### IN THE CO URT OF CR IMINAL APPEALS OF T ENN ESSEE

AT KNOX VILLE

Ass ig ne d o n B rie fs Aug us t 2 2, 2 01 2

STATE OF TENNESS EE v . ROCKY JO E HO USTON

A p p e a l f r o m t h e C r i m i n a l C o u r t f o r R o a n e C o u n t y
N o

. 1 3 2 2 6 J o n K e r r y B l a c k w o o d
, S e n i o r J u d g e

N o

. E 2 0 1 1

- 0 1 8 5 5

- C C A

- R 3

- C D

- F i l e d F e b r u a r y 1 1
, 2 0 1 3

T h e d ef en d an t, R o ck y Jo e H o u sto n , w as co n v icted o n A p ril 1

, 2 0 1 0

, o f reck less

en d an g erm en t, a C lass A m isd em ean o r, an d ev ad in g arrest, a C lass E f elo n y , f o r w h ich h e

w as sen ten ced

, resp ectiv ely

, to elev en m o n th s, tw en ty -n in e d ay s an d o n e y ear, as a stan d ard

o f f en d er. In h is n o tice o f ap p eal, h e asserted th at t h e t r ial co u rt erred in d en y in g th e j u d g m en t o f acq u ittal an d ask ed th at th is co u rt o rd er th e law y er in h is 2 0 0 8 trial to retu rn th e

su m o f $ 6 5 ,0 0 0

, w h ich w as a p o rtio n o f th e am o u n t th e d ef en d an t asserts h e p aid t o th e law y er. F o llo w in g o u r rev iew , w e af f irm th e j u d g m en ts o f

th e trial co u rt.

T e n n

. R

. A p p

. P

. 3 A p p e a l a s o f R i g h t ; J u d g m e n t s o f t h e C r i m i n a l C o u r t A f f i r m e d

A LA N E

. G LE N N

, J

. , d e l i v e r e d t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e C o u r t

, i n w h i c h J O S E P H M

. T IP T O N

, P

. J

. , a n d

J E F F R E Y S

. B IV IN S

, J

. , j o i n e d

.

R o c k y J o e H o u s t o n , T e n M i l e , T e n n e s s e e , P r o S e

.

R o b e r t E

. C o o p e r , J r

. , A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l a n d R e p o r t e r ; J o h n H

. B l e d s o e , S e n i o r C o u n s e l ;
R u s s e l l J o h n s o n , D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ; a n d K e n n e t h F

. I r v i n e , J r

. , A s s i s t a n t D i s t r i c t

A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l

, f

o r t h e a p p e l l e e , S t a t e o f T e n n e s s e e

.

O P I N I O N

F A C T S

T h is m atter h as a co m

p licated an d co n ten tio u s h isto ry , as w e w ill set o u t.

T h e d ef en d an t w as tried in 2 0 0 8 f o r sev eral o f

f en ses resu ltin g f

ro m th e 2 0 0 6 d eath s

o f William B irl Jo n es an d G erald M ich ael B ro w n , an d

, at t h e co n clu sio n o f th at trial, th e j u ro rs rep o rted to th e trial co u rt th at th ey w ere u n ab le to reach a v erd ict. T h e co u rt ask edif

th ey w ere ab le to reach v erd icts o n an y o f th e lesser in clu d ed o f

f en ses an d w as to ld th at
th ey co u ld n o t. T h e co u rt th en d ism issed th e j u ry w ith o u t d eclarin g a mi strial.

C o n seq u en tly

, th e d ef

en d an t arg u ed th at h e co u ld n o t b e retried u p o n an y o f th e o f f en ses in

w h ich th e j u ry d eclared it w as d ead lo ck ed

, an d th is co u rt ag reed

. S ee S tate v

. H o u sto n , 3 2 8

S .W.3 d 8 6 7

, 8 6 9 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 2 0 1 0 ). S u b seq u en tly

, in 2 0 1 0

, th e d ef en d an t w as tried

f o r a seco n d set o f o f

f en ses, h is co n v ictio n s f

o r w h ich are th e b asis f

o r th is ap p eal. C o u n ts
1 an d 2 o f th e in d ictm en t ch arg ed h im w ith o f f en ses co m m itted in 2 0 0 4 : ag g rav ated assau lts

o f O f f icer A d am L an g ley b y u se o f a d ead ly w eap o n , to w it: an au to mo b i l e

. C o u n t 3
ch arg ed h im w ith f

elo n y reck less en d an g erm en t as to S erg ean t T r o y W r ig h t; C o u n t 4
ch arg ed h im w ith f

elo n y ev ad in g arrest b y O f f icer A d am L an g ley ; C o u n t 5 ch arg ed h im w ith

u nl aw f u l p o ssessio n o f a h an d g u n w h ile in co m m issio n o f th e f elo n ies en u m erated in C o u n ts
1 -4 an d 6 o f th e in d ict me n t ; a n d C o u n t 6 ch arg ed h im w ith v an d alism b etw een $ 5 0 0 an d $ 1 0 0 0

. H e w as f

o u n d n o t g u ilty b y t h e j u r y a s t o C o u n ts 1

, 2

, 5

, an d 6 an d g u ilty o f

m isd em ean o r reck less en d an g erm en t in C o u n t 3 an d f elo n y ev ad in g arrest in C o u n t 4

. H e

w as sen ten ced to co n cu rren t term s o f elev en m o n th s an d tw en ty -n in e d ay s an d o n e y ear,

resp ectiv ely

, sen ten ces w h ich h ad b een co m p leted b ecau se o f h is p retrial in carceratio n

. We

w ill rev iew th e testim o n y f ro m th e d ef en d an t’s trial o n th ese ch arg es.

O f f icer R an d y C h ild s testif

ied th at in A u g u st 2 0 0 4

, h e w as em p lo y ed b y th e K in g sto n P o lice D ep artm en t an d assig n ed to th e d ru g task f o rce. O n A u g u st 2 6

, w h ile h e w a s o f f

d u ty

, h e sp o tted th e d ef

en d an t at th e K in g sto n P o st O f f ice. E arlier in th e d ay , h e h ad learn ed
th at th ere w as an o u tstan d in g a r r e s t w arran t f o r th e d ef en d an t. H e n o tif

ied th e sh erif

f ’s

o f f ice o f h is seein g th e d ef

en d an t an d

, as h e ap p ro ach ed th e p o st o f f ice, saw th e d ef

en d an t’s

tru ck g o acro ss a cu rb

, w ith tw o sh erif f ’s cars b eh in d it, b o th cars u tilizin g th eir siren s an d
b lu e lig h ts.

T ro y Wrig h t te s t i f

i e d th at h e w as em

p lo y ed as a serg ean t w ith th e K in g sto n P o lice

D ep artm en t. H e said th at o n A u g u st 2 6

, 2 0 0 4

, w h ile o n d u t y , h e h a d l earn ed th at th e d ef en d an t, w h o h ad an o u tstan d in g arrest w arran t, w as at th e p o st o f f ice in K in g sto n

. A s h e

ap p ro ach ed th at lo catio n , h e saw th e d ef en d an t g et in to h is v eh ic l e , d r i v e a cro ss a g rassy

m ed ian an d a sid ew alk an d o n to N o rth K en tu ck y S treet. T raf

f ic w as “f airly h eav y ” at th e tim e, an d S erg ean t Wrig h t activ ated h is b lu e lig h ts an d siren

. S erg ean t Wrig h t tried to p u ll

h is v eh icle alo n g sid e th at o f th e d ef en d an t, w h o th en sw erv ed to w ard Wrig h t, try in g to “ru n [ h im ] o v er in to o n co m in g traf f ic.” T h e d ef

en d an t’s v eh icle w as g o in g f aster th an th e p o sted

sp eed lim it an d cam e “o u t o f th e slo w lan e at [ S erg ean t Wrig h t] in to [ h is] lan e o f traf f ic an d

ru n [ h im ] acro ss th e y ello w lin e.” T h e d ef en d an t’s v eh icle p ro ceed ed th ro u g h red traf f ic lig h ts w ith o u t sto p p in g

. D ep u ty L an g ley p assed th e d ef en d an t’s v eh icle, an d h e saw th e tw o

v eh icles “g o to g eth er, co m e o u t, an d th en [ saw ] [ th e d ef en d an t’s] tru ck g o in th e air.” A s h e w alk ed u p to th e v eh icles, h e saw th at D ep u ty L an g ley ’s v eh icle h ad b een d am ag ed an d
estim ated th at it w as in ex cess o f $ 5 0 0

.

-2-A d am L an g ley testif ied th at, at th e tim e o f th e trial, h e w as em p lo y ed b y Wack en h u t,
b u t, in 2 0 0 4

, h e w as w ith th e R o an e C o u n ty S h erif f ’s D ep artm en t. A s h e cam e to w o rk o n A u g u st 2 6

, h e learn ed th at th ere w as an arrest w a r r a n t o u tstan d in g f o r th e d ef en d an t. H e

w as in stru cted to g o to th e K in g sto n P o st O f f ice. A rriv in g at th at lo ca tio n , L an g ley

ap p ro ach ed th e d ef

en d an t’s tru ck

, in ten d in g to talk w ith h im

. T h e d ef en d an t saw h im

, “p u t
th e v eh icle in g ear o r cran k ed it u p o r w h atev er h e w as d o in g w ith h is h an d s d o w n h ere an d

h e l ef t real f ast.” L an g ley d escrib ed th e d ef en d an t’s d riv in g o n to th e ro ad w ay : “H e g o es

u p o v er th e

. . . s h a r p tu rn h e m ad e, h e g o es u p an d o v er th e cu rb

, th ro u g h th e g rassy p art
th at w as su rro u n d in g th e p ark in g lo t th ere, g rassy cu rb an d ev ery th in g

. H e w en t u p an d o v er it an d straig h t in to f

o u r lan es o f

traf f ic.”

L an g ley activ ated h is b lu e lig h ts an d siren an d rad io ed to o th er u n its th at th e d ef en d an t w as “n o t sto p p in g o r [ w as] try in g to ru n o r w h atev er it is th at I said at th at tim e.”

H e said th at, alth o u g h traf f ic w as “v ery h eav y ,” th e d ef en d an t’s tru ck “co n tin u ed o n th ro u g h [ red lig h ts] as if th ey w eren ’t th ere.” A lth o u g h th e sp eed lim it w as 3 5

, th e d ef en d an t’s sp eed

w as “4 5 m iles an h o u r, 5 0 so m et i mes,” as L an g ley d ro v e b eh in d h im

. L an g ley d etailed
actio n s tak en b y

th e d ef en d an t to p rev en t L an g ley ’s v eh icle f ro m p assin g h im :

Wh en w e are g o in g

– w e are still in th e city lim its an d w e are p assin g th e w ater h ead in g so u th

, p assin g t h e w alk in g trail an d th e lak e o n th e rig h t,

an d w e a r e h e a d i n g so u th

. A n d

. . . if I m o v ed to th e lef t a little [ th e d ef en d an t] w o u ld m o v e to th e lef t, if I m o v ed to th e rig h t h e w o u ld m o v e to
th e rig h t. A g ain th ese are sp eed s an y w h ere f ro m 4 5 -5 0 m iles an h o u r d o w n th ro u g h th ere.

A s w e leav e th e city

an d w e start u p th e h ill it g o es f ro m tw o lan es to
f o u r

. A n d at th at p o in t I attem p ted to p ass [ th e d ef

en d an t] o n th e rig h t an d

w h en I cu t b ack o v er in f ro n t o f h im to attem

p t to b rin g h im to a sto p h e h ad

m ay b e

– w h en I p u lled o v er in f ro n t o f h im h e h ad th ree f eet o r f o u r f eet g iv e

o r tak e. S o w h en I d id th at, it w as an attem p t f o r tw o o th er p atro l cars to co m e

u p b esid e h im an d o n e to th e rear so y o u ’v e g o t h im b o x ed in an d y o u can b rin g h im to a h alt th at w ay

– f o rce h im to co m e to a h alt an d p u ll h im o v er.

A s L an g ley ’s v eh icle w as in f ro n t, th e d ef

en d an t’s tru ck “h it [ it] o n ce, m ay b e tw ice

in th e rear,” L an g ley ’s v eh icle “f ish tailed ,” an d th e d ef

en d an t th en p assed h im

. L an g ley

ex p lain ed w h at o ccu rred as h e tried to p ass th e d ef en d an t ag ain :

I tried to p ass [ th e d ef

en d an t] ag ain , an d

. . . I g o t th e n o se o f m y car m ay b e th ree q u arters w ay u p h is tru ck

, h e sw erv ed to th e rig h t, m ad e co n tact w ith m y

v eh icle an d ev ery

th in g h ap p en ed so f

ast. H is

. . . rig h t rear t ire k in d o f w en t

-3-o v er th e f ro n t lef t q u arter p an el o f m y p atro l car, h e f lip p ed an d tu rn ed an d I

w as p in n ed in th is sid e o f m y car b ecau se o f th e co n tact h is tru ck m ad e to m y

p atro l car. S o I h ad to o p en th e p assen g er d o o r an d g et o u t th at w ay

. A n d as I g o t u p to th e v eh icle [ th e d ef en d an t ] w as try in g to g et o u t o f eith er th e

w in d sh ield o r th e sid e w in d o w o f h is [ v eh icle] th at w as tu rn ed o v er o n its to p

. A n d . . . O f

f icer K erley

w as try in g to h o ld h im

d o w n an d g et h im

cu f f ed

.

A n d w h en I g o t th ere I h elp ed h o ld h im d o w n an d O f f icer K erley

g o t
h im cu f f ed . A n d th en at th at p o in t w e h ad h im in cu sto d y

.

L an g ley said h e w as to ld th at th e d am ag e to h is v eh icle ex ceed ed $ 5 0 0

.

T h e d ef en d an t’s f

irst w itn ess w as W.H

. “B u d d y ” H all, w h o h ad w o rk ed at th e O ak

R id g e p lan t f

o r f o rty -tw o y ears. H e d escrib ed th e accid en t b etw een th e v eh icles o f L an g ley

an d th e d ef

en d an t, say in g , “ [ T ] h is g u y w en t rig h t aro u n d an d h o o k ed y o u r b u m p er an d

tu rn ed y o u o v er rig h t in th e m id d le o f th e ro ad ,” an d “y o u co m e craw lin g o u t.” H e ag reed
th at o f f icers h ad d raw n th eir g u n s as th ey ap p ro ach ed th e d ef

en d an t.

S h aw n T h o m

p so n testif

ied th at h e h ad b een em

p lo y ed b y th e V isk ase C o rp o ratio n f o r n in eteen an d a h alf y ears, w o rk in g in m ain ten an ce. H e cam e u p o n th e accid en t in v o lv in g th e d ef en d an t’s v eh icle af

ter it h ad o ccu rred an d saw th at “th ree, m ay b e f o u r” o f f icers w ere b esid e it w ith th eir g u n s d raw n

.

R an d all A lle n M e r s h o n testif ied th at h e h ad b een em

p lo y ed at R iv erB en d M ark et “[ o ] n an d o f

f sin ce ‘9 7 .” H e w as at w o rk w h en h e “[ h ] eard siren s, lo o k ed o u t th e w in d o w , [ an d ] saw [ th e d ef

en d an t’s] tru ck p ass b y w ith

, [ h e b eliev ed ] f o u r p atro l cars b eh in d it.” It

“seem ed ” to h im “lik e a p atro l car co m e aro u n d [ th e d ef en d an t’s] lef

t sid e an d at th at p o in t

m ad e co n tact w ith [ th e d ef en d an t’s] lef

t rear tire.”

B etty C aro l R o b i n e t te testif ied th at sh e w as em

p lo y ed b y th e T en n essee V alley

A u th o rity as a p ain ter. S h e said th at sh e h ad seen th e d ef en d an t w ith “h is f

lash ers o n an d
th ree p o lice cars b eh in d h im .” L ater, sh e saw th at h is tru ck w as u p sid e d o w n in th e ro ad an d
“th o u g h t h e w as d ead .” S h e saw th at h e w as f aced o w n , an d a p o lice o f f icer “h ad h is k n ee in th e sm all o f [ th e d ef

en d an t’s] b ack an d o n e h an d o n h is sh o u ld er an d g u n p o in ted at h im .”

T h e d ef en d an t d id n o t t e s t i f

y

. A s w e h av e set o u t, h e w as co n v icted o f reck less

en d an g erm en t, a C lass A m isd em ean o r, an d ev ad in g arrest, a C lass E f elo n y

.

A N A L Y S IS

-4-In rev iew in g th e issu es to b e d ecid ed i n th is ap p eal, w e f irst w ill set o u t th e

co m p licated p ro ced u ral p ath o f th e d ef en d an t’s trial.

T h e j u d g e w h o h ad p resid ed o v er th e f irst trial w ith d rew f

ro m th e m atter, an d S p ecial

Ju d g e D av id G

. H ay es w as ap p o in te d o n J u l y 6

, 2 0 0 9

, to p resid e. S u b seq u en tly

, o n D ecem b e r 2, 20 0 9

, an o rd er o f th e T en n essee S u p rem e C o u rt w as en tered d esig n atin g S en io r Ju d g e Jo n K erry B lack w o o d to h ear th e in d ictm en t in th is m atter. A tto rn ey R an d y R o g ers,

w h o h ad rep resen ted th e d ef en d an t in h is f

irst trial an d w as rep resen tin g h im as to th e in d ictm en t w h ich is th e su b j ect o f th is ap p eal, f

iled a m o tio n to w ith d raw f ro m f u rth er

rep resen tatio n o f th e d ef en d an t. O n Ju ly 2 3

, 2 0 0 9

, th e trial co u rt h eld a h earin g o n th is

m o tio n , w h ich w as g ran ted

. 1

A t a su b seq u en t h e a rin g , th e d ef en d an t ad v ised th e co u rt th at atto rn ey R o g ers still

rep resen ted h im in th e m atter, say in g th at h e h ad “b een p aid in f u ll o f a larg e su m o f m o n ey

t o b e h e r e

. ” A t a statu s h earin g o n Jan u ary 2 1

, 2 0 1 0

, as to w h eth er th e d ef en d an t h a d

secu red n ew co u n sel, th e d ef en d an t said th at th e co u rt h ad a “p erso n al b ias an d a p rej u d ice”

ag ain st h i m a n d th at th e co u rt w as “u n d er su b p o en a” an d “th ere w ill h av e to b e co n f licts
d isclo sed .” T h e co u rt su b seq u en tly ap p o i n t e d atto rn ey L in d sey L an d er to rep resen t th e d ef en d an t. O n M arch 1 2

, 2 0 1 0

, th ro u g h ap p o in ted co u n sel, th e d ef en d an t f iled a m o tio n to

recu se S en io r Ju d g e B lack w o o d

, say in g t h a t a su b p o en a h ad b een issu ed f o r h im in o th er l i t i g a t i o n an d h e h ad sh o w n a “b ias” ag ain st th e d ef en d an t in a p relim in ary h earin g

. A d d itio n ally

, h e asserted th at atto rn ey R o g ers still rep resen ted h im in th e m atter. T h e co u rt
d en ied th e recu sal m o tio n o n M arch 1 9

, 2 0 1 0

, an d

, o n M arch 3 1

, 2 0 1 0

, g ran ted th e m o tio n

o f ap p o in ted atto rn ey

L in d sey L an d er to w ith d raw

.

T h e trial w as h eld o n M arch 3 1 -A p ril 1

, 2 0 1 0

, an d

, as w e h av e set o u t, th e d ef en d an t,

p ro ceed in g p ro se, w as co n v icted o f tw o co u n ts o f th e in d ictm en t. H e f iled m o tio n s f

o r n ew trial an d f o r ap p o in tm en t o f co u n sel o n A p ril 2 7

. O n A p ril 3 0

, 2 0 1 0

, h e f iled a “m o tio n f

o r

arrest o f j u d g m en t.” A tto rn ey G erald G u lley

, Jr. w as ap p o in ted to rep resen t th e d ef en d an t

o n M ay 1 0

, 2 0 1 0

, an d o n Ju ly 1

, 2 0 1 0

, f iled a m o tio n to co n tin u e th e sen ten cin g h earin g ,

an d

, in th e altern ativ e, th at th e trial j u d g e recu se h im self

. O n Ju ly 2

, 2 0 1 0

, t h e co u rt

co n d u cted a h earin g o n th is m o tio n , w h ich w as d en ied

, th e co u rt ex p lain in g th at it f o u n d “n o

o b j ectiv e o r su b

j ectiv e reaso n s w h y

th is C o u rt sh o u ld recu se itself ”:

T h ere co m es a tim e w h en th e C o u rt Ju d icial S y stem sim p ly h as to sto p b ein g in tim id ated an d sim p ly to b rin g u p to th is C o u rt th at y o u are g o in g to

T he tr ia l cou rt hea rd the m oti on to wit hdr aw as to bot h cas es in whic h the def end ant ’s cou nse l the n 1

re pre sen te d him and grant ed the m oti on but ina dvert ent ly neglec te d to inc lud e in the ord er the doc ket number
of the pr ese nt app eal

.

-5-su b p o en a th is C o u rt to b e a m aterial w itn ess; I w asn ’t ev en in th e C o u rt ro o m

w h en th is alleg ed sp ittin g in cid en t o ccu rred so I d o n ’t see h o w in th e w o rld

I co u ld b e – o r th is C o u rt co u ld b e a m aterial w itn ess to an y o f th at.

T h ere c o me s a p o in t in tim e w h en

. . . th is C o u rt an d th is j u d icial

sy stem h as to say o n ce ag ain

, w e are n o t g o in g to b e in tim id ated b y th reats o f

su i t s , b y th reats o f su b p o en as, b y accu satio n s. T h at b y sim p ly d o in g y o u r j u d icial d u ties y o u a r e en g ag in g in so m e co n sp iracy ag ain st th at p erso n ’s rig h t.

N o w , I’v e listen ed u p h ere to [ th e d ef en d an t] an d h is b ro th er talk ab o u t
th eir co n stitu tio n a l r i g h ts, I’v e listen ed u p h ere th at th ey are A m erican

C itizen s an d th ey are en titled to th is an d th at u n d er th e co n stitu tio n

. I w an t to
tell y o u th a t if th ere is an y b o d y in R o an e C o u n ty th at h as b een p ro tected

,

w h o se rig h ts h av e b een co n stitu tio n ally secu red it is th ese tw o b ro th ers.

T h ey h av e h ad t h e b en ef its o f a f air trial, th ey ’v e h ad th e b en ef its o f

ap p eals, th ey ’v e h ad th e b en ef its o f ev ery rig h t th at

. . . th ese C o u rts, an d th e C o u rts o f R o an e C o u n ty can af f o rd th ese d ef

en d an ts an d in stead o f sittin g d o w n an d k issin g th e f

lo o r an d b lessin g th is j u d icial sy stem

, th ey f in d n o th in g in th e w o rld to d o b u t to attack as so m e p aran o id f ear o f a co n sp iracy th at th ey

are g o in g to u n rav el in R o an e C o u n ty

.

T h at is it. T h e m o tio n to co n tin u e an d th e m o tio n to recu se [ are]
d en ied

. T h e C o u rt f

in d s n o o b

j ectiv e o r su b

j ectiv e reaso n s w h y th is C o u rt
sh o u ld recu se itself

.

T h e co u rt th en p ro ceed ed to sen ten ce th e d ef en d an t, as w e h av e set o u t.

O n Ju ly 3 0

, 2 0 1 0

, th e d ef

en d an t f iled a p ro se m o tio n f

o r j u d g m en t o f acq u ittal an d /o r

a m o tio n f

o r n ew trial, arg u in g th at h is co n v ictio n s w ere o b tain ed th ro u g h “f o rg ery , f rau d

,

an d co n sp iracy ”; th at h e h ad b een d en ied th e assistan ce o f co u n sel at trial; th at th e t r i a l j u d g e, p ro secu to r, an d circu it co u rt cler k h ad co n f licts o f in terest; th at a tran scrip t o f h is

p relim in ary h earin g h ad b een p ro v id ed to th e g ran d j u ry w h ich in d icted h im ; th at n eith er a

w arran t n o r cap ias h ad b een serv ed o n h im ; an d th at th e v erd ict o f th e j u ry w as co n trary to
th e w eig h t o f th e ev id en ce. O n A u g u st 2 6

, n ew ly ap p o in ted co u n sel f o r th e d ef en d an t f iled

a m o tio n f o r n ew trial, assertin g th at (1 ) th e ev id en ce w as in su f f icien t to su stain th e v erd icts; (2 ) th e co u rt erred b y allo w in g th e atto rn ey f o r th e d ef en d an t to w ith d raw o n th e d ay o f trial,

“im p ro p erly f

o rcin g ” th e d ef

en d an t to rep resen t h i ms e l f ; (3 ) th e co u rt erred b y f

ailin g to

g ran t th e d ef

en d an t a co n tin u an ce af ter h is law y er h ad b een allo w ed to w i t h d r aw th e

-6-m o rn in g o f th e trial; (4 ) th e co u rt erred in f ailin g to d ism iss th e in d i c t me n t a f t er th e d ef en d an t h ad b een d en i e d a co p y o f th e p ro b ab le cau se h earin g an d d en ied h is rig h t to a

sp eed y t r i a l ; ( 5 ) th e trial co u rt erred in f ailin g to recu se itself an d to d isq u alif y th e sp ecial
d istrict atto rn ey g en eral; an d (6 ) th e trial co u rt erred in f ailin g to d i s q u alif

y th e j u ry p o o l
b e c a u s e it h ad b een selected b y an assistan t co u rt clerk w h o h ad a clear p o ten tial f o r b i a s

ag ain st th e d ef

en d an t. S u b se q u e n t l y , th ro u g h th e sam e ap p o in ted co u n sel, th e d ef en d an t
f iled an am en d ed m o tio n f o r a n ew trial, ad d in g th e claim th at th e tr i a l c o u r t h a d erred in
d en y in g th e d ef

en d an t’s m o tio n o f acq u ittal at th e en d o f th e S tate’s p ro o f

. B y o rd er en tered

o n A u g u st 1 , 2 0 1 1 , th e trial co u rt, w ith o u t am p lif icatio n , d en ied th e m o tio n f o r n ew trial.

T h e d ef en d an t th en f

iled a p ro se n o tice o f ap p eal o n A u g u st 2 6

, 2 0 1 1

, alleg in g th at
“atto rn ey R an d y G

. R o g ers h as ref u sed to rep resen t h is clien t an d d ef en d an t in crim in al case

n o

. 1 3 2 2 6 an d h as sto le[ n ] in ex cess o f $ 6 0 ,0 0 0 to rep resen t R o ck y Jo e H o u sto n .”

A d d itio n ally

, th e n o tice o f ap p eal stated th at th e d ef en d an t “is ap p ealin g [ J] u d g e Jo n K erry B lack w o o d ’s o rd er [ d en y in g ] th e d ef en d an t’s m o tio n f

o r a n ew trial in crim in al case n o

. 1 3 2 2 6 ,” w h ich in clu d es b o th o f th e f iv e co u n ts f

o r w h ich th e d ef

en d an t w as tried

, so th is
claim g o es to b o th co u n ts o f

w h ich h e w as co n v icted

.

I n h is ap p ellate b rief

, th e d ef en d an t sets o u t, as issu es o n ap p eal, (1 ) th at th is co u r t
“v acate an d rem an d ” C ase N o

. 1 3 2 2 6 to th e trial co u rt f o r a n ew trial; (2 ) ap p o i n t a n “eth ical, m o ral an d co m

p eten t” atto rn ey to rep resen t th e d ef en d an t in th e ap p eal; (3 ) req u ire
th at atto rn ey R an d y G

. R o g ers ad m it o r d en y w h eth er h e h as ref u n d ed to th e d ef

en d an t th e $ 6 0 ,0 0 0 leg al f

ee p aid b y th e d ef

en d an t to R o g ers; (4 ) th at n am ed in d iv i d u a l s , i n clu d in g

m em b ers o f th e C o u r t o f C rim in al A p p eals, “req u est th at a f ed eral v ital statistic au d it b e

co n d u cted in to th e reco rd in crim in al case n o

. 1 3 2 2 6 ; (5 ) an d in v estig ate th e trial j u d g e f o r

v io latin g th e C o d e o f Ju d icial C o n d u ct an d th e U n ited S tates an d T en n essee C o n stitu tio n s. A d d itio n ally

, th e d ef

en d an t f iled a rep ly b rief statin g th at, d u rin g th e p erio d f ro m Ju n e 2 0 0 6
th ro u g h Ju ly 2 0 0 7

, h e p aid atto rn ey R an d y G

. R o g ers to rep resen t h im in C ase N o

. 1 3 2 2 6

,

an d th at o n o r ab o u t F eb ru ary 2 5

, 2 0 1 0

, an o rd er w as en tered in th e R o an e C o u n ty C rim in al

C o u rt allo w in g atto rn ey R o g ers to w ith d raw f ro m th is rep resen tatio n an d th at h e h as ref u sed

to retu rn th e f

u n d s p aid to h im b y th e d ef en d an t f o r th at case, as w e l l a s t h i s c a s e

. A d d itio n ally

, th e d ef

en d an t states th at h e d o es n o t h av e th e f u n d s to retain an atto r n e y i n th ese m atters an d th at h e h as n o t w aiv ed h is rig h t to co u n sel in th em

.

In o u r rev iew o f th is ap p eal, w e w ill co n sid er, as issu es, th o se raised b y th e d ef en d an t
in h is o rig in al an d am en d ed p ro se ap p ellate b rief s.

I. S u f f icien cy o f

th e E v id en ce

I n h i s m o t i o n f

o r n e w t r i a l

, t h e d e f

e n d a n t a r g u e d t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n d e n y i n g

-7-t h e m o t i o n f o r n e w t r i a l

. A c c o r d i n g l y , w e w i l l r e v i e w t h e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d a t t h e t r i a l

.

I n c o n s i d e r i n g t h i s i s s u e , w e a p p l y t h e r u l e t h a t w h e r e s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e c o n v i c t i n g

e v i d e n c e i s c h a l l e n g e d

, t h e r e l e v a n t q u e s t i o n o f t h e r e v i e w i n g c o u r t i s “ w h e t h e r , a f t e r

v i e w i n g t h e e v i d e n c e i n t h e l i g h t m o s t f a v o r a b l e t o t h e p r o s e c u t i o n , a n y r a t i o n a l t r i e r o f f a c t

c o u l d h a v e f

o u n d t h e e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t s o f t h e c r i m e b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t

. ” J a c k s o n

v

. V i r g i n i a , 4 4 3 U

. S

. 3 0 7

, 3 1 9 ( 1 9 7 9 ) ; s e e a l s o T e n n

. R

. A p p

. P

. 1 3 ( e ) ( “ F i n d i n g s o f g u i l t i n

c r i m i n a l a c t i o n s w h e t h e r b y t h e t r i a l c o u r t o r j u r y s h a l l b e s e t a s i d e i f t h e e v i d e n c e i s i n s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t t h e f

i n d i n g s b y t h e t r i e r o f f

a c t o f g u i l t b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t

. ” ) ;
S t a t e v

. E v a n s , 8 3 8 S

. W

. 2 d 1 8 5

, 1 9 0

- 9 2 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 2 ) ; S t a t e v

. A n d e r s o n , 8 3 5 S

. W

. 2 d 6 0 0

, 6 0 4 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 9 2 )

. A l l q u e s t i o n s i n v o l v i n g t h e c r e d i b i l i t y o f w i t n e s s e s , t h e

w e i g h t a n d v a l u e t o b e g i v e n t h e e v i d e n c e , a n d a l l f a c t u a l i s s u e s a r e r e s o l v e d b y t h e t r i e r o f

f a c t

. S e e S t a t e v

. P a p p a s , 7 5 4 S

. W

. 2 d 6 2 0

, 6 2 3 ( T e n n

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 8 7 )

. “ A g u i l t y v e r d i c t
b y t h e j u r y , a p p r o v e d b y t h e t r i a l j u d g e , a c c r e d i t s t h e t e s t i m o n y o f t h e w i t n e s s e s f o r t h e S t a t e

a n d r e s o l v e s a l l c o n f

l i c t s i n f a v o r o f t h e t h e o r y o f t h e S t a t e

. ” S t a t e v

. G r a c e , 4 9 3 S

. W

. 2 d

4 7 4

, 4 7 6 ( T e n n

. 1 9 7 3 )

. O u r s u p r e m e c o u r t s t a t e d t h e r a t i o n a l e f o r t h i s r u l e :

T h i s w e l l

- s e t t l e d r u l e r e s t s o n a s o u n d f o u n d a t i o n

. T h e t r i a l j u d g e a n d

t h e j u r y s e e t h e w i t n e s s e s f a c e t o f a c e , h e a r t h e i r t e s t i m o n y a n d o b s e r v e t h e i r d e m e a n o r o n t h e s t a n d

. T h u s t h e t r i a l j u d g e a n d j u r y a r e t h e p r i m a r y i n s t r u m e n t a l i t y o f j u s t i c e t o d e t e r m i n e t h e w e i g h t a n d c r e d i b i l i t y t o b e g i v e n

t o t h e t e s t i m o n y o f w i t n e s s e s

. I n t h e t r i a l f o r u m a l o n e i s t h e r e h u m a n

a t m o s p h e r e a n d t h e t o t a l i t y o f t h e e v i d e n c e c a n n o t b e r e p r o d u c e d w i t h a

w r i t t e n r e c o r d i n t h i s C o u r t

. B o l i n v

. S t a t e , 2 1 9 T e n n

. 4

, 1 1

, 4 0 5 S

. W

. 2 d 7 6 8

, 7 7 1 ( 1 9 6 6 ) ( c i t i n g C a r r o l l v

. S t a t e , 2 1 2 T e n n

. 4 6 4

, 3 7 0 S

. W

. 2 d 5 2 3 ( 1 9 6 3 ) )

.

“ A j u r y c o n v i c t i o n r e m o v e s t h e p r e s u m p t i o n o f i n n o c e n c e w i t h w h i c h a d e f e n d a n t i s i n i t i a l l y c l o a k e d a n d r e p l a c e s i t w i t h o n e o f g u i l t

, s o t h a t o n a p p e a l

a c o n v i c t e d d e f

e n d a n t h a s t h e b u r d e n o f d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e i s i n s u f f i c i e n t

. ” S t a t e v

. T u g g l e , 6 3 9 S

. W

. 2 d 9 1 3

, 9 1 4 ( T e n n

. 1 9 8 2 )

.

A t th e trial in th is m atter, th e d ef en d an t w as f

o u n d g u ilty

o f C o u n ts 3 an d 4 , b ein g

sen ten ced

, resp ectiv ely

, to elev en m o n th s, tw en ty -n in e d ay s an d o n e y ear, th e sen ten ces to
b e serv ed co n cu rren tly

. T h e v ictim in C o u n t 3 , f o r w h ich th e d ef

en d an t w as co n v icted o f
reck less en d an g erm en t, w as S erg ean t T ro y Wrig h t. F o r co n v ictio n o f th is o f f en se, th e j u ry h ad to f in d th at th e d ef

en d an t “reck lessly en g ag e[ d ] in co n d u ct th at p lace[ d ] o r m ay [ h av e]

p lace[ d ] [ S erg ean t Wrig h t] in im m in en t d an g er o f d eath o r serio u s b o d ily in j u ry .” T en n

. C o d e A n n . § 3 9 -1 3 -1 0 3 (a). A s w e h av e set o u t, S erg ean t Wrig h t testif ied , in p art, th at, as
h is v eh icle w as try in g to p ass th e d ef en d an t, th e d ef

en d an t sw erv ed h is v eh icle to w ard th at

o f Wrig h t, try in g to f

o rce it in to o n co m in g traf f ic. T ak en in th e lig h t m o st f av o rab le to th e S tate, a reaso n ab le j u ry co u ld f in d th at th e d ef

en d an t co m

m itted reck less en d an g erm en t w ith

-8-h is v eh icle ag ain st S erg ean t Wrig h t. L ik ew ise, as to C o u n t 4 , ev ad in g arrest, th e j u ry h ad

to d ete r mi n e th at th e d ef en d an t, af

ter h e h ad b een sig n aled to sto p , in ten tio n ally ev ad ed

arrest b y a p erso n h e k n ew to b e a law en f o rcem en t o f

f icer. S ee T en n

. C o d e A n n

. § 3 9 -1 6

- 6 0 3 (b ). We co n clu d e th at, b ased u p o n t h e testim o n y o f th e S tate’s w itn esses th at af ter
S erg ean t Wrig h t h ad activ ated h is b lu e lig h ts an d siren in an attem p t to sto p th e d ef

en d an t’s

v eh icle, th e d ef

en d an t tried to ru n Wrig h t’s v eh icle in to o n co m in g traf f ic t o e v a d e b ein g arrested

. F ro m th is testim o n y , w e co n clu d e th at a reaso n ab le j u ry co u ld h av e co n clu d ed th at
th e d ef en d an t, k n o w in g th at h e w as b ein g p u rsu ed b y law en f o rcem en t o f

f icers, ch o se to f

lee

in h is v eh icle to av o id b ein g arrested

. A cco rd in g ly

, w e co n clu d e th at th e ev id en ce is

su f f icien t to su stain th e co n v ictio n s f o r C o u n ts 3 an d 4

.

II. A p p o in t a n “ E th ica l, M o ra l a n d C o m p eten t”

A tto rn ey to R ep resen t th e D ef en d a n t o n A p p ea l

D u rin g th e m o n th s sin ce th is m atter w as ap p ealed , th e d ef en d an t h as req u ested o n

sev eral o ccasio n s th at th is co u rt ap p o in t an atto rn ey to rep resen t h im o n ap p eal. We w ill

rev iew th is req u est.

T h e reco rd o n ap p eal is co n f u sin g as to th e d ef

en d an t’s d ealin g s w ith atto rn ey s, p art

o f w h ich w e p rev io u sly h av e set o u t. T h e reco rd in clu d es an af f id av it o f in d ig en cy , d ated

M ay 3

, 2 0 1 0

, w h ich is h an d w ritten

, m ak in g it d if f icu lt to read

, ack n o w led g in g t h a t t h e d ef en d an t h as a resid en ce, ap p aren tly w ith a m o rtg ag e o f $ 6 0 ,0 0 0 , w h ich w as “tied u p ”; a

1 9 9 6 v eh icle w h ich is o p erab le o n ly u p o n o ccasio n ; an d o th er real p ro p erty

, co -o w n ed w ith
relativ es w h o w o u ld n o t ag ree to its b ein g u sed to secu re leg al rep resen tatio n

. T h e trial co u rt

accep ted th is af

f id av it an d

, o n M ay 1 0

, 2 0 1 0

, ap p o in ted co u n sel to rep resen t th e d ef en d an t
“f o r t h e p u r p o s es o f sen ten cin g an d ap p eal.” O n Ju n e 2 3

, 2 0 1 1

, th e co u rt sen t a letter to

ap p o in ted co u n sel f

o r th e d ef en d an t, statin g th at h is “ i n d ig en cy statu s m ay h av e ch an g ed
sin ce th e last ap p o in tm en t o f co u n sel” an d d irectin g th at h e f ile a n ew af

f id av it o f in d ig en cy

w ith in f iv e d ay s. A co p y

o f th is o rd er also w as sen t b y “certif ied [ m ail] retu rn receip t” to
th e d ef en d an t. A p p aren tly

, th e d ef en d an t d id n o t co m

p ly w ith th i s o r d er, f

o r, o n Ju ly 1 1

, 2 0 1 1

, th e trial co u rt en tered an o th er o rd er, ag ain req u irin g th at th e d ef en d an t f ile a cu rren t
af f id av it o f in d ig en cy , th is tim e b y Ju ly 2 1

, 2 0 1 1

, o r ap p ear in co u rt th at d ay to ex p lain w h y h e h ad n o t d o n e so

. A cco rd in g to an o rd er o f th e co u rt f iled o n Ju ly 2 9

, 2 0 1 1

, th e d ef en d an t

n eith er f i l e d a cu rren t af

f id av it o f in d ig en cy n o r ap p eared in co u rt o n Ju ly 2 1

, 2 0 1 1

, to

ex p lain w h y h is in d ig en cy s t a t u s sh o u ld n o t b e rev o k ed

. T h u s, ap p o in ted co u n sel w as reliev ed f ro m f u rth er rep resen tatio n o f

th e d ef en d an t. O n A u g u st 2 6

, 2 0 1 1

, th e d ef en d an t
f iled a p ro se n o tice o f ap p eal. T h e m o st recen t af f id av it o f in d ig en cy o f th e d ef en d an t in
th e reco rd o n ap p eal is th at f iled in th e trial co u rt o n M ay 3 , 2 0 1 0

.

O n D ecem

b er 1 6

, 2 0 1 1

, w h ile th is m atter w as o n ap p eal, th e d ef en d an t f iled w ith th e

-9-C o u rt o f C rim in al A p p eals a m o tio n seek in g sev eral o rd ers, o n e f o r th e ap p o in tm en t o f an “eth ical, m o ral, co m

p et e n t an d ef

f ectiv e atto rn ey ” to rep resen t h im in h is ap p eal. T h is

co u rt’s o rd er o f Jan u ary 1 8

, 2 0 1 2

, co n clu d ed th at th e trial co u rt h ad n o t ab u sed its d iscretio n in reliev in g ap p o in ted co u n sel f ro m c o n tin u ed rep resen tatio n

. In its o rd er d en y in g th e

m o tio n , th is co u rt ex p lain ed th at th e d ef en d an t’s m o tio n f

o r ap p o in tm en t o f co u n sel f ailed

to in clu d e an af

f id av it o f in d ig en cy

. O n A p ril 1 3

, 2 0 1 2

, th e d ef en d an t f iled an o th er m o tio n

w ith th e C o u rt o f C rim in al A p p eals, ag ain seek in g , am o n g o th er th in g s, th at th is co u rt

ap p o in t an atto rn ey to rep resen t h im o n ap p eal. A g ain

, th is co u rt d eclin e d t o d o so ,

ex p lain in g th a t h e w as n o t en titled to ap p o in ted co u n sel u n til h e estab lish ed th at h e w as in d ig en t. A d d itio n ally

, th is co u rt ex p lain ed th at it h ad “n o au th o rity to en f o rce an y p riv ate

co n tractu al ag reem en ts th e [ d ] ef en d an t m ay h av e m ad e w ith an atto rn ey to rep resen t h im in
th e p ro ceed in g s b elo w .”

O n Ju ly 2 0

, 2 0 1 2

, th is co u rt g ran ted th e d ef en d an t’s m o tio n th at th is m atter b e set o n th e o ral arg u m en t d o ck et, an d it w as sch ed u led to b e h eard d u rin g th e A u g u st 2 2

, 2 0 1 2
sessio n o f th e C o u rt o f C rim in al A p p eals in K n o x v ille. O n A u g u st 2 1

, 2 0 1 2

, th e d ef en d an t

sen t b y f acsim ile tran sm issio n to th e co u rt clerk ’s o f f ice a p ro se p lead in g ad v isin g th e co u rt
th at h e w o u ld n o t ap p ear th e f o llo w in g d ay f

o r th e sch ed u led o ral arg u m en t. F u rth er, in th is

p lead in g , h e ad v ised th e co u rt th at h e h ad n o t w aiv ed h is rig h t to co u n sel. O n A u g u st 2 9

, 2 0 1 2

, th e d ef

en d an t f iled a rep ly b rief

, rep e a t i n g h is earlier alleg atio n s th at h is f o rm er

atto rn ey , R an d y G

. R o g ers, h ad ref u sed to retu rn a $ 7 5 ,0 0 0 leg al f ee, ask in g th at th e co u rt

o rd er h e d o so an d ad v isin g th e co u rt, ag ain , th at h e h ad n o t w aiv ed h is rig h t to co u n sel.

A s to a p p o in tm en t o f co u n sel o n ap p eal, th is co u rt h as ru led b o th o n Jan u ary 1 8

, 2 0 1 2

, an d A p ril 1 3

, 2 0 1 2

, in resp o n se to id en tical req u ests, th a t a p p o i n t men t o f co u n sel

co u ld n o t b e co n sid ered u n less h e f iled a cu rren t af

f id av it o f in d ig en cy . S u ch an af

f id av it

h as n o t b een f

iled b y th e d ef

en d an t. A cco rd in g ly

, w e ag ain ru le th at th e d ef en d an t h as n o t
sh o w n th at h e is in d ig en t an d , th u s, en titled to ap p o in ted co u n sel.

III. R eq u ire D ef

en d a n t’s F o rm er A tto rn ey to D isclo se W h eth er H e R etu rn ed L eg a l F ees to th e D ef en d a n t

T h e d ef en d an t f u rth er arg u es th at th is co u rt sh o u ld req u ire atto rn ey R an d y G

. R o g ers

to “ad m it o r d en y ” w h eth er h e h as ref u n d ed to th e d ef

en d an t th e $ 6 0 ,0 0 0 leg al f ee p aid b y th e d ef en d an t to h im

. H e also h as asserted

, in v ario u s p lead in g s, th e related claim s th at th e trial co u rt erred in al l o w i n g ap p o in ted co u n sel to w ith d raw as th e trial w as to b eg in an d

, th en , ref u sin g to co n tin u e th e trial so th at h e co u ld o b tain su ccesso r co u n sel. In rev iew in g th is m atter, w e f

irst w ill set o u t th e d ealin g s b etw een th e d ef en d an t an d th e atto rn ey s w h o

rep resen ted h im

.

-10-T h e rec o r d o n ap p eal in clu d es a m o tio n , f iled o n Ju ly 2 3

, 2 0 0 9

, b y atto rn ey R an d y G

. R o g ers, to w ith d raw f

ro m f u rth er rep resen tatio n o f th e d ef en d an t. In th is m o tio n , co u n sel

reco u n ted h is ef

f o rts o n b eh alf o f th e d ef

en d an t in th e trial o f th e f

irst set o f ch arg es ag ain st
th e d ef en d an t an d o f

su b stan tial d isag reem en ts b etw een th e tw o o f th em . A t a Jan u ary

1 2

, 2 0 1 0 h earin g o n v ario u s m o tio n s, th e co u rt ad v ised th e d ef en d an t th at atto rn ey R o g ers h ad

in f o rm ed th e co u rt th at h e w as n o t rep resen tin g th e d ef en d an t in C ase N o

. 1 3 2 2 6

, b u t o n ly

in th e m atter w h ich w as th en u n d er ap p eal. T h e d ef en d a n t r e sp o n d ed th at h e h ad p aid

atto rn ey R o g ers $ 1 5 0 ,0 0 0 f o r h is rep resen t atio n an d th at, if R o g ers w ere allo w ed to

w ith d raw , th e d ef

en d an t w as en titled to a retu rn o f $ 7 5 ,0 0 0

. T h e d ef en d an t ask ed th at th e

co u rt co n d u ct an ev id en tiary h earin g to d eterm in e w h eth er atto rn ey R o g ers rep resen ted h im

in th e p en d in g cases, w h ich th e trial co u rt d eclin ed to d o

.

S u b seq u en tly

, at a h earin g o n M arch 3 1

, 2 0 1 0

, th e trial co u rt ex p lain ed w h y th e co u rt

w as g ran tin g th e mo t i o n o f ap p o in ted co u n sel, L in d sey L an d er, to w ith d raw f ro m h is

rep resen tatio n o f

th e d ef en d an t:

B u t th ese litig atio n s g o b ack as f ar as th e b eg in n in g o f th e o th er case

w h ich [ th e d ef

en d an t] h as b een litig ated u p to th e C o u rt o f A p p eals w h en h e

sa i d h e w as rep resen ted b y M r. R an d y R o g ers. F ro m th e b eg in n in g o f th e

case, th e p relim in ary h earin g , th ree, f o u r o r f iv e y ears ag o

. T h e reco rd ref lects
th at o n th at case [ th e d ef en d an t] d id n ’t k n o w w h eth er M r. R o g e r s at th at
in itial in cid en ce h ad a co n f lict w ith h im

.

A n d sin ce th at tim e [ th e d ef en d an t] h as en g ag ed in a co n ti nuou s p attern

o f f ilin g law su its o r try in g to f ile law su its o r th reat e n i n g t o f ile law su its

ag ain st j u d g es, law y ers, clerk s.

H e h as d elay ed t h e p ro cess o f n o t o n ly th is case b u t o f th e o th er

p articu lar case b y h is co n stan t th reats o f rep o rtin g law y ers, su in g law y ers,

su in g j u d g es. M r. R o g ers, w h o rep resen ted [ th e d ef en d an t] in th e o th er case,

w as allo w ed to w ith d raw

. We’v e b een

– at t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f th at case in

w h ich Ju d g e S co tt d eclared a mistrial w h ich h as recen tly b een b ef o re th e C o u rt o f [ C rim in al] A p p eals; b u t su b seq u en t to th at M r. R o g ers w as allo w ed

to w ith d raw b y Ju d g e H ay es af ter a b itter an d acrim o n io u s ar g u m en t in th e

co u rt ro o m , th ere is n o d o u b t ab o u t th at. A n d sin ce th at tim e, w h ich h as b een ab o u t a y ear, [ th e d ef

en d an t] h as n o t retain ed an y co u n sel to rep resen t h im an d

h as m ain tain ed d esp ite th at b itter an d acrim o n io u s d i s p u t e b etw een M r. R o g ers, th at M r. R o g ers still rep resen ts h im

.

Wh en w e f

irst cam e to co u rt h ere o n th i s p a r ticu lar ch arg e, h e still

-11-in sisted th at M r. R o g ers rep resen ted h im

. We called M r. R o g ers an d h e said

h e d id n ’t. We h av e called Ju d g e H ay es an d

. . . th is C o u rt h as v erif ied th at it

w as Ju d g e H ay es’ in ten tio n to

. . . allo w M r. R o g ers to w ith d raw f ro m th at

case an d

. . . n o j u d g e w o u ld allo w h im

– M r. R o g ers to g et clo se to th is case b ecau se o f

th e b itter d isp u te th at [ th e d ef en d an t] h ad w ith h im . C allin g h im

a liar an d rep o rtin g h i m, a n d c a l l in g h im a co w ard an d alm o st h av in g to b e restrain ed in co u rt. A n d y et in th is p articu lar case, ev en af ter b ein g in f

o rm ed
th at M r. R o g ers is n o t h i s a t t o rn ey , h e co n tin u ed to in sist th at h e w as h is

atto rn ey . T h e C o u rt h as rem in d ed h im th at h e is n o t.

T h e C o u rt h as ap p o in ted M r. L an d ers to rep rese n t h i m. [ T h e d ef en d an t] d en ies th at h e n eed s ap p o in ted co u n sel, w ill n o t f ill o u t an af

f id av it

o f i n d ig en cy

. E v en th o u g h all th is p erio d o f tim e n o retain ed law y er h as

ap p eared to rep resen t h im

. T h e C o u rt h as d o n e ev ery th in g it can d o to p ro tect
h is rig h ts to g et h im

a law y er in th is case.

A n d n o w in th is p resen t case h e th reaten s to su e th e law y er, th reaten s

to

– acco rd in g to th e B o ard

, tak e w h atev er actio n s h e h as an d h as su b p o en aed

h im in a G en eral S essio n s case w h ich th e C o u rt h as ru led th a t y o u d o n o t

– M r. L an d ers d o es n o t h av e a co n f lict an d I k n o w th at [ th e d ef en d an t] p ro b ab ly
d isp u tes th e f

act th at th is C o u rt h as ru led th at th ere is n o c o n f l i c t b u t h e ref u ses in sp ite o f w h at th e C o u rt o rd ers in th e case to ab id e b y th e o rd er. H is

rem ed y o f th e C o u rt is w ro n g ab o u t an y co n f licts in th e A p p ell[ ate] C o u rt.
It’s n o t at th is p articu lar stag e, y et h e co n tin u es to w an t to litig ate th is issu e.

H e h as d em an d ed a sp eed y trial in th is case, an d w e h av e g iv en h im a

sp eed y trial.

Ju st recen tly h e h as f

iled m o tio n s to d isq u alif y th e C ler k a f

t e r th is

C o u rt o n its o w n in itiativ e rem o v ed M rs. R an d o lp h f ro m th is case b ecau se o f
th e alleg ed sp ittin g in cid en t.

H e ask ed f

o r a n ew p an el to b e b ro u g h t in

, th e C o u rt h as d o n e th at an d

n o w h e ch allen g es th at n ew p an el f o r so m e reaso n

.

T h is m an h as m an ip u la t e d

, d e lay ed

, h in d ered

, u sed ev ery tactic th at
th ere co u ld p o ssib ly b e u sed in th e last th ree o r f o u r y ears to d elay ev ery case h e h as b ef

o re th is C o u rt.

A n d th eref

o re th is C o u rt ru les th at h e h as w aiv ed h is rig h t to h av e a

-12-law y er rep resen t h im in th is case an d h e w ill b e rep resen tin g h im self

.

T h e m ain q u estio n in th is case is w h eth er o r n o t th e j u stice sy stem is

g o in g to b e h eld h o stag e to a litig an t th at w ill u se an y m eth o d w h atso ev er to

su e law y ers, j u d g es, litig an ts, to f ile co m p lain ts ag ain st th em , to co n tin u e to
h in d er f o r n o g o o d reaso n

. . . th e o rd erly ad m in istratio n o f j u stice. A n d it is
tim e th at p ro cess cam e to an en d

.

[ T h e d ef en d an t]

, y o u ’v e g o t y o u r law y er an d y o u r law y er is y o u , to d ay

.

Y o u are ex cu sed M r. L an d ers.

A d d itio n ally

, th e trial co u rt ex p lain ed w h y an o th er law y er w as n o t b ein g ap p o in ted

to rep resen t th e d ef

en d an t at h is trial, w h ich w as to b eg in ap p ro x im ately o n e h o u r later:

If th is C o u rt g av e y o u an o th er law y er an d d elay ed th is case an y m o re it w o u ld b e m o re o f th e ex act sa me a s h as o ccu rred f o r th e last th ree y ears. Y o u w o u ld o n ce ag ain

. . . d isreg ard th e ad v ice o f y o u r law y er. O n ce ag ain

, y o u w o u l d f

i n d a co n f

lict w ith y o u r law y er. O n ce ag ain

, y o u w o u ld f in d

reaso n s to d elay

, h in d er o r im p ed e th e p ro cess o f th is j u d icial p ro ceed in g [ ] b y

v ag u e th reats o f co n sp iracy o r al l e g a tio n s o f co n sp iracy w h ich h av e n o f o u n d atio n in f

act.

N o w , I’m g o in g to tell y o u th at j u ry selectio n w ill b eg in at 9 :0 0

.

N o w , I’ll ask M r. L a n d e r s t o d o o n e last th in g f o r y o u an d th at is to

p rep are a j u ry sh eet so h e can p u t th e n am es o f th e j u ro rs in th e b o x

. A f ter
th at w e w ill b eg in th e j u ry selectio n p ro cess.

A n d [ th e d ef

en d an t]

, y o u r j u ry q u es t i o n s are d irected to th e

q u alif icatio n s o f th e j u ro rs an d n o t to an y sp eech

. . . th at y o u w o u ld l ik e to

m ak e to th em . A n d I w ill b e as in d u lg en t as I p o ssib ly can w ith y o u

. B u t if

I t ell y o u to m o v e o r th at’s n o t a p ro p er statem en t o r a p ro p er q u estio n , y o u

w ill ab id e b y

th at o rd er.

T h e d ecisio n to allo w co u n sel to w ith d raw lies w ith in th e d iscretio n o f th e trial co u rt

an d w ill n o t b e r ev ersed ab sen t an ab u se o f d iscretio n

. S ee S tate v

. B ran am , 8 5 5 S .W.2 d

5 6 3

, 5 6 6 (T en n . 1 9 9 3 ); S tate v . G ilm o re, 8 2 3 S .W.2 d 5 6 6

, 5 6 9 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 1 ).

In th is m atter, th e trial co u rt f o u n d

, an d recited f

o r th e reco rd

, th e d ef

en d an t’s an tag o n istic
relatio n s w ith th e sev eral co u n sel w h o h ad rep resen ted h im an d o f th e resu ltin g d elay s in

-13-reso lu tio n o f th e p en d in g in d ictm en ts. T h e reco rd su p p o rts th e trial co u rt’s d eterm in atio n

to allo w co u n sel to w ith d raw as to th e m atters set to g o to trial. S ee S tate v

. C arru th ers, 3 5
S .W.3 d 5 1 6

, 5 4 9 (T en n

. 2 0 0 0 ) (“[ E ] v en ‘[ t] h o u g h a d ef en d an t h as a rig h t to select h is o w n

co u n sel if h e acts ex p ed itio u sl y t o d o so

. . . h e m ay n o t u se th is rig h t to p lay a ‘cat an d

m o u se’ g am e w ith th e co u rt[ .] ’”) (q u o tin g S tate v

. C h ad w ick

, 2 2 4 T en n

. 7 5

, 7 9

, 4 5 0 S .W.2 d

5 6 8 , 5 7 0 (1 9 7 0 )).

A s to th e d ef

en d an t’s claim s ag ain st atto rn ey R o g ers, w e are u n aw are o f an y au th o rity

w h ereb y w e m ay b eco m e in v o lv ed

, i n t h e d i r e c t ap p eal o f a crim in al co n v ictio n , in th e f in an cial d ealin g s b etw een th e d ef en d an t an d a law y er. F u rth er in th is reg ard

, w e h av e n o

au th o rity to co m

p el co u n sel to d isclo se f

ee arran g em en ts b et w e e n h im an d th e d ef en d an t.
A s to th e d ef

en d an t’s claim th at h is trial sh o u ld h av e b een co n tin u ed s o h e co u ld o b tain

su ccesso r co u n sel, th e reco rd su p p o rts th e trial co u rt’ s f in d in g s as to th e acrim o n io u s d ealin g s b e t w e e n t h e d ef en d an t o n o n e h an d an d th e co u rt an d h is v ario u s co u n sel o n th e

o th er. Wh ile it is reg rettab le th at th e d ef en d an t p ro ceed ed w ith o u t co u n sel, th e reco rd f u lly

su p p o rts th e d eterm in atio n o f th e trial co u rt th at h e d o so . T h is issu e is w ith o u t m erit.

IV. P rep a ra tio n o f

a “ Vita l S ta tistic A u d it”

T h e d ef en d an t arg u es o n ap p eal th at th is co u rt sh o u ld o rd er th e p rep aratio n o f a “v ital
statistic au d it” in th is m atter. It is n o t clear w h at th e d ef en d an t b eliev es th e b en ef it o f su ch

a d o cu m en t w o u ld b e. H o w ev er, th is co u rt is w ith o u t th e au th o rity to o rd er th e p rep aratio n

o f su ch a d o cu m en t an d , acco rd in g ly , th is m atter is w ith o u t m erit.

V. In v estig a te T ria l J u d g e f o r Vio la tin g th e C o d e o f J u d icia l C o n d u ct

a n d U n ited S ta tes a n d T en n essee C o n stitu tio n s

T h e d ef en d an t h as n o t p ro v id ed an ex p lan atio n o f th e alleg ed v io latio n s b y th e trial j u d g e h e w ish es to h av e in v estig ated o r su g g ested h o w an ap p ellate co u rt co u ld p ro v id e th is
relief . We co n clu d e th at w e can n o t d o so an d , th eref o re, th is req u est is d en ied

.

C O N C L U S IO N

B ased u p o n th e f

o llo w in g au th o rities an d reaso n in g , th e j u d g m en ts o f th e trial co u rt
are af f irm ed

.

P E R C U R I A M

-14-