FI RST DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, C. J.

, A NDREWS, P. J.

, and RA Y, 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

June 8, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A0 60 2 . THE STATE v . BANKS.

A N D R E W S , Pres i d in g J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g a ju ry t ri al

, t h e Su p eri o r Co urt o f G ly n n Co u n t y en tered ju d g m en t s

o f co n vi ct i o n ag ai n s t L e v i B a n k s

, J r. o n o ne co u n t o f ag g rav at ed ch i ld m o l es t at i o n

(OCGA § 1 6 -6 -4 (c)) an d o ne co u n t o f ch i l d m o l es t at io n ( O C G A § 1 6 -6 -4 (a) (1 )).

Ban ks o b t ai n ed n ew co u n s el an d fi l ed a m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al arg ui ng

, in t er al i a, t h at

h e recei ved i n effect i v e as s is t an ce of t ri al co u n s el

. Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Ban k s ’

m o ti o n

, an d t h e St at e ap p eal s

. See OCGA § 5 -7 -1 (a) (8 ). Becau s e we co n cl u d e t h at

t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n co n cl u d i n g Ban k s recei v ed i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce o f t r i a l

co u ns el , we rev ers e an d rem an d

.

Vi ewed i n a l i g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e v erd ict

, t h e e v i d e n ce rev eal ed t h at

Ban ks l i ved wi t h h i s g ran d p aren t s W ay n e (“ A m y ”) an d Ol an Daffro n an d h ad res i d edwi t h t h em s i n ce h e was ap p ro x i m at el y s i x y ears ol d

. O n Fri d ay

, J u ly 2 7

, 2 0 1 2,

Vi ct o ri a Bo at ri g h t (Ban ks ’ au n t an d Ol an Daffro n’ s d au g h ter) vi s i t ed t he Daffro n s ’

res i den ce wi th h er d au g h t er, Kel l i

, an d Kel l i ’ s fo u r

- y ear-o l d d au g ht er an d t h reeweek -o ld s o n

. K el li an d h er ch i l d ren p l an n ed t o s tay wi t h t h e Daffro ns fo r t h e

week en d

. Aft er d ro p p in g off Kel l i an d h er ch i l d ren

, Vi ct ori a l eft wi t h pl an s t o ret u rn

an d p i ck t h em u p t h e fo l l owi ng Su n d ay aft ern o o n

.

T h a t s am e ev en i n g

, h o wev er, Vi ct o ri a recei v ed a t el ep h o n e cal l fro m Kel l i

.

Kel l i was v ery u p set an d Vi ct o ri a co u l d h ear O lan Daffro n i n t he b ack g ro un d as wel l

.

W h en Vi ct ori a arri v ed

, s h e saw Ol an Daffro n s i t t i n g o n t h e fro n t p o rch an d Kel l i an d

h er ch il d ren s t an d in g i n t h e fro n t d o o rway

. Vi ct o r i a g at h ered t he ch i l d ren s ’

b el o n g i n gs an d l oad ed Kel l i

, t h e c h i l d ren

, an d t h ei r b el o n g i n g s i n t o h er car. As

Vi ct o ri a b eg an t o d ri v e away

, Kel l i ’ s d au g h t er t o ld h er t h at Ban k s h ad “ l ick ed [h er]

h i n ey ” an d h ad gi ven h er can d y

. Vi ct o ri a s t o p ped i m m ed i at el y

, g o t t h e v i ct im o ut o f

t h e car, an d wal k ed up to Ol an Daffro n. Sh e t hen as k ed wh at Ban k s h ad d o ne, an d t h e

v i ct i m rep eat ed t h at Ban k s “ li ck ed m y h i n ey an d g av e m e c a n d y. ” Wh en Vi ct o ri a

as k ed t h e v i ct i m h ow t h e i n ci den t o ccu rred

, t h e v i ct i m p oi n t ed t o h er pri v at e area an d

m o ved her s h o rt s an d p an t i es t o o n e s i d e. Sh ock ed

, Vi ct o ri a l eft wi t h t h e vi ct i m an d

rep o rt ed t h e i n ci d en t t o po l i ce t h e n ex t m o rn i n g

. Aft er t h e i n ci d en t

, Vi ct o ri a n o t i ced

2t h at th e v i ct i m p l aced h er h an d s i n s i d e h er pan t s an d m as t urb at ed

, tel l i n g Vi ct o ri a t h at

i s wh ere Ban k s l i ck ed her. Th e v i ct i m al s o freq u en t l y vo l u n t eered t o t el l o t h ers wh at

h ad h ap p en ed t o h er.

Aft er V i ct o ri a rep o rt ed t h e in ci d en t to l aw en fo rcem en t

, t h e v i ct i m ap p eared

fo r a fo ren s ic i n t erv i ew an d a fo ren s i c m ed i cal ex am i n at i o n

. Du ri n g t h e fo ren s i c

i n t erv i ew, t h e v i ct i m s t at ed t h at Ban k s l i ck ed h er o n h er “ h i n ey

, ” wh i ch s h e i d en t i fi ed

as h er vag i n a t h ro ug h t h e u s e o f an at o m ical l y co rrect d rawi n g s

. At t h e fo ren s i c

m ed i cal ex am i n at i o n

, t h e vi ct i m s t uck ou t her t o n g u e, l i ck ed t h e ai r, an d s ai d Ban k s

l i ck ed h er “ wh ere I p ee.”

At t ri al

, t he v i ct i m t es t i fi ed t h at Ban k s h ad “ l i ck ed [h er] h i n ey ” u n d er h er

cl o t h es an d h ad g iv en h er can d y

. T h e vi ct i m fu rt her s t at ed th e in ci d en t o ccu rred in

Ban ks ’ ro o m w h il e Kel l i an d t h e Daffro n s were i n an o t h er ro o m i n t h e h o u s e.

Fu rt h erm o re, Ban k s ’ co u s i n t es t i fi ed as a s i m il ar t ran s act i o n wi t n es s th at

, wh en s h e

was t en y ears o l d

, Ban k s fo n d l ed h er b reas t s an d v ag i n a wh en t h e two were p l ay i n g

“ h i de an d g o s eek .” Fi n al l y

, Ban k s t es ti fi ed t h at h e g av e t h e v i ct i m can d y an d t h at h e

3m ay h av e p at t ed h er b u t t o ck s

, b u t d en i ed l i ck i ng h er o r ot h erwi s e t o u ch i n g t h e v i ct i m

i n ap p ro p ri at el y

. 1

In i t s s o l e en u m erat i o n o f erro r, t h e St at e co n t en d s t he t ri al co u rt erred in

g ran t i n g Ban k s ’ m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al as am en d ed b ecau s e Ban k s w as no t dep ri v ed o f

t h e effect i v e as s i st an ce o f co un s el . W e ag ree.

Un d er Geo rg ia l aw,

t o o b t ai n rev ers al o f a co n v i ct i o n b as ed on a cl ai m o f i n effect iv e

as s i s t an ce of co un sel

, a d e f e n d a n t has t h e b u rd en o f p ro v in g t hat

co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t

, an d th at

, b ut fo r t h e d e fi ci en cy

,

t h ere was a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y t he o u t co m e o f t h e t ri al wo u l d h av e

b een d i fferen t

. To es t ab l i s h d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce

, a d efen d an t m u s t

s h o w t h at co u n sel ’ s p e r f o r m an ce fel l b el o w an o b ject i v e s t an dard o f

reas o n ab l en es s un d er t h e ci rcu m s tan ces co nfro n t i n g co un s el at t h e t i m e

wi t h ou t res o rt i n g t o h i n d s i g h t

. In co n si d eri n g ad eq u acy o f p erfo rm an ce,

t ri al co u n s el i s s t ro n g l y p res um ed t o h av e ren d ered ad eq u at e as si st an ce

1 Ban k s d i d n o t co n t es t b y cro s s-ap p eal

, an d we s o fi n d t h at t h i s ev i d en ce was

s u ffi ci en t fo r a rat i o n al t ri er o f fact t o fi n d h i m g u i l t y b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t o f

t h e cri m es wi t h wh i ch h e was ch arg ed

. See OCGA § 2 4

- 1 4 -8 (“ Th e tes t im o n y o f a

s i ng l e wi t n es s i s g en eral l y s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i s h a fact .”); Ja cks o n v. Vi r g in i a

, 4 4 3

U. S. 3 07 (9 9 SCt 2 7 81

, 6 1 LE2 d 56 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ). See al so OCGA § § 5 -7 -1 (b ), 5 -6 -3 8

(a); S t a t e v. Ni cker

s o n

, 3 24 Ga. Ap p

. 5 7 6

, 5 8 1 (2 ) (7 4 9 SE2 d 7 68 ) (2 0 13 ) (“ t o s ecu re

ap p el l at e rev i ew o f th e s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s ad v ers e ru l i ng s o n t h e ot h er al l eg ed v io l at i on s

. . ., Ni ck ers o n was req u i red t o fi l e ei t h er a cro s s -ap p eal t o t h e i n s t an t ap p eal o r a

s ep arat e n o t ice o f ap peal ”).

4an d m ad e al l s i g n i fi can t d eci s i on s i n t h e ex erci s e o f r e a s o n ab l e

p ro fes s io nal ju d g m en t

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). C o p el a n d v. S t a t e

, 3 27 G a. A p p

. 52 0

, 5 2 7 (3 )

(7 5 9 SE2 d 5 9 3 ) (2 0 14 ). An at t o rn ey ’ s l ack of ex p e r i e n c e

, s t an d i ng al o n e, i s n ot

g ro u nd s fo r a cl ai m o f i neffect i v e a s s i s t a n ce o f co u n s el

. See S i m m o n s v. St a t e

, 2 9 1

Ga. 70 5

, 7 1 3 (1 0 ) (b ) (7 3 3 SE2 d 2 8 0 ) (2 0 1 2 ); Jo hn s on v. S t a te

, 2 8 7 Ga. 7 67

, 7 6 9 (2 )

(7 0 0 S E 2 d 3 4 6 ) (2 0 1 0); S t ep h en s v. S t at e

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

(1 9 9 5). To t h e co n t rary

, “ a s u cces sfu l i n e f f e c t iv en es s cl ai m m

u st b e b as ed u p o n

s p eci fi c erro rs m ad e b y

co u n sel , rat h er t h an u p o n t ri al co u n s el ’ s ex p eri en ce o r l ack

t h ereo f.” S

evo s t iya n o va v. St a t e

, 3 1 3 G a. Ap p

. 7 2 9

, 7 37 (1 1 ) (a) (7 2 2 SE2 d 3 3 3 )

(2 0 1 2). If a d efen d an t fai l s t o s at i s fy ei t h er p ro n g o f t he t es t fo r i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce

o f co u n s el

, i t i s no t i ncu m b en t up o n t h i s Co u rt t o ex am i n e t h e o t h er p ro n g

. See, e.g

.,

Th o ma s v. S t at e , 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 8 4 9 , 8 5 7 (5 ) (7 3 4 SE2 d 8 2 3 ) (2 0 12 ).

“ W h en rev i ewi n g a t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n to g ran t a m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al b as ed

o n i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

, we defer t o th e tr i a l c o u r t ’s fi nd i n g s o f fact

u n l es s cl earl y erro n eo u s

, bu t o we n o s u ch d eferen ce t o i t s co n cl u s i o n s o f law wh i ch

we ap p l y i n d ep en d en t ly t o th e fact s .” S t a te v. S i ms

, 2 9 6 Ga. 46 5

, 4 6 8 -4 6 9 (2 ) (7 6 9

SE2 d 6 2 ) (2 0 1 5). In rev iewi n g Ban k s ’ cl ai m s o f i neffect i v e as si s t an ce, t h e t ri al co u rt

5reci ted Ban k s ’ g ro u nd s an d fo u n d t h at t es ti fy i n g co u n sel “ w as n o t p ro p erl y m en t o red

t h ro u g h ou t t h e p ro ceed i n g s b y an ex p eri en ced at t o rn ey an d di d n o t p os s es t h e

k n o wl ed g e n eces s ary t o p ro p erl y rep res en t [Ban ks ] i n a cap i t al cas e.” Ho w ev er, t h e

t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o en t er fi n d i n g s o f fact an d co n cl u s i o n s o f l aw o n Ban k s ’ s p eci fi c

g ro u nd s o f i n effect i ve as s is t an ce. 2 See W h i te v. S t a t e

, 2 8 7 Ga. 7 13

, 7 20 (4 ) (6 9 9 SE2 d

2 9 1 ) (2 01 0 ). Rat h er, i t s im p ly co n cl u ded t h at t es t ify i n g co u n s el ’ s perfo rm an ce “ was

d efi ci en t an d t h at t h e d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce was p reju d i ci al t o [Ban k s’ ] d efen s e.” 3

2 Des pi t e t h i s l ack o f s p eci fi ci ty i n t h e t ri a l co urt ’ s o rd er, a rem an d i s n ot

req u i red

. See Hen d

r i x v. S t a t e

, 2 6 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5 5

, 45 7 (2 ) ( 6 0 2 S E 2 d 1 3 3 ) (2 0 0 4 )

(“ [W ] h en t h e reco rd i s s u ffi ci en t

, as h e r e

, a n ap p el l at e co u rt m ay d eci d e

i n effect i v en es s i s s u es wi t h o ut rem an di n g t h e cas e wh en t h e rem an d wo u l d was t e

ju d i ci al an d l eg al res ou rces an d s erv e n o u s efu l p u rp o s e.”).

3 Th e t ri al co u rt co rrect l y r e c o g n ized i n ex peri en ce al o n e “ fal l s far s h o rt o f

d em o n s t rat i n g a co m

pl et e fai l u re o f t h e ad v ers ari al p ro ces s an d wo u l d n o t s u p p o rt a

fi nd i ng o f i n effect i ve as s i st an ce o f co u n s el

, ” b u t ad d ed t hat “ in ex p eri en ce al on e i s n ot

wh at t h e Co u rt i s bas in g t h i s d eci s i o n o n

. ” A l t ho u gh n o t s peci fi cal l y s t at ed as a b as i s

fo r i t s ru li n g

, i t ap pears t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e s up erv i s io n o f l ead co u n s el was

i n s u ffi ci en t , wh i ch i t d et erm i n ed i s t an t am o u n t t o i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el

. Nei t h er Ban ks n o r t h e t ri al co urt ci t ed a n y G e o r g i a au t h o ri t y

, an d w e h av e fo u n d

n o n e, i n s u p p o rt o f t hi s p ro po si t i o n

. Bu t ev en if t h e pro p o s i t i o n were t ru e, Ban k s

m ad e n o s h o wi n g co n cern i n g t h e effect i v en es s of t h e tw o ad d it io n al co u n s el wh o

rep res en t ed h i m at tri al

. See D i v i s io n 1 i n fra. Si m i l arl y

, ne i t h e r B a n k s n o r t h e t ri al

co u rt ci t ed an y s u p po rt fo r t h e p o s i t i o n t hat a p ro s p ect i v e at t o rn ey wh o h as g rad u at ed

fro m l a w s c h o o l an d p as s ed t h e b ar ex am in at i o n

, b ut has n o t y et b een ad m i t t ed to

p ract i ce l aw, co n s t i t u t es a p er se d en i al o f a fai r t ri al o r o f t h e effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f

co u ns el

. See Peo

p le v. D en z el W

. , 93 0 N E 2 d 9 7 4

, 98 0 -9 8 1 (Il l. 2 01 0 ); W i l s o n v.

Peo pl e

, 65 2 P2 d 5 9 5

, 5 9 7 ( Co l o

. 1 9 82 ). Mo reo v er, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g i s

6Al t h ou g h a t h o ro u g h rev iew o f t h e reco rd rev eal s t h at t h ree at t o rn ey s fro m t h e

Bru ns wi ck J ud i ci al Ci rcu it Pu b l i c Defen d er’ s Offi ce rep res en t ed Ban ks at t ri al

, 4 o n e

o f wh o m was t h e ch i ef ci rcu i t p u b l ic d efen d er, Ban k s p res en t ed th e t es t i m on y o f o n l y

o n e o f h is t h ree at t orn ey s d u ri n g t he h eari n g on hi s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. 5 No t a b l y,

Ban ks d o es n o t di st i n gu i s h b et ween h i s t h ree at t o rn ey s w h i ch at t o rn ey was

res p o n s i b l e fo r t he in di v i d u al cl ai m s o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce. Co m p are Ker d p o ka v.

S t a t e

, 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 0 6 (6 ) (d efen d an t di st i n g u i s h ed b et ween al l eg ed erro rs by

l ead co u n s el an d as s i s tan t co u n s el ). A cco rd i n g t o h i s m o t i o n fo r n e w t ri al as

ap p aren tl y b as ed so l el y up o n l ead co u ns el ’ s s t at em en t o n cro s s -ex am i nat i on t h at s h e

“ d i dn ’ t feel l i k e t h ere was an y m en to rs h i p . . . .”

4 A fo urt h at t o rn ey fro m t h e p u b l i c d efen d er’ s o ffi ce rep res en t ed Ban ks d u ri n g

a p ret ri al Ja cks o n -Den n o h eari n g

.

5 Th e t es t ify i ng at t o rn ey h ad b een d es i g n at ed as l ead co un s el p ri o r t o t ri al

. To

t h e ex t en t Ban k s ’ al leg at i on s o f i n effect i v e as s is t an ce o f co u n s el are d i rect ed t o ward

at t o rn ey s wh o d i d n o t t es t ify at th e m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g, we n o t e i n i t ial l y t h at

i t i s “ ex t rem el y d i ffi cu l t t o o v erco m e th e p res um p t i o n th at

. . . co un s el ’ s co n du ct was

s t rat eg i c o r t h at i t fal l s wi t h i n t h e wi d e ran g e o f rea s o n a b l e pro fes s i o n al co n d u ct .”

Ker dp o ka v. S t a te

, 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 0 0

, 4 0 7 (6 ) (b ) (7 2 4 SE2 d 41 9 ) (2 0 1 2 ). See al s o

Da vi s v. St a t e

, 2 8 0 G a. 4 4 2

, 4 43 (2 ) (6 2 9 SE2 d 23 8 ) (2 0 0 6 ); McRa e v. S ta t e

, 2 8 9 Ga.

Ap p

. 4 1 8, 4 1 9 (6 5 7 SE2 d 3 2 3 ) (2 0 0 8 ). Ho wev er, s i n ce t h ere i s n o s p eci fi c cl ai m t h at

Ban ks ’ t w o rem ai ni n g co un s el o ffered i n e f f e c t i v e as s is t an ce, we co n cl u d e t h at an y

s u ch cl ai m s h av e b een wai v ed

. See M o r r i s v. S t a t e

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 75 0

, 7 5 1 (2 ) (7 6 9

SE2 d 1 6 3 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (an ap p el l an t i s req u i red t o “ rai s e an y i s s u e o f i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f t ri al co u n sel at t h e earl i es t p ract i cab le m o m en t t o av o i d i t bei n g d eem ed

wai v ed ”).

7am en d ed

, Ban k s co n t en d ed th at h e recei v ed i n effect i v e as s i s tan ce o f t ri al co u n s el d u e

t o fo u r s p eci fi c erro rs

. W e ad d res s each i n t u rn

.

(a) Tes t i mo n

y o f Dr

. Gr eg Co x. Fi rs t

, Ban ks co n ten d s h e recei v ed i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce d u e t o l ead co u ns el ’ s fai l u re t o t i m el y d i s cl o s e Dr. Greg Co x as an ex p ert

wi t n es s

, wh i ch res u l t ed i n a l im i t at i o n o f Dr. Co x ’ s p ro p o s ed t es t i m o n y

. Becau s e t h e

reco rd d em o n s t rat es t h at t h e at t o rn ey d es i g n at ed as l ead co u n s el d i d n o t p art i ci p at e

i n t h e n o t ice an d p res en t at io n o f D r

. Co x

, w e co n cl u d e t h at Ban k s fai l ed to

d em o n s t rat e i n effect i v e as s is t an ce b y l ead co u n s el

.

Du ri n g t ri al

, a St at e’ s wi t n es s t es ti fi ed t h at t h e fo u r-y e a r -o l d v i ct i m b ecam e

“ o b s es s ed wi t h her pri vat e areas ” an d m as tu rb at ed aft er th e ab u s e h ad b een d i s cl o s ed

.

Lead co u n s el o b

ject ed

, arg u in g t h at t h e i n fo rm at i o n co n cern i n g t h e v i ct i m ’ s

m as t u rb at i o n h ad no t b een di s cl o s ed in d i s c o v ery

. Th e t ri al co urt o v erru l ed t h e

o b ject i on

. Fo l lo wi n g ad d i t i o n al t es t i m o n y

, l ead co un s el ren ewe d t h e o b ject i o n,

m o ved fo r a m i s t ri al

, an d arg u ed t h at t h e St at e o p en ed t he d oo r t o ch i l d p s y ch o l o gy

i s su es wh i ch req u i red ex p ert t es t i m o n y “ t o ex p l ai n t o t h e ju ry wh y a fo ur-y ear-o l d

.

. . p l ay i n g wi t h hers el f i s s eem i n g l y n o rm al b eh av i o r.” Th e ch i ef ci rcu i t p u b l i c

d efen d er t h en en g ag ed i n an ex t en d ed co l l o q u y w i t h t h e t ri al co u rt

, fo cu s in g u p o n t h e

8n eed fo r an ex p ert wi t n es s t o ex p l ai n sex u al b eh av i o r i n ch i l dren

. Th e t ri al co u rt

d en ied Ban k s ’ m o t i o n fo r m i st ri al

.

Aft er a l un ch reces s

, t h e ci rcu it p u b li c d efen der rev i s it ed th e need fo r an ex p ert

wi t n es s i n ch i ld p s y ch o l o g y

. Th e t ri al co u rt req ui red B a n k s t o “ l et t h e St at e k n o w

wh at y o u ex p ect

. . . y o u r ex pert t o t es t i f y a b o u t

, ” an d s t at ed th at i t wo u l d “ p ro t ect

[t he d efen s e] o n g et t i n g y o u r ex p ert i n .” T h e n ex t d ay

, t h e ci rcu it p ub l i c d e f e n d er

s t at ed t h at Dr. Co x wo u l d t es t i fy co n cern i ng s ex u al b eh av i o r b y ch i l d ren as wel l as

“ as pect s of ch il d brai n d ev el o p m en t an d m em o ry an d recal l .” Th e St at e o b ject ed to

an y pro p o s ed t es t i m on y b y Dr. Co x b ey o n d t h e s ex u al b eh av i o r of ch i l d ren

, an d t h e

t ri al co u rt d eferred i t s ru l i n g u nt i l Ban k s fi l ed a wri t t en n ot i ce o f Dr. Co x’ s p ro p o s ed

t es t i m o ny

.

Ban k s ’ wri tt en n o ti ce o f i n t en t t o p res en t ex p ert t es t i m o n y id en t i fi ed Dr. Co x ’ s

p ro p os e d t e s t i m o n y in “ t h e areas o f ch i l d p s y ch o l o gy an d dev el o pm en t

, ag e

ap p ro p ri at e b eh av i o rs fo r y o u n g ch i ld ren

, n o w d i s cred i t ed t rau m a s y n d ro m es

. . ., an d

wi t h r e s p e ct t o t h e b rai n d ev el op m en t

, m em o ry an d recal l o f y o u n g ch il d ren .” Th e

p art i es en g ag ed i n a l en gt h y d i s cu s s io n wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt co n cern i n g t h e s co p e o f

Dr. Co x ’ s p ro p o s ed t es t i m o n y

, aft er wh i ch t h e St at e m et wi t h Dr. Co x

. Th e St at e t h en

ren ewed i t s o b

ject i o n t o Dr. Co x o fferi n g ex p ert t es ti m o n y o n an y t o pi c n o t rel at ed

9t o s ex u al b eh av i or b y ch i l d ren

. Th e t ri al co u rt ag reed an d l i m i t ed Dr. Co x to “ t h e ag e

ap p ro p ri at e s ex u al b eh av i o r” o f y o u n g ch i l d ren

.

As i d e fro m t h e i n i t i al o b

j ect i o n t o t es t i m o n y ab o u t m as t urb at i o n b y t h e v i ct i m

,

l ead co u n s el n ei th er arg u ed t h e m o t i o n t o ad m i t Dr. Co x ’ s t es t i m o n y d uri n g t ri al

, n o r

ex ecu t ed t h e n o t i ce o f i n t en t t o i n t ro d u ce Dr. Co x ’ s t es t i m o n y . Fu rt h erm o re, Ban k s

d i d n o t p res en t ei th er at t o rn ey res p o n s i bl e fo r i n t ro d u ci n g Dr. Co x ’ s t es t i m o n y as a

wi t n es s d u ri ng Ban ks ’ m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g

. See Mo r r i s

, 3 3 0 Ga. A p p

. at 7 5 2

(2 ); Ker d p oka

, 31 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 07 (6 ) (b ). Fi n al ly

, al t h o u g h Ban k s p ro ffered an

affi d av i t b y Dr. Co x o u t l i n i n g h i s p ro p o s ed t es t i m o ny

, t h e affi d av i t d o es n ot

d em o n s t rat e t h at t h e res u l t o f B an k s ’ t ri al m ay h av e b een d i fferen t h ad Dr. Co x ’ s

t es t i m o ny b een ad m i t t ed

. In as m u ch as lead co u n s el had n o ro l e i n n ot i fy in g t h e t ri al

co u rt o f Ban k s ’ i n t en t t o i nt ro d u ce ex p ert t es t i m o n y

, t h ere i s n o act io n o r i n act i o n to

fi nd erro neo u s

. A s a res u l t

, we co n cl u d e Ban k s fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f t ri al co un s el

.

(b ) Tes t i mo n

y o f Imp r o p er In t er vi ew Tech n i q ues

. Seco n d

, Ban k s arg u ed t h at

t ri al co u ns el fai l ed to p res en t ex p ert t e s t i m on y o n al l eg ed l y i m p ro p er in t erv i ew

t ech n i q u es d u ri n g t h e fo ren s ic i n t erv i ew o f t h e v i ct i m

. Du ri n g t h e m o t i on fo r n ew

t ri al h eari n g

, l ead co u n s el t es t i fi e d t h at s he ap p ro ach ed t h e ch i ef ci rcu i t p u b l i c

10d efen d er i n a d v an ce of t ri al co n cern i n g t h e n eed fo r an ex pert o n “ t h e in t erv i ew

t ech n i q u es b y t h e t wo p ol i ce o ffi cers .” Th e ci rcu i t p ub l i c d efen der rep l ied o n l y t h at

t h ey “ co u ld n ’ t g et an ex p ert .” Lead co un s el di d n o t “ fo ll o w-u p aft er t h at

co n vers at i on .” Th e ci rcu i t p u b l i c d efen d er d id n ot t es t i fy d uri n g t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew

t ri al h eari n g

.

Pret erm it t i n g wh et her l ead co u n s el erred in fai l i n g to d o m o r e t o secu re an

ex p ert wi t n es s i n th e fi el d o f fo ren si c i nt erv i ewi n g

, Ban k s “ has fai l ed t o s h o w

p r e j u d i c e i n t h i s cas e b ecau s e h e h as o ffered n o ev i d en ce as to wh at an ex p ert

. . .

wo u l d h av e o pi n ed

. ” W

h it e v. S ta t e

, 2 9 3 Ga. 6 3 5

, 6 36 (2 ) (7 4 8 SE2 d 8 8 8 ) (2 01 3 ). See

al s o B r o wn v. S t a te

, 2 9 3 Ga. 5 18

, 51 9 (2 ) (7 4 8 SE2 d 3 8 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ Sp ecu l at i o n t h at

[a w i t n e s s ] co u l d h av e gi ven t es t i m o n y fav o rab l e t o t h e d efen s e d o es n ot es t ab l i s h

p reju d i c e

. ” ) ; Ar b eg a s t v. S t a te

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 4, 4 2 1 (4 ), 4 2 6 (6 ) (g ) (7 73 SE2 d

2 8 3 ) (2 0 1 5 ); Ba gwe l l v

. S t at e

, 3 2 9 G a. Ap p

. 1 2 2, 1 2 9 (2 ) (b ) (i i ) (7 6 4 SE2 d 1 4 9 )

(2 0 1 4).

To es tab l i s h t h e p reju di ci al effect of t ri al co u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o p res en t

cert ai n e v i d en ce, an ap p el l an t i s req ui red t o m ak e an affi rm at iv e

s h o wi n g th at s p eci fi cal l y d em o n s trat es ho w co u n s el ’ s fai l u re w o u l d

h av e affect ed t he o u t co m e o f t h e cas e. Ab s en t a p r o f f e r o f wh at th e

t es t i m o n y o f h is ex p ert wo u l d h av e b een a t t ri al

, [Ban k s ] can n ot s h o w

11t h at t h ere i s a reas on ab l e p ro b ab il i t y t h at t h e o u t co m e o f t h e t ri al w o u l d

h av e b een d i fferen t h ad h i s co u n s el t ak en t h e s u g g es t ed co urs e.

W h i te

, 29 3 Ga. at 6 3 6 -6 3 7 (ci ti n g S mi t h v. S t a te

, 30 3 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3 1

, 8 3 5 (4 ) (6 9 5

SE2 d 8 6) (2 0 1 0 )). As a res ul t

, Ban k s ag ai n fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f t ri al co un s el

.

(c ) C e r t if i ed Co p ies o f Pr i o r Co n vi ct io n s o

f S t a t e’s W

it n es s es

. Th ird

, Ban k s

al l eg ed t h at t ri al co u n s el fai l ed t o o b tai n cert i fi ed co p i es o f co n v ict i o n s o f ei t h er Kel l i

o r Vi ct o ri a Bo at ri g h t

, each o f w h o m were i d en t i fi ed as p o t en t i al w i t ne s s e s f o r t h e

St at e. At t h e h eari ng o n Ban k s’ m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

, l ead co un s el ack n o wl ed g ed t h at

Kel l i Bo at ri g h t was n o t a t es t i fy i n g wi t nes s

. In ad d i t i o n

, l ead co u n s el co u l d n o t s t at e

wh et h er Vi ct o ri a Bo at ri g h t ev en h ad a p ri or co n v i ct i o n

, s t at i n g t h at s h e d i d n ot

b el i ev e V i ct o ri a Bo at ri g h t “ h ad ev er b een ad ju d i cat ed g ui lt y ” an d th at a cri m i n al

act i on was “ st il l p en d i n g so m ewh ere.”

Irres p ect i ve o f w h et h er l ead co u n sel p l ay ed an y ro l e i n t h e search f o r p ri o r

co n vi ct i o n s

, Ban ks fai led t o i n t ro d u ce co pi es of a n y c o n v i ct i o n s, cert i fi ed o r

u n cert i fi ed

, at t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari ng

. I n t h e ab s en ce o f an y s u p p o rt i n g

ev i d en ce, Ban k s fai l ed to es t ab l i s h t h at he was p reju d i ced b y lead co u n s el ’ s al l eg ed

erro r. See, e.g

. , W

a l l a ce v. S t a t e

, 2 9 4 Ga. 25 7

, 2 5 9 (3 ) (a) (7 5 0 SE2 d 30 2 ) (2 0 1 3 );

12Ab u rt o v. S ta te

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 4

, 4 3 1 (3 ) (7 5 9 SE2 d 27 6 ) (2 0 1 4 ); Lo n g v. S t a t e

, 3 2 4

Ga. Ap p

. 8 8 2

, 8 9 6 (7 ) (7 52 SE2 d 5 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ); Leo p o ld v. St a te

, 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 5 0

, 5 5 5

(1 ) (b ) (7 5 1 SE2 d 1 84 ) (2 0 13 ); As h mi d v. S t a t e , 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p. 5 5 0, 5 5 7 (3 ) (a) (7 3 0

SE2 d 3 7 ) (2 01 2 ) (“ t h ere h as b een n o s h o wi n g i n t h e reco rd t h at an y St at e wi t n es s

ev en h ad a cri m i nal hi s to ry t o d i s co v er”). Co m p are Cu r t i s v. S t a te

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3 9,

8 4 3 (1 ) (c) (i ) (7 6 9 SE2 d 5 8 0 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

(d ) In exp er ien ce o

f Tr i a l Co u ns el

. Fi n al l y

, Ban k s co n t en d ed t hat t ri al co u n s el

l ack ed e x p e r i e n c e “ t o l it i gat e a cas e o f t h i s m ag n i t u de.” Th e g rav am en o f Ban k s ’

cl ai m i s t h a t t h e at t o rn ey fro m t h e Pu b l i c Defen d er’ s Offi ce d es i g n at ed as l ead

co u ns el was i n ex peri en ced a n d

, d e s p it e recei v in g co n fi rm at i o n t h at s h e p as s ed t h e

Geo rg i a b ar ex am i n at i o n p ri o r t o t ri al

, had n ot been s wo rn in as a m em ber o f t h e St at e

Bar o f Geo rg i a at t h e t i m e o f t ri al . Th es e arg u m en t s fai l.

(i ) Th e at t o rn e y d e s i g n at ed as l ead co un s el b eg an wo rk i n g i n t h e Bru n s wi ck

J u d i ci al Ci rcu i t Pu b l i c Defen d er’ s Offi ce i n Sep t em b er 2 0 1 3

. At t hat t i m e, s h e was

s wo rn i n u n d er t h e G rad u at e Pract i ce Act

, w h i ch p erm i tt ed h er t o p ract i ce “ t h ro u g h

t h e en d o f t h e m o n t h wh ere I go t m y [b ] ar res u l ts

. . . .” See Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a

Ru l es 9 7

, 1 0 0

. Sh e w as d es i gn at ed l ead co u ns el o n Oct o b er 1 1

, 2 0 1 3

, an d sh e l earn ed

t h at s h e p as s ed t h e b ar ex am i n at i o n o n Oct o b er 2 5

, 2 0 13

, th e Fri d ay b efo re Ban k s ’

13t ri al b eg an o n th e fo ll o wi n g M o n d ay

. Sh e was l at er s wo rn i n as a m em b er of t h e St at e

Bar o n No v em

b er 7 , 2 0 13

.

To p rep are f

o r Ban k s ’ t ri al

, l ead co u n s el m et wi th Ban k s o n t wo o ccas i o n s ;

d i s cu s s ed t h e St at e’ s p l ea offer wi t h h i m ; recei v ed an d rev iewed d is co v ery fro m t h e

St at e, i n cl u d i n g rep o rt s co n cern in g l aw en fo rcem en t ’ s i n t e r v i ews o f wi t n es s es ;

rev i e w e d disc ove r

y w i th B an k s ; o ffered t o rev i ew t h e v i ct i m ’ s fo ren s ic in t erv i ew wi th

Ban ks

, wh ich Ba n k s decl i n ed ; i n t erv i ewed Ban k s ’ g ran d p aren t s

, h i s p as t or, an d a

p o t en t i al wi t nes s (To m

m y Cl ark ); i s s u ed s u b p o en as to m u lt i pl e wi t n es s es ; d i s cu s s ed

p o t en t i al p lea offers w i t h t h e St at e; an d fi l ed t h ree m o ti o n s i n l i m in e, fo u r m o t i on s

fo r in cam era i ns p ect i o n s o f v ari o u s reco rd s

, o p en reco rd s req u es t s

, a m o t i o n fo r

i n d i v i d u al v oi r d i re, a m o t i o n fo r a s p eci al ju ro r q u es t i o n n ai re, an d t h e d efen s e’ s

req u e s t s t o ch arg e. In ad d i t i o n

, l ead co u n s el h ad p art i ci pat ed i n a ch i l d ab u s e cas e

d u ri n g l aw s ch o ol

.

Du ri n g t ri al

, l ead co u ns el i n di v i d u ally a r gue d m ult i p l e m o t i o n s i n l i m i n e; m ad e

m o ti o n s fo r m is t ri al (wh i ch res u l t ed i n cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i o n s); cro s s -ex am i ned t h ree

o f t h e S t a t e’ s wi t n es s es ; p res en t ed t h e d i rect t es ti m o ny o f t hree d efen s e wi t n es s es ;

m o v ed t o s t ri k e t he v i ct i m ’ s t es t i m o n y ; an d g av e t h e d efen s e’ s cl o si ng arg u m e n t

.

Lead co u n s el al s o co n ferred wi t h o t h er co u n sel at v ari o u s p o in t s i n t h e t ri al

.

14Wi t h t hi s ev id en ce i n m i n d

, an d wi t h n o referen ce t o a s p eci fi c erro r b y l e a d

co u ns el

, s ee S

evo s ti ya n o va

, 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 37 (1 1 ) (a), we can n o t say t h at l ead

co u ns el ’ s p erfo rm an ce “ fel l b el o w an o bject i v e s t an d ard o f reas o nab l en es s u n d er t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces c o nfro n t in g co u n s el at t h e t i m e wi t h ou t res o rt i n g t o h in d s i g h t .”

Co p el a n d

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 2 7 (3 )

. T o th e co n t rary

, we co ncl u d e t h at l ead co u n s el

ren d ered “ ad eq uat e as s i s t an ce an d m ad e al l s i g n ifi can t d eci s i o n s i n t h e ex e r ci s e o f

reas on ab l e p ro fes si o nal ju d g m en t .” Id

.

(i i) Ban k s’ arg u m en t t arg et i n g t h e i n ex peri en ce an d s t at u s o f h i s lead co u n s el

,

an d t h e t ri al co u r t ’s r e l i a n c e u p o n i t

, i s fl awed fo r at l eas t t wo reas o n s

. Fi rs t

, t h e

arg u m en t v i ews o n e at t o rn e y i n a v acu u m an d neces s ari l y i g n o res t h e fact t h at t wo

ad d it i o n al at t o rn ey s act i vel y p art i ci p at ed t h ro u g h o u t Ban k s ’ t ri al

. In ad d i t io n t o t h e

t as k s l ead co u n s el p erfo rm ed as o u t l i n ed i n Di vi s i o n 1 (d ) ( i )

, s u p ra, l ead co u n s el

co n su l t ed wi t h

, an d y i el ded t o

, t h e o t h er t w o at t o rn ey s t h ro u g h o u t t ri al

. 6 In d eed

, t h e

t ri al co u rt n o t ed t h at lead co u n s el “ h ad v ery cap ab l e co u ns el s i tt i n g wi th y o u al l t h e

6 In o n e i n st an ce, t h e ci rcu i t p u b l i c d efen d er s t e p p ed i n t o co rrect a

m i s s t at em en t b y lead co u n sel co n cern i n g t h e t i m i n g o f a l i m i t in g i n st ru ct i o n

. In

an o th er, th e ci rcu i t p u b l i c d efen d er rep res en t ed Ban k s wh en t h e t ri al co u rt ad v i s ed

Ban ks o f h i s ri g h t to tes t i fy b ecau s e l ead c o u n s el was “ d eal i n g wi t h s o m e wi t n es s

i s su es fo r t h e d efen s e cas e.”

15way t hro u g h t h i s” an d th at “ [y ] o u ’ v e g o t th ree at t o rn ey s o v er t h ere.” 7 Ban k s h i m s el f

ack n owl ed ged t h at h e h ad t h e o p p o rt u ni t y t o co m m u n i cat e wi t h each o f h i s at t o rn ey s

at an y t i m e d u ri n g t ri al

. Th e ci rcu i t p u b l i c d efen d er al s o n o t ed t h at

, at o n e po i n t

, “ t wo

g e n t l e m e n i n th e b ack o f t h e co u rt ro o m are as s is tan t p u b l ic d efen d ers an d t h ey ’ re

as s i s ti n g u s wi t h t h e cas e.” M o reo v er, d efen se o bject io n s b y m o re t h an on e d efen s e

co u ns el o ccu rred wi th su ffi ci en t freq u en cy t hat t h e t ri al co u rt t wi ce s t at ed

, “ I’ m ju s t

g o i n g t o l et o n e o f y o u o b ject at a t i m e

. . . . ” 8 Fi n al ly

, d u ri n g a reces s

, t he ci rcu i t

p u b l i c d efen d er n ot ed t h at “ we’ v e g o t t h ree l awy ers h ere” t o rev i ew t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

p ro p os ed ch arg e. Tak en t o g et h er, th i s ev i den ce b el i es Ban k s ’ as s ert i o n i n h i s b ri ef to

t h i s Co u rt t h at o t her co u n s e l m e r e l y m ad e “ b ri ef g u es t ap p earan ces

. . . .” To t h e

co n t r a r y, t he reco rd rev eal s a co n cert ed effo rt by th e Pu b l i c D efen d er’ s Offi ce to

p res en t a co o rd i n a ted an d th o ro u g h d efen s e fo r Ban k s

. Des p i t e t h e act i v e

7 A s eco n d at t o rn ey fro m t h e p u b l i c d e fen der’ s o ffi ce cro ss -ex am i n ed t h ree

St at e’ s wi t n es s es ; ex am i n ed t w o wi t n es s fo r t h e defen s e, i n cl u d i n g t h e defen s e’ s

ex p ert wi t n es s ; arg u ed v ari ou s m o t i o n s an d ob ject io n s ; an d ap p eared fo r sen t en ci n g.

Fi n al l y

, t h e ci rcu it p ub li c d efen d er p art i c i p a t ed t hro u g h ou t t h e t ri al b y arg u i n g

v ari o u s m o t io n s

, m o s t n o t ab l y t h e m o t i o n t o al l o w Dr. Co x’ s u n ab ri d g e d e x p e rt

t es t i m o ny

.

8 Fu rt h erm o re, t h e reco rd i s rep l et e wi t h s ev eral i n s t an ces i n wh i ch m o re t h an

o n e d efen s e co u ns el p art i ci p at ed i n ben ch co n feren ces o r o t her h eari n g s co n cern i n g

ev i d en t i ary

ru l i n g s

.

16p art i ci p at i o n o f a t eam o f at t orn ey s

, Ban k s p res en ted n o t es t i m o ny co n c e r n i n g t h e

p erfo rm an ce an d q u al i fi cat i o n s o f t h e t wo rem ai n i n g at t o rn ey s

, o n e o f wh o m was t h e

ci rcu i t p u b l i c d efen der.

Seco n d

, t h e m ore co n cern i n g i s s u e i s t h at

, to t h e ex t en t t h e des i g n at i on o f l ead

co u ns el was erro n eo u s

, Ban k s can no t in v i te erro r on l y t o ch al l en ge th e al l eg ed erro r

aft er a n u n f

a v o r a bl e res u l t at t ri al

. See S t ewa r t v. S t a t e

, 2 3 9 Ga. 5 8 8

, 59 0 (6 ) (2 3 8

SE2 d 5 4 0 ) (1 9 7 7 ) (“ A p art y can n o t i nd u ce an al l eg ed erro r o r ‘

. . . i gn o re wh at h e

t h i n k s t o b e an i nju st i ce, tak e h i s ch an ce o n a fav o r a b l e v e rd i ct

, an d co m p l ai n

l at er.’ ”); Pu cket t

v. S t a t e , 2 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 2

, 5 8 3 (1 ) (5 2 1 SE2 d 6 3 4 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (“ ‘ o n e

can n ot co m

p l ai n of a ju d g m en t

, ru l in g o r res u l t he h as p ro cu red o r ai d ed i n cau s i n g

b y h i s o w n s t rat eg y

, tact i cs o r co n d u ct .”). In fact

, th e t ri al co u rt k n ew t h at l ead

co u ns el h ad no t been s wo rn i n as a m em b er o f t h e St at e Bar o f Geo rg i a at t h e t i m e o f

t ri al

. 9 Th e reco rd rev eal s t h at

, o n t h e m o rn i n g o f t he s eco n d d a y o f t ri al

, t wo o f

Ban ks ’ t h ree co u n s el were l at e. Lead co u n sel s t at ed t h at , “ s i n ce I h av e n o t y et b een

9 Th e on l y ci t at i o n o ffered i n s u pp o rt o f B a n k s ’ arg u m en t o n t h i s p o i n t i s

i n ap p l i cab l e becau se t h e Il l i n o i s Su p rem e Co u rt fo u n d t h at a v i o l at i o n o f i t s r u l e

g o v ern i n g ap p earan ces b y l aw s ch o o l g rad uat es d i d n o t am o u n t to a p er s e d en i al o f

co u ns el

. Den z el

W

. , 9 3 0 NE2 d at 9 8 2

, 9 8 3 . It i s fu rt her d is t in g ui s h ab l e b ecau s e t h e

ru l e ap p li cab l e i n th at cas e req u i red t h e wri t ten co n s en t o f t h e cl i en t to be rep res en t ed

b y t h e g rad u at e. See Id

. at 9 8 0 -9 8 1

. T h ere i s n o s i m i l ar req ui rem en t i n G eo rg i a’ s

ru l es

. See Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a Ru l es 9 7-1 0 3

.

17s wo rn i n ye t

, I ’m n o t su re th at we can co n d u ct

-- s h o u l d co n d u ct an y p ro ceed i ng s

b efo re t h ey g et h ere.” Th e t ri al co u rt ag reed

. Si m i l arl y

, l ead co u n s el ag reed t h at s h e

was n o t p erm i tt ed “ t o d o wo rk i n t h e co u rt ro o m wi t h ou t a s u p erv i s i n g at t o rn ey wi th

[h er.] ” See Su p rem e Co urt o f Geo rg i a Ru l e 98

. Fi n al l y

, lead co u n sel d id n o t ex p res s

an y o b ject io n t o t h e t ri al co u rt co n cern i ng h er i n ex p eri en ce. 1 0

In s u m

, we co ncl u d e t h at Ban k s fai l ed t o carry hi s b u rd en t o p ro v e t h at l ead

co u ns el ’ s “ p erfo r m an ce was d efi ci en t

, an d t hat

, b u t fo r t h e d efi ci en cy

, t h ere was a

reas on ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y th e o u tco m e o f t h e t ri al wo u l d h av e b een d i fferen t .” Co p el a n d

,

3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 2 7 (3 ). Becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n co ncl u d i n g t h at Ban k s

recei v ed i n effect i ve as s i s tan ce o f t ri al co u n s el , we rev ers e an d rem an d

. 1 1

Ju d g men t r ever sed , a n d ca s e r ema n d

ed . Do yl e, C. J., a n d

Ra y, J., co n cu r

.

1 0 In co n t ras t

, l ead co u n s el “ em p h at ical l y an d ev en eag erl y ” t es t i fi ed t o h er o wn

al l eg ed i n effect i v en es s d u ri n g Ban ks ’ m o t i o n fo r new t ri al h eari n g

, s tat i n g at o n e

p o i n t t h at s h e “ b as i cal l y e s c o r t e d [Ban k s] t o p ri so n .” See Ca r r i e v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8 Ga.

Ap p

. 5 5

, 6 2 (5 ), n

. 2 3 (6 7 9 SE2 d 3 0 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (“ th i s cas e i s y et an o t h er ex am p l e o f t h e

wo rry i n g t ren d o f t ri al co u n s el em p h at i cal l y an d ev en eag erl y tes t ify i n g t o [h er] o wn

i n co m pet en ce.”).

1 1 Ban k s rai s ed s ev eral ad d i t i on al al l eg ed erro rs in h i s m o ti o n fo r new t ri al as

am en d ed

. Th e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t hat

, b ecau s e i t g ran t ed Ban k s ’ m o t i o n fo r n ew

t ri al o n fai r t ri al an d i n effect i v e as s i st an ce o f co u n sel g ro u n d s

, Ban k s ’ rem ai n i n g

g ro u nd s were ren d ered m oo t

. Becau s e we rev ers e t h e t ri al co urt ’ s ru l in g o n Ban k s ’

cl ai m o f i n effect i v e as s i st an ce o f t ri al co u n sel

, we rem an d t o p erm i t t he t ri al co u rt to

ev al u at e Ban k s’ rem ai n i n g cl ai m s

.

18