FI RST DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, C. J.

, PHI PPS, P. J, and BOGGS, 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.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Nov em ber 18, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 07 2 . ROBINSON v . THE STATE. DO-0 4 0 C

D O Y LE , Ch ief J ud g e.

In J u n e 1 99 8

, Jak ei th Ro b i n s o n

, t h e al l eg ed g et -away d ri v er i n th e ro b b ery o f

an arm o red car d ri v er, w as i n d i ct ed an d t ri ed fo r m urd er, 1 fel on y m

u rd er, 2 arm ed

ro b b ery

, 3 t wo co u n t s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t

, 4 p o s ses s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co n v i c t ed

f e l o n

, 5 an d p o s ses s i o n of a fi rearm d uri n g t h e co m m i s s i o n of a fel o n y

. 6 At t h e

1 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -1 (a)

2 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -1 (c).

3 OCGA § 1 6 -8 -4 1 (a).

4 OCGA § 1 6 -5 -2 1 (b ) (1 ) & (b ) (2 ).

5 OCGA § 1 6 -1 1-1 31 (b ).

6 OCGA § 1 6 -1 1-1 06 (b ) (1 ).co n cl u s i o n o f t h e t ri al

, 7 t h e ju ry ret u rn ed n o t g u i l t y v erd ict s as t o t h e m u rd er, fel o ny

m u rd er, an d bo t h ag g r a v at ed as s au l t ch arg es

, b u t co u l d n o t reach a v erd i ct o n t h e

ch arg es o f arm ed ro b b ery a n d p o s s e s s i o n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g t h e co m m i s s i o n o f a

fel o n y

.

Th ereaft er, i n Sep t em

ber 1 9 9 9

, Ro b i n so n was t ri ed as a co -d efen d an t fo r arm ed

ro b b ery an d t h e w e a p o n s ch arg e. Ro b i n s o n u n s u cces s fu ll y m o v ed fo r s ev eran ce o f

t h e t ri al s

, arg u i n g t h at b as ed o n t h e St at e’ s arg u m en t s t h at h e w a s a c o

- co n s p i rat o r

an d /o r p art y

t o t h e arm ed ro b b ery

, t h e i s s u e w a s p r ecl ud ed fro m ret ri al

. Du ri n g t h e

t r ial

, co -d efen dan t Xav i er W o m ack was t ri ed fo r m u rd er, fel o n y m

u rd er, arm ed

ro b b ery

, t wo co un ts o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t, p o ss es s i o n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g t h e

co m m i s s i o n o f a fel o n y

, an d p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a co nv i ct ed fel on

, wh i l e

Ro b i ns o n was ret ri ed o n arm ed ro b bery an d p o ss es s i o n o f a fi rear m d u ri n g t h e

co m m i s s io n o f a cri m e. 8 T h e j u r y fo u n d Ro b i n s on g u i l t y o f arm ed ro bb ery an d

7 In t h e 19 9 8 t ri a l

, p u r s u an t t o OCGA § 1 7 -8 -4 (a), Ro b i ns o n w as t ri ed

s ep arat el y fro m h i s co -d efen d an t s

, Leo n To ll et te an d Xav i e r W o m ack

, becau s e t h e

St at e s o u g h t t h e d eat h p en al t y ag ai n s t t h o s e d efen dan t s

.

8 Fo r o u r rev iew o f W o m ack ’ s ap p eal

, s ee W o ma ck v. S t a t e

, 2 7 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 0

(6 1 4 SE2 d 9 0 9 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

2acq u it t ed h i m of p o s ses s i on o f a fi rearm du ri n g a cri m e an d p o s s es s i on o f a fi rearm

b y a co n v i ct ed fel o n. Ro b i n s o n was s en t en ced t o l i fe i m pri s on m en t

.

Ro b in s o n fi l ed a m ot io n fo r n ew t ri al an d t wo am en d ed m o t i o n s fo r n ew t ri al

,

wh i ch m o t i o n s u l t i m at el y were d en i ed b y

t he t ri al co u rt i n Sep tem

ber 2 0 0 1

.

Ro b in s o n f

i l e d h is n ot i ce o f ap p eal i n 2 0 0 1

. Aft er wai t i n g 1 4 y ears fo r h i s

ap p eal

, Ro b i n so n n o w arg u es t h at (1 ) t h e St at e was b arred b y t h e d o ct ri nes o f i s s u e

p recl u s i on

, co l l at eral es t o p pel

, an d d o u bl e jeo p ard y fro m arg u i n g t h at h e w as a p art y

t o th e cri m e 9 ; (2 ) t h e t ri al co urt ab u sed i t s di s cret io n b y d en y in g hi s m o t io n t o s ev er

h i s t ri al fro m

t h e t ri al o f h i s co -d efen d an t

, W o m ack 1 0 ; an d (3 ) t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed

i t s d i scret i o n b y p ro h ib i t i n g h i m fro m i n fo rm i n g t h e ju ry o f h is acq u i t t al o f t h e m u rd er

an d ag g rav at ed as s au l t ch arg es fo r w h i ch W o m ack was b ei n g t ri ed d uri n g t h e jo i nt

t ri al . Fo r t h e reas on s t h at fo l lo w, we rev ers e.

9 T h ro u g h o u t b o t h t ri al s an d i n m os t o f t h e p l e ad i n g s

, t he p art i es refer to

co n sp i rat o r an d part y t o t h e cri m e i nt erc h an g eab l y

. Al t h o u g h t hey are t reat ed

d i fferen tl y

u n d er Geo rg ia l aw, Ro b i n so n was n o t act u al l y ch arg ed wi t h co n s p i racy

,

t h erefo re, we ad d res s t h es e i s s u es as i f t h e t erm s refer on l y t o part y t o a cri m e as

d efi n ed i n Geo rg i a ju ri s pru den ce.

1 0 To l l et t e i s cu rren t l y awai t in g ex ecu t i o n aft er p l ead i n g g ui l t y t o t h e ch arg es

an d b ei n g s en t en ced t o t h e d eat h p en al t y

. See To l l et t e v. S t a t e

, 28 0 G a

. 1 0 0 ( 6 2 1

SE2 d 7 42 ) (2 0 0 5 ), To l let t e v. W a r d en

, Cas e N o

. 1 4 -0 0 1 1 0 (M

. D. G a. 20 1 4 ) (d en y i n g

To l l et t e’ s m o t i o n fo r h ab eas co rp u s ).

31

. As an in i t i al m at t er, we n o t e t hat Ro b in s o n’ s co n vi ct i o n was en t ered o n

Sep tem b er 1 5

, 19 9 9

, an d h i s m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al was d en i ed o n Sep t em b er 2 8

, 2 0 0 1.

R o b i n s o n ’ s ti m el y n o t i ce o f ap p eal was fi l ed o n Oct ob er 1

, 2 0 01

, an d th ree y ea r s

l at er, i n an Au g us t 2 00 4 h eari n g o n Ro b i n s o n ’ s m ot i o n t o am en d s en ten ce, t h e t ri al

t ran s cri p t s h ad b een co m

p l et ed

, b u t t h e ap p eal rem ai n ed t o b e d o ck et ed

. S ta gge r ing l y

,

t en an d a h al f ad di t i o n al y ears el ap sed b efo re t h e reco rd was d o ck et ed wi t h t h i s

Co u rt

, an d n o ex p lan at i o n fo r th e ex t rem e d el ay ap p ears i n t h e reco rd

. 1 1 W e t ak e y et

an o th er o p p ort un i t y

t o rem i n d t h e b en ch an d b ar t h at

[t ] h i s t y p e o f p o s t -co nv i ct i o n

, p re-ap p eal d el ay p u ts at ri s k t h e ri g ht s o f

d e fen d an ts an d cri m e v i ct i m s an d t h e v al i d i t y o f co nv i ct i o n s o b t ai n ed

aft er a fu l l t ri al

. It i s t h e d u t y o f al l th o s e i n v ol ved i n t h e cri m i n al ju s t i ce

s y s t em

, in cl u d i n g t ri al co u rt s an d p ro s ecu t o rs as wel l as d efen s e co u n s el

an d d efen d an t s

, to en s u re t h at t h e ap p ro p ri at e p o s t -co n vi ct io n m o t i o n s

are fi l ed

, li t i g at ed

, a n d d e ci d ed wi t h ou t u n n eces s ary d el ay

. T hat d u t y

u n fo rt u n at el y

was n o t fu l fi l l ed i n t h i s cas e. 1 2

1 1 W e n o t e t h at Ro b i n so n d i s m i ss ed h i s ap p el l at e at to rn ey an d p ro ceed ed p ro

s e at t h e h eari ng o n t h e m o t i o n t o am en d h i s s en t en ce, w h i c h p e r h ap s cau s ed s o m e

o f t h e d el ay , b u t d i d n o t ju s t i fy t en y ears ’ wo rt h.

1 2 (Pu n ct u at i o n om it t ed .) W a ye v. S ta t e

, 3 2 6 Ga. A p p

. 20 2

, 2 0 2 -2 03 (1 ) (7 5 6

SE2 d 2 8 7 ) (2 0 1 4 ), qu o t i n g Mo r g an v. S t a t e

, 2 9 0 Ga. 7 8 8

, 7 89

, n

. 2 (7 2 5 SE2 d 2 5 5 )

(2 0 1 2). See al s o Sh a n k v. S t a t e

, 2 9 0 Ga. 8 44

, 8 4 9 (5 ) (c) (7 2 5 S E2 d 2 4 6 ) ( 2 0 1 2 );

Mu r p h y v. S t a t e

, 2 9 0 Ga. 4 5 9

, n

. 2 (7 2 2 SE2 d 51 ) (2 0 1 2 ); Hi ll v. S t a t e

, 2 9 0 Ga. 4 9 3,

n . * (7 2 2 SE2 d 7 0 8 ) (2 0 1 2).

4W e n o w are faced wi th an i n d i v i d u al w h o has b een i n p ri so n fo r o v er 1 5 y ears

fo r a co n v i ct i o n t hat , as we ex p l ai n i n t h e fo l lo wi n g d i v i s io n, m u s t b e rev ers ed

.

2

. Ro b i n s o n arg u es t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred b y ov erru l i n g h is o b ject i on t o t h e

St at e’ s at t em

p t t o p ro v e arm ed ro b bery v ia a p art y t o t h e cri m e t h eo ry b ecau s e t h e

i s su e w as b arred fro m re-l i ti g at i o n u n d er co l l at eral es to p pel , res ju di cat a, o r d o u b l e

jeo p ard y b as ed o n t h e acq u i t t al o f Ro b i n s o n u n d e r t h i s t heo ry i n t h e fi rs t t ri al

. W e

ag ree. 1 3

To co nd u ct an i s s u e-p recl u s i on an al y si s

, co u rt s ex am i n e th e

v erd ict an d t ri al reco rd t o d et erm in e t h e fact s t h at th e ju ry n e c e s s a ri l y

d eci ded i n ret u rn i n g i t s v erd i ct o f acq u i tt al an d t h en det erm in e wh et h er

t h e p rev i ou sl y d et erm i n ed fact s co n s t it u t ed an es s en t ial el em en t of t he

s eco nd o ffen se. Th e d o ct ri n e o f co l lat eral es t o p p el wi l l no t b ar a ret ri al

u n l es s t h e reco rd o f th e p ri o r p ro ceed in g affi rm at i v el y d em o n st rat es t hat

1 3 W e n o t e t h at Ro b i n so n d i d n o t fi l e a wri t t en p lea i n b ar p ri or t o t h e s eco n d

t ri al

, h o wev er, h e o b

ject ed at t he s eco n d t ri al (i ) to t h e St at e’ s u s e o f t h e al l eg ed co

co n sp i rat o r’ s t es t im o n y

t o es t ab l i s h t h at Ro b i n s o n was a p art y to t h e cri m e, an d (i i )

t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s p ro h i b i t io n o f h i m b ri n g i n g o u t th e fact t h at he was acq u i t t e d o f

n u m ero u s ch arg es in t he fi rs t t ri al

. At t hat ti m e, Ro bi n s on arg u ed t h at t h e ev i d en ce

i n q u es t i o n v i o l at ed co l l at eral es t o pp el p ri n ci p al s b ecau s e h e had b een acq u i t t ed o f

b ei n g a p art y t o t h e cri m e i n t h e fi rs t t ri al

. He al s o rai s ed t h i s i s su e at h i s m ot i o n fo r

n ew t ri al

. Th e St at e d o es n o t as s ert t h at Ro b i n s o n wai ved t h is arg u m en t b y fai l i n g to

fi le a wri t t en p lea i n b ar p ri o r t o t h e s eco n d t ri al

, an d we h o l d t h at t h i s ob ject i o n was

s u ffi ci en t t o rai s e t h e i s s u e o f co l l at eral es t o p p el o f th e p art y to a cri m e th eo ry at t ri al

. See Jo ya v. Un i ted S t a t es

, 5 3 A.3 d 3 0 9

, 3 1 7

- 3 2 0 (III) (D. C. Ap p

. 2 01 2 ); co m p are

wi t h Un i ted

S t a t es v. W

h i tf i el d , 5 9 0 F.3 d 3 25 , 3 29 (VIII) (5 th Ci r. 2 00 9 ).

5an i s s ue i n vo l v ed in t h e s eco n d t ri al was d efi n i t el y det erm in ed in th e

f o r m er t ri al ; t h e p o s s ib i l i t y t h at i t m ay h av e b een d o es no t p rev en t th e

rel i t ig at i o n o f t h at i s su e. 1 4

In Decem ber 1 9 9 5

, J o h n Ham i l t on was t ran sferri n g m o ney fro m a b an k t o h i s

arm o red car wh en To l l et t e s h o t h i m i n t h e b ack o f t h e h ead

, g rab b ed a b ag o f m o n ey

,

an d at t em p t ed t o es cap e acro ss t h e s t reet

. Ham i l t o n d i ed at th e s cen e. W h il e To l l et t e

was at t em p t i n g t o fl ee, t he d ri ver o f t h e arm ored car an d a s ecu ri t y g uard un co n n ect ed

wi t h t h e arm o red car sep arat el y fi red at T o l l et t e, wh o d ro p ped t h e b ag of m o n ey

, an d

an o th er i n d i v i du al ret u rn ed fi re at t h e arm o red car d ri ver fro m t h e d irect i o n i n wh i ch

To l l et t e h ad fl ed

.

Th e secu ri t y gu ard ch as ed To l l et t e an d wh il e rel oad i n g h i s weap o n

, s aw a d ark

b l u e car s p eed away fro m th e s cen e. Th e s ecu ri t y g u ard s aw an o t h er i n d i v i d ual acro ss

t h e s t reet wh o ran t o ward t h e area t h e b l u e car wo ul d lat er l eav e, an d h e h eard a d o o r

s l am b efo re t he car s ped away

. Th e ca r d i d no t p i ck u p To l l et t e, an d h e was

ap p reh en d ed n ear t he s cen e. To l l et t e t o l d p o l i ce t h at h e h ad b een s t ay i n g at a l o cat i o n

o n Si m s St reet

, an d o ffi cers ex ecu ted a s earch w arran t fo r t h e res i d en ce, wh ere t h ey

1 4 (Ci t at io ns an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ro es s er v. St a t e

, 2 9 4 Ga. 2 9 5, 2 9 7 (7 5 1

SE2 d 2 9 7) (2 0 1 3).

6fo u n d W o m ack

, W om ack ’ s bro t h er Bri an

, an d an o t her in d i vi d u al n am ed As h l ey

.

Po l i ce o n l y arres t ed W om ack an d rel eas ed Bri an an d As h ley

. Ro b i ns o n was arres t ed

i n J an u ary

1 9 9 6 at a rel at i v e’ s h o m e i n Au b u rn , Al ab am a.

Du ri n g Ro b i n s o n ’ s fi rs t t ri al

, t h e St at e p ro c e e d ed ag ai n s t h im u nd er t h eo ri es

t h at h e co n s pi red wi t h To l l et t e an d W o m ack o r was a p art y to t h e cri m es

, as s ert i n g

t h at al t h o u g h n o o n e s aw Ro bi ns o n at t h e scen e o f th e s ho o t i n g

, h e was t h e g et away

d ri v er an d h ad p l o tt ed t h e ro b b ery w i t h h i s co -d efen d a n t s

, m a k i n g h i m cri m i n al l y

l i ab l e fo r t hei r act i o n s at t h e scen e o f t h e cri m e. 1 5 Al t h ou g h Ro bi ns o n di d n o t t es t i fy

d u ri n g t h e t ri al

, h i s d efen s e was t h at al t h o u g h h e was fri e n d s w i t h W o m ack an d

To l l et t e, h e was n o t i n v o l v ed i n t h e i n ci d en t at al l

, t h at o n l y o n e wi tn es s t es ti fi ed t h at

t h ere m ay h av e b een t h ree m en i n a car t og et h er p ri or t o t he i n ci d en t b u t no o n e el s e

1 5 See OCGA § 1 6 -2 -2 0 (a). “ Ev ery p ers on co n cern ed i n t h e co m m is s i o n o f a

cri m e i s a p art y th eret o an d m ay b e ch arg ed wi t h an d co nv i ct ed o f co m m i s s i o n o f t h e

cri m e.

. . . [O] n e is co n cern ed i n t h e co m m i s s i o n of a cri m e i f h e, am o n g o t h er t h i n g s

, i n t en t i o n al l y ai d s o r ab et s i n t h e co m m i s s i o n o f t h e cri m e

. Wh i l e an i n d i v i d u al ’ s

p res en ce wh en a cri m e i s co m m i t t ed wi l l n o t b e su ffi ci en t, in an d o f i t s el f, t o co n v i ct

t h at i n d i v i du al as a p art y to t h e cri m e, i f t h e in d i v i du al i s p res en t an d as s i s t s i n t h e

co m m i s s io n o f t h e cri m e o r s h ares i n t h e cri m i n al i n t en t o f t h e act u al p erp et rat o r o f

t h e cri m e, t h e i n di v i d u al m ay b e co n v i ct ed as a p art y t o th e cri m e. Fu rt h er, cri m i n al

i n t en t m ay b e in ferred fro m co n d u ct b efo re, d u ri n g

, an d aft er t h e co m m i s s i o n o f t h e

cri m e.” (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Jo yn er v. S t a t e

, 28 0 Ga. 3 7, 3 9 (1 ) ( 6 2 2 SE2 d 3 1 9 )

(2 0 0 5) (u p h o l d i ng co nv i ct i on s fo r fel o n y m u rd er, arm ed ro b b ery

, an d b u rg l ary b as ed

o n d efen d an t’ s act i on s as a g et away d ri v er).

7t es t i fi ed t h at t h ree in d i v i d u al s w e r e at t h e scen e, an d t h at o t h er i n d i v i d ual s were

fo u n d wi t h Wo m ack an d i n t he v ici n i t y o f m u l ti p l e weap on s at t h e t i m e o ffi cers

arres t ed W o m ack

.

At t h e fi rs t t ri al

, on e wi tn es s s aw t h ree m en s it t i n g i n a b l u e Fo rd M u st an g n ear

t h e s cen e b efo re t h e cri m e, b u t d i d n o t s ee t h e v eh i cl e l eav e, co u l d n o t i d e n t i fy t h e

o ccu pan t s

, an d d i d no t s ee an y o f t h e m en co m m i t th e cri m es

. Ro bi n so n ’ s gi rl fri en d

at t h e t i m e tes t i fi ed th at o n t h e m o rn i n g o f t h e i n ci den t

, Ro bi n so n wen t o u t t o g et t h ei r

ch i l d d i a p e r s

, cam e h o m e, l eft ag ai n

, an d t h en ret u rn ed wi t h W o m ack

, an d t h e t wo

m en were act i n g u ps et

. Sh e tes ti fi ed t h at Ro b i n s o n s ai d t h at h e, W om ack

, an d To l l et t e

t ri ed t o ro b an arm o red car, a m an was s h o t

, an d To l l et t e was l eft at t h e s cen e. In h er

i n i t i al s t at em e n t to p ol i ce, h owev er, s h e s t at ed t h at aft er g o i n g o u t t o g et d i ap ers

,

Ro b i ns o n h ad g i v en hi s car k ey s t o s o m eo n e el se, t h at h e lat er l eft t h e ap art m en t an d

d i d n o t ret u rn fo r t h e res t o f t h e d ay

, an d th at h e n ev er ad m it t ed i n v o l v em en t i n t h e

i n ci d en t

.

On Decem

ber 2 5

, a b l ue M u s tan g b el o ng i n g t o Ro b i n s o n was i m p o u n d ed b y

o ffi cers fro m Li nel l D en s o n’ s h o m e i n Seal e, Al ab am a. D en s o n t es t i fi ed t h at

R o b i n s o n cal l ed h i m s o m et i m e b efo re Ch ri s t m as i n Decem b er 1 99 5 t o as k t h at

Den so n fi x h i s car, wh i ch wo u l d n o t g o i n t o fi rs t g ear; aft er Den s o n an d Ro b i n so n

8t rav el ed fro m Ro b i n s o n ’ s ho m e i n Ph en i x Ci t y

, Al ab am a, t o Seal e, Al ab am a, Den so n

t ran s po rt ed Ro b i n s o n b ack t o Ph en i x Ci t y

. O ffi cers cam e t o D en s o n’ s h o m e o n

Ch ri s t m as Day an d i m po u n d ed t h e car, wh i ch d at e De n s o n t es t i fi ed was

ap p ro x i m at el y t hree day s to o n e week aft er Ro b i n s o n h ad bro u g h t t h e car t o h i m

, b ut

Den so n co u l d n o t s p eci fi cal l y recal l t h e ex act d at e.

At t h e cl o s e of ev i d en ce, t h e ju ry acq u i t t ed Ro bi n s o n o f t h e m u r d er, fel o ny

m u rd er, an d b o t h ag g rav at ed as s au l t ch arg es

, b u t t h ey fai led t o reach a v erd i ct o n t h e

ch arg es o f arm ed ro b b ery an d p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm du ri n g a fel o n y ; th e b i fu rcat ed

fel o n i n p o s s es s io n o f a weap o n ch arg e was n o t p res en t ed

.

At t h e s eco nd t ri al

, t h e St at e ag ai n arg u ed th at R o b i n s o n was a p art y t o t h e

cri m e of arm ed ro b bery an d co n s p i red to co m m i t t h e cri m e b y act i n g as t h e g et away

d ri v er fo r W o m ack an d To l l et t e. Pri o r t o t ri al

, t h e St at e m ov ed t o rejo i n Ro b i n s o n ’ s

p ro s ecu ti o n w i t h th at o f W o m ack b ecau se T ol l et t e h ad b een s en ten ced t o d eat h an d

t h e S t a t e h a d wai v ed th e d eat h p en al t y as t o W o m ack an d Ro b i ns o n. Du ri n g t h e

h eari n g o n t h e i s s u e o f s e v e ri n g Ro bi n s o n ’ s s eco n d t ri al fro m W o m ack ’ s fi rs t

, t h e

St at e arg u ed t h at “ t h e s am e ev i d en ce wo u l d b e u s ed ag ai n s t b ot h o f t h em fo r t h e m o s t

p art

. Th e ev i d en ce wo u l d s h o w t h at t h ey were co -co n s p i rat o rs

, an d b o th p art i ci p at ed

i n t h e m u rd er an d arm ed ro b bery

, n o t as t h e act u al k i l l ers

, bu t as co -co n s p i rat o rs .”

9Du ri n g t h e t ri al

, t h e St at e at t em p ted t o co m

p el To ll et t e t o t es t i fy t o R o b i n s o n ’ s

i n v o l v em en t as a co n s pi rat or/ p art y t o t he cri m e, an d i t ag ai n arg u ed t h at Ro b i n s o n

was g u i l t y o f arm ed ro b b ery u n d er t h o se t heo ri es . Th e St at e al s o req u es ted ch arg es

o n co n s p i racy an d p art y

t o a cri m e, ju st as i t h ad i n Ro bi n so n ’ s fi rs t t ri al

.

W h en , as h ere,

a p rev i o u s ju d g m en t o f acq u i t tal was bas ed u p o n a g en eral v erd ict

, as i s

u s u al l y t h e cas e, a co u rt m u s t as k wh et h er a rat i o n al j u ry co u l d h av e

g ro u n d ed i ts v erd i ct u p o n an i s s u e o t h er t h an t h at wh i ch t h e d efen d an t

s eek s t o fo recl os e fro m co n s i d erat i o n. W h en m ak i ng th i s d et erm i n at i o n

,

a co u rt m

u s t ex am i n e th e reco rd o f a p ri or p ro ceed i n g

, t ak in g i n t o

acco u n t t h e p l ead in gs

, ev i d en ce, ch arg e, an d ot h er rel ev an t m at t er. T h i s

i n q u i ry m us t b e s et in a pract i cal fram e, an d a co u rt i s n o t t o co n d u ct i t s

an al y s i s wi t h t h e h y

p ert ech n i cal an d arch ai c ap p ro ach o f a 19 t h cen t u ry

p l ead i n g b o o k

, b u t wi t h real i s m an d rat io n al i t y

. 1 6

“ [M o r e o v e r, i n t h e co n t ex t of a m ix ed -v erd ict cas e,] t h e ju ry ’ s fai l u re t o reach a

v erd i ct o n cert ai n co u n t s [i s ] a n o n ev en t t hat ha[s ] n o beari ng o n t h e d et erm i n at i o n

o f wh at i s s ues h ad been d et erm i n ed b y v irt u e o f t h e v erd i ct s t h at were reach ed .” 1 7

1 6 ( C ita t ions an d pu n ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Un it ed S t a t es v. Oh a yo n

, 48 3 F.3 d 1 2 8 1

, 1 2 8 6 (III) (A) (1 ) (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 7 ).

1 7 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) Ro es s er

, 2 9 4 Ga. at 2 9 7

, q u ot i n g Y ea g e r v

. U

n i t ed

S t a t es

, 5 5 7 U. S. 1 1 0 (1 2 9 SCt 23 6 0

, 1 7 4 L E2 d 7 8 ) (2 0 09 ). See al s o As he v. S wen s o n

, 3 9 7 U. S. 4 3 6 , 4 44 (9 0 SCt 1 1 89 , 2 5 LE2 d 4 69 ) (1 9 7 0 ).

10In i t s m eag er res po n s e b ri ef, t h e St at e d oes n ot en g ag e i n a n y a n al y s i s o f

wh et h er t h e ju ry n eces sari l y d eci d ed t h e i s s u e o f wh et h er Ro b i n s o n was a p art y t o t h e

cri m e o f arm ed ro b bery i n t h e fi r s t t r i a l as ex p lai n ed b y Ro es s er o r As h e

. 1 8 In s t ead

,

t h e St at e s u m

m ari l y arg u e s t h a t ( 1 ) i t d i d no t ho l d b ack i n ch arg es o r co u nt s i n an

at t em p t t o pro s ecu t e at a lat er d at e; (2 ) t h e arm e d r o b b e ry co u n t was i n d i ct ed b y a

g ran d j u ry an d no t a les ser in cl u d ed co u n t ; an d (3 ) t h e arm ed ro b b ery was n o t a rei n d i ct m en t o f a p rev i o u s l y u n -i n cl u d ed l es s er ch arg e aft er t h e fi rs t acq ui t t al

. No n e o f

t h o s e arg u m en t s affect s o ur i s su e-p recl u s io n an al y s i s

.

W h en Ro b i n s o n rai s ed th e i s s u e o f i s s u e p recl u s i o n an d co ll at eral es t o p p el

d u ri n g t h e s eco n d t ri al , t h e t ri al co u rt res po n d ed th at “ co ns p i racy [i s n o t n eces s ary ]

t o co m m i t arm ed ro b b ery

. ” Th e St at e, h o wev er, d i d n o t at t em p t to p ro v e t h at

Ro b i ns o n co m

m i tt ed arm ed ro b b ery i n a n y o t h er w ay t han v ia t h e s am e t h eo ry

p ro p ou n d ed d u ri n g t h e f i r st t ri al

. At t h e m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

, th e co u rt d en i ed

Ro b i ns o n ’ s m o t i o n as t o t hi s i ss u e, fi n d in g t h at t h e ju ry co ul d h av e d et erm i n ed t h at

Ro b i ns o n d id n ot co n s pi re t o co m m i t ag g rav at ed as s a u l t o r m u rd er, bu t h e d id

co n sp i re t o co m

m it arm ed ro b b ery

. Th i s w as a co n fl at i o n o f t h e is s ue o f i n co n s i s t en t

1 8 As h e , 3 97 U. S. at 4 4 4

.

11v erd i ct s w i t h i ss u e p recl u si o n an d co l l at eral es t o p p el o f t h e p art y t o a cri m e t h eo ry

.

As J u dg e Pry o r ex p l ai ned i n Oh a yo n

,

[t ] h e p ro b l em w i t h t h i s arg u m en t i s t h at i t p res u m es t h at t h e r e l ev an t

s t an dard i s a s ub

ject i v e o n e

— wh et h er [Ro b i ns o n ’ s ] ju ry gro u n d ed i t s

v erd ict on an i rrat i o n al u n d ers t an d i n g o f [ p art y t o a cri m e.] As he

req u ires t h at we ap p l y an o b ject i v e s t an d ard an d as k ‘ wh et h er a rat i o nal

ju ry ’ ex po s ed t o th e s am e ‘ p l ead i n gs

, ev i d en ce, ch a r g e

, a n d o t h er

rel ev an t m at t er’ ‘ co u l d h av e g ro u n de d i t s v erd i ct u po n an i s su e o t h er

t h an ’ t h e o n e [Ro b i n s o n] s eek s t o fo recl o s e fro m co n s i derat i o n. Becau s e

we as k wh at a rat i o n al ju ry wo u l d h av e d o n e, t h e p o s s i b il i t y t h at th e

ju ry ’ s v erd i ct res t ed up o n erro r p l ay s n o p art i n ou r an al y s i s. A rat i o nal

ju ry co u l d n o t h av e g ro u n d ed i t s v erd i ct o n a m is u n ders t an d in g o f

[p art i ci pat i o n i n a co n s p i racy ] or o n an y o t her m i s t ak e. Becau s e

c o l l at eral es to pp el i s g ro u n d ed i n t h e Do u b le J eo p ard y Cl au s e o f t h e

Fi ft h Am en d m en t t h e g o v ern m en t i s barred fro m co rrect i n g i n co n s i st en t

v erd ict s b y a s in g l e ju ry

, ev en t h o se b as ed o n m i s t ak e, co m p ro m i s e, o r

l en i t y

. Th e po s si b i l it y o f

ju ry n u l l i fi cat i o n al s o p l ay s n o p art i n co l lat eral

es t o pp el an al y s i s

. 1 9

Th u s

, t h e fact t h at t h e fi rs t ju ry co u l d hav e ret u rn ed i n co ns i s t en t verd i ct s an d

co n vi ct e d R ob i n s on o f arm ed ro b b ery wh i l e acq u i t t i n g h i m o f t h e ch arg es ari s i n g

1 9 ( C ita t ions a n d pun ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Oh a yo n

, 4 8 3 F.3 d at 1 2 8 7 -1 2 8 8 (III) (A)

( 2 )

, c i t i n g U

n i t ed S t a t es v. Br o wn

, 9 8 3 F.2 d 2 0 1

, 2 0 3 (1 1 th Ci r. 1 9 93 ) (“ W h i l e t h e

p o s s i b i l i ty o f ju ry n u ll ifi cat i o n m ay i n fl u en ce t h e s t rat eg y o f t ri al l awy ers

, i t can n ot

en t er i nt o t h e an al y si s o f co u rt s m ak i n g co l l at eral es t o pp el i n q u i ri es .”).

12fro m Ham i l t o n ’ s d eat h d uri ng t h e ro b b ery b ecau s e it d eci d ed t o n u l l i fy o n t h e m u rd er

i n t h e face o f t h e cl ear req u irem en t i t co n v i ct u n d er t he p art y t o a cri m e in s t r u ct i o n

i f i t fo u nd t h at he part i ci p at ed in t h e ro b b ery as th e g et away d ri v er, we d o n o t accep t

s u ch an i n co n s is t en cy as rat i o n a l u n d e r t h e l en s of i ss u e precl us i o n

. 2 0 Th e o n l y

rat i o nal co n cl u s i o n fro m t h e fi rs t t ri al i s t h at t h e ju ry d et erm i n ed t h at Ro b i n s o n was

n o t a p art y t o t h e cri m es , an d t herefo re, t h e St at e co u ld n o t pro p o u n d t h es e t h eo ri es

ag ai n s t h i m

i n t he s eco n d t ri al fo r arm ed ro b b ery

.

3

. B a s e d o n o u r co n cl u s i o n i n Di v i s i o n 2, we n eed n o t ad d res s Ro b i n s o n ’ s

rem ai n i n g en um erat i o n s.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Ph i p p s , P. J., a n d

Bo gg s

, J., co n cu r

.

2 0 See Oh a

yo n

, 4 8 3 F.3 d at 1 2 8 7 -1 2 8 8 (III) (A) (2 ).

13