n s el co n su l t ed w i t h h i m

, co u n s el wo u l d h av e o p t ed n o t t o co n ced e g u i l t

o n t h e m et h am

p h et am i ne ch arg e an d t hat su ch a s t ra t e g y wo u l d i n reas o n ab l e

p ro b ab i l i t y h av e res ul t ed i n a d i f f e r e n t o u t co m e. See i d

. In l i g h t o f t he ev i d en ce

p res en t ed at t ri al an d d u ri n g t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew tri al h eari n g, t h ere i s n o reas o n ab l e

p ro b ab i l i t y t hat

, ev en i f co u ns el h ad co n s u lt ed wi t h Harri s an d co n s eq u en t l y d eci d ed

n o t t o co n ced e g ui l t o n t h e m et h am p h et am i n e ch arg e, t h e ju d g e’ s v erd i ct wo u l d h av e

b een d i fferen t

. Acco rd i n g l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt d id n o t err i n den y i n g Harri s ’ m ot i o n fo r

n ew t ri al

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Di l l ar d

, P. J., a n d

Ri ckma n , P. J., co n cu r

.

16