THI RD DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, and H ODGES, 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.

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. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

June 15, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A0 50 1 . HENRY v

. STATE.

H O D G E S , J u d g e.

Th i s cas e is b ack b efo re t h i s Co u rt aft er h av i ng b een rem an d ed b y t h e Su p rem e

Co u rt o f Geo rg i a. S t a t e v. Hen r y

, 3 1 2 Ga. 6 32 (8 6 4 SE2 d 4 1 5) (2 0 2 1) (“ Hen r y II” ).

Aft er F. Bry an t Hen ry was co n v i ct ed fo r d ri v i n g u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce p er s e an d fai l u re

t o di m l i g h t s

, h e ap p eal ed t he den i al o f hi s m o ti o n fo r n ew t r i a l

. Th i s Co u rt

p rev i o u s l y rev e rs ed th at den i al o n t h e g ro un d t h at H en ry ’ s t ri al co u n s el was

i n effect i v e fo r fai l i ng t o s eek t o s u pp res s t he res u l t s o f h i s St at e-ad m i n i s t ered b l o o d

t es t on t h e b as is t hat h e w a s n o t p r o v i d ed t h e op p o rt u n it y t o i nd ep en d en t l y t es t h i s

b l o o d

. Hen r

y v. S t a t e

, 3 5 5 G a. Ap p

. 2 17 , 2 22 (2 ) (8 4 3 SE2 d 8 84 ) (2 0 2 0) ( Hen r y I ).

Ou r h o l d i n g w as ro o t ed i n t h e l aw at th e t i m e of Hen ry ’ s t ri a l

, w h i c h p ro v i d ed t h at

“ [ a ] n accu sed ’ s ri g h t t o h av e an ad d i t i o n al

, i n d ep en d en t ch em i cal t es t o r t es t sad m i n is t er e d i s i n v o ked b y s o m e s t at em en t t h at r ea s o n ab l y co u l d b e co n s t ru ed

, in

l i gh t o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces , t o b e an ex p res s i on o f a d es i re fo r s u ch t es t .” (Em p h as i s

s u p p li ed .) La d

o w v. S t a t e

, 2 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. 7 26

, 7 2 8 (5 6 9 SE2 d 57 2 ) (2 0 0 2 ). Ou r

o p i n i o n h el d t h at

, reg ard l es s of t h e p ro p ri et y o f t h e st an d ard es p o us ed b y La d o w an d

i t s p ro g en y

, i t was t h e law at t h e t i m e o f Hen ry ’ s t r i a l a n d i t was t h e s t an d ard by

wh i ch we wo u l d ju d g e t h e reas o n ab l en es s of Hen ry ’ s co u ns el ’ s act i o n s

. Hen r y I

, 3 5 5

Ga. Ap p . at 2 2 1 (2 ), n . 5

.

Th e Su p rem e Co urt d i s ag reed

, fi nd i ng t h at Hen ry co ul d n o t b e p reju d i ced by

h i s co un s e l ’ s d efi ci en cy i f t h e l aw wh i ch co u n s el fai l ed t o i nv o k e was u n s o u n d.

Hen ry II

, 3 1 2 Ga. at 6 3 5 (2 ) (fi n d i ng t h at t ri al co u n s el can n o t b e fo u nd d efi ci en t fo r

fai l i n g t o an t ici pat e ch an g es i n t h e l aw, b u t h o l d in g t h a t t h e i s s u e o f p reju d i ce

“ fo cu s es o n t h e q ues ti o n wh et h er co u n s el ’ s defi ci en t p erfo rm an ce ren d ers t h e res u l t

o f t h e t ri al u n rel i ab l e o r t h e p ro ceed i n g fu n d am en t al l y u n fai r, an d u n rel i ab i l i t y o r

u n fai rn es s d o es no t res u lt i f t h e i n effect i v en es s o f co u n s el d o es n o t d ep ri v e t h e

d efen d an t o f an y s u b st an t i ve o r p ro ced ural ri g h t t o wh ich t h e l aw en ti t les h i m .”)

(ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ). Th e Su p rem e Co urt t hen fo u n d La d o w an d i t s

p r o g en y t o b e u ns o un d an d

, as d i s cu s s ed fu rt h er b el o w, rev ers ed t h at b o d y o f cas e

l aw an d th e “ reas o n ab l y co u l d ” s t an d ard t h ey u t i l i zed

. Id

. at 6 3 9 -6 4 0 (3 ) (c)

- (d ). Th e

2Su p rem e Co u rt rev ers ed o u r o p i n i o n

, an d rem an d ed t h e cas e b ack t o t h i s Co u rt fo r

reco n s i d erat i on i n l i g h t o f t hi s ch an g e i n th e l aw. Id

. at 6 4 0 ( 3 ) (d ). Up o n

reco n s i d erat i on o n rem an d

, we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f Hen ry ’ s m o t i o n fo r

n ew t ri al

.

In Hen r y II t h e S u p r e m e Co u rt ad o p t ed t h i s Co urt ’ s reci t at io n o f t h e fact s o f

t h i s cas e, wh ich are as fo l l o ws :

On t h e n i g h t o f J un e 1 7

, 2 0 1 7

, Hen ry was pu l l ed o v er b y a Geo rg i a St at e

Pat ro l t ro o p er. T h e t ro o p er o b s erv ed Hen ry ’ s v eh i cl e wi t h i t s b r i g h t

l i gh ts o n d ri v i n g i n t h e o p p o s i t e d i rect i o n fro m t h e t ro op er

. Wh e n t he

t ro o per m ad e co n t act wi t h Hen ry , h i s ey es were b l oo d s h o t an d w at ery

,

an d h i s s p eech was s lu rred

, t h ou g h th e t ro op er di d no t d et ect an y s m el l

o f al co h o l. Hen ry ag re e d t o t h e t ro o per’ s req u es t t o perfo rm fi el d

s o bri et y tes t i n g. Hen ry d em o ns t rat ed fo u r cl u es o f i m p ai rm en t o n t h e

h o ri zo nt al gaze n y s t ag m

u s t es t

, t hree c lu es o f i m

p ai rm en t o n t he wal k

an d t u rn t e s t

, a n d t wo cl u es of i m p ai rm en t o n t he on e-l eg s tan d t es t

.

Aft er s ev e ral u n s u cces s fu l at t em p t s t o o b t ai n a read in g on th e

al co -s en sor

, H e nr

y f ina lly pr ovide d a n a d eq u at e s am p le wh i ch reg i s t ered

p o s i t i v e fo r al co ho l

.

At t h at t i m e, H en ry was p l aced u n d er arres t f o r d r i v i ng u n der th e

i n fl u en ce o f al co h o l

. Th e o ffi cer read H en ry t h e ag e-ap p ro p ri at e i m p l ied

co n s en t n o t i ce, aft er wh i ch H en ry as k ed t h e o ffi cer “ [s ] o y o u ’ re g o n na

l et m e d o th e b reat h al y zer o n e m o re t im e? ” Th e t ro o p er res p o n ded t hat

“ [w] e’ re p as t t h at b ri d g e

. We ’r e p as t i t .” T h e t ro o p er read Hen ry th e

3i m

p l i ed co n s en t n o ti ce ag ai n

, aft er wh i ch Hen ry s ai d “ so y o u are s ay i n g

I can t ak e, m

y b l o od

, m

y b l o o d

, m

y d o ct o r can d o m

y b l oo d t es t an d al l

t h at ? ” Th e t ro o p er res p o n d ed t o Hen ry ’ s q u es t io n b y s t at i ng , “ I n eed a

y es o r a n o ri g ht n o w. I di d n o t a s k a n y t h i n g ab ou t y ou r d o ct o r. I s ai d

t h e St at e

. Yes o r n o .” Hen ry ’ s res p o ns e o n t h e d as h cam era v i d eo i s

i n au di b l e. Th e t ro o per t hen as k ed Hen ry “ [i ] s t h at a y es ? ” an d Hen ry ’ s

res p on s e i s ag ai n i n au d i b l e o n t h e das h cam era v i d eo

. Al t h o u g h i t i s n o t

d i s cern ib le o n t h e v id eo

, t h e tro o p er t es t i fi ed t h at Hen ry co n sen t ed t o a

b l o o d t es t i n a s oft v o i ce.

Hen ry ’ s b l o o d was d rawn at t he jai l

, an d t es t i n g p erfo rm ed b y th e GBI

co n cl u d ed t h at Hen ry ’ s b l o o d al co h o l co n c e n t rat i o n was 0.0 8 5 g ram s

p er 1 0 0 m i l l i l i t ers o f b lo o d

, wi t h a v ari an ce, o r m arg i n o f erro r, of p l u s

o r m i n u s 0 .0 0 4

. Hen ry was ch arg ed b y accu s at i o n o f d ri v i n g u n der th e

i n fl u en ce o f al co h o l p er se, d ri v i ng u nd er t h e in fl uen ce o f al co h o l t o th e

ex t en t h e was l es s s afe, fai l ure to m a i n t a i n a lan e, an d fai l u re t o d i m

h ead l i g h t s. Pri o r t o t ri al

, Hen ry ’ s co u ns el s ecu red an o rd er t o ob t ai n

ad d i ti o n al i n d ep en d en t t es t in g o f Hen ry ’ s b l o od

, b u t n o ad d i t i o nal

t es t i n g w as p erfo rm ed

. Hen ry w as co n v i ct ed o f d ri vi n g u n d er th e

i n fl u en ce p er s e an d fai l u re t o d im l i g h t s

, an d h e w as acq u i t t ed o f

d ri v in g u nd er t h e i n fl u en ce t o t h e ex ten t h e was l es s s afe an d fai l u re t o

m ai n t ai n l an e. Hen ry t i m el y fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, wh i ch th e t ri al

co u rt d en i ed fo l l o wi n g an ev i d en t i ary h eari n g. He t h en ap p eal ed

.

(Pu n ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) 3 1 2 Ga. at 6 3 3-6 3 4 (1 ).

4Hen ry arg u es t h at hi s tri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e i n s ev eral reg ard s

, wh i ch we

wi l l ad d res s i n t u rn

. 1 Wh e n t h i s Co u rt rev iews a ru l i ng o n a cl ai m o f i n effect i v e

as s i s tan ce o f co u n s el

we accep t t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s factua l f ind i n g s an d cred i b i li t y d et erm i n at i o n s

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

, b u t we i n d ep en d en t l y ap p ly t h e l eg al pr inc i ple s

t o t h e f a c t s. To p rev ai l o n a cl ai m o f i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce o f t ri al

co u n s el

, a d efen dan t bears t h e b u rd en o f s h o wi n g b o t h t h at t ri al co u n s el

was d efi ci en t an d t h at h e was p rej u d i ced b y t h e d efi ci en cy

. To

d em o ns trat e defi ci e n t rep res en t at i o n, a co n v i ct ed cri m in al d efen d an t

m u s t s h o w th at co un s el ’ s rep res en t at io n fel l b el o w an o bject i v e s t an dard

o f reas o n ab l en es s

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) Th r as h er v. S ta t e

, 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p

. 1 54 (6 8 4 SE2 d

3 1 8 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

a

. Req u es t

f o r In d ep en d en t Ch emi ca l Tes ti n g

As Hen r y II ack no wl ed g ed

,

Geo rg i a l aw al l o ws t h e res u l ts o f ch em i cal t es t s p erfo rm ed o n th e bl o o d

,

u ri n e, b reat h

, o r o t h er b od i l y s u b st an ces o f p ers o n s accu s ed o f d ri v i n g

1 H en ry al s o arg u ed t h at OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 2 i s u n co ns t i t u ti o nal becau s e i t

v i o l at es h i s ri g h t t o co n fro nt hi s accu sers

, s o h e o ri g i n al l y fi l ed h i s ap p eal i n t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt

. T h e Su p rem e Co u rt fo u n d t h i s en um erat io n wai ved

, an d t hu s d eci d ed

i t di d n ot h av e o ri g i n al ap p el l at e ju ri s d ict i o n ov er t h e ap p eal

. Acc o r d i n g l y

, t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt t ran s ferred th e cas e t o t h i s Co u rt fo r i s su an ce o f an o p i n io n i n Hen r y

I

.

5u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f al co h o l

, d ru g s

, or o t her s u bs t an ces i n v i o l at io n o f

OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 t o b e ad m i tt ed in t o ev i den ce. See OCGA § 4 0-6 -3 9 2

(a). W h en s u ch t es t s are p erfo rm ed at t h e b eh es t o f t h e St at e, OCGA §

4 0 -6 -3 9 2 (a) (3 ) p ro v i d es t h at a s u s p ect “ m ay h av e a p h y s i ci an o r a

q u al ifi ed t ech n i ci an

, ch em i s t

, reg i s t ered n u rs e, o r o t h er q u al i fi ed p ers o n

o f h i s o wn ch o o si n g ad m i n i s t er a ch em i cal t es t or t es ts i n ad d i t i o n t o an y

ad m i n i s tere d a t t h e d i rect i o n o f a l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cer.” W here an

ad d i ti o n al

, in d ep en den t ch em i cal t es t i s req ues t ed b u t n o t g i v en

, t h e l aw

al l o ws fo r th e St at e’ s t es t t o rem ai n g en era l l y a d m i s si b l e as ev i d en ce

ag ai ns t t h e d r i v e r w h ere t h e fai l u re t o secu re t h e i n d ep en d en t t es t i s

“ ju s t i fi ab l e.” OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 2 (a) (3 ).

3 1 2 Ga. at 6 3 2

.

At t h e t i m e o f Hen ry ’ s t ri al

, t h e l aw pro v i ded t h at “ [a] n accu s ed ’ s ri gh t t o h av e

a n a d d i t i o n al

, i n d ep en d en t ch em i cal tes t or tes t s ad m i ni s t ered i s i n vo k ed b y s o m e

s t at em en t t h at rea s o na bl

y co ul d b e co n s t ru ed

, i n l i g ht o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

, t o b e an

ex p r e s s i o n o f a d es i re fo r s uch t es t .” (Em p h as i s s u p pl i ed .) La d

o w

, 25 6 Ga. Ap p

. at

7 2 8

. As we reci t ed in Hen r y I

, “ aft er H en ry was read t he i m p l i ed co n s en t n o t i ce an d

as k ed to co n s en t to a b l o od t es t fo r t h e s eco n d ti m e, h e as k ed t h e t ro o p er, ‘ s o y o u are

s ay i ng I can t ak e, m

y b l o o d

, m

y b l o o d

, m

y d o ct o r can d o m

y b l oo d tes t an d al l t h at ? ’

Th e t ro o p er res p o n d ed t o Hen ry ’ s q u es t i o n b y s t at i n g

, ‘ I n eed a y es o r a n o ri g h t n o w.

I di d n o t as k an y t hi n g ab o u t y ou r d o ct o r. I s ai d t h e St at e. Yes o r n o .’ ” 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p.

6at 2 2 1 (2 ). Rel y i n g o n La d o w an d o t h er cas es fo l l owi n g it

, w e fo u n d t h i s s t at em en t

am bi g uo u s an d t h u s h el d t hat i t “ r e a s o n a b ly co u l d ” h av e b een a req u es t fo r

i n d ep en d en t ch em i cal t es t i n g

. See i d

. at 2 2 0-2 2 1 (2 ). Acco rd i n g ly

, we fo u n d t h a t

Hen ry ’ s t ri al co u n s el was in effect i v e fo r fai li n g t o m o ve to s u p p res s t h e b l o o d res u l t

b ecau s e h e m ad e a s t ro n g s ho wi n g t h at s u ch a m o t i o n wo u ld h av e b een gran t ed

. Id

.

at 2 2 2 (2 ).

On cert i o rari

, t he Su p rem e Co u rt fo un d t h e reas o n i n g o f La d ow an d i t s p ro g en y

u n s o un d . It h el d

[w] h i l e th e t erm “

j u s t i fi ab l e” i s n ot ex p l i ci t l y d efi n ed i n OCGA §

4 0 -6 -3 9 2 (a) (3 ), t h e co n t ex t o f t h e s t at u t e’ s l an g u ag e m ak es cl ear t hat

t h e “ ju s t i fi ab l e fai l u re o r i n ab il i t y t o o b tai n an ad d i t i o n al t es t ” refers t o

t h e o ffi cer’ s fai l u re o r in ab i l i t y t o o b t a i n t h e ad d i t i o nal t es t

, n o t th e

d efen d an t ’ s. Th us

, it i s t h e o ffi cer’ s co n d u ct t h at m u s t b e ju s t ifi ed i n

o rd er fo r t h e St at e’ s t e s t t o be ad m i s si b l e.

. . . W h i l e t h ere m ay be

v ari o u s ex cu s es or reas o n s t h at co u l d ju s t i fy a l aw en fo rcem en t offi cer’ s

fai l u re o r i n ab il i t y t o o b t ai n ad d i t io n al

, i n d ep en d en t ch em i cal t es t i n g

,

t h e on l y rel ev an t ex cu s e at i s s u e h ere i s a l aw en fo rcem en t offi cer’ s

ex p l an at i on t hat t h e o ffi cer d i d n o t un d ers tan d t h at t h e defen d an t wan ted

s u ch t es t i ng

. W

h en a rea s o n ab l e of

f i cer wo ul d u n d

er s t a n d t h at a s u s pect

h as req u es t ed an ad d i t i o nal

, i n d ep en d en t ch em i cal t es t b ut i g n o res t hat

req u es t

, t h at fai l u re is n o t ju st i fi ab l e. B u t wh en a r ea so n ab l e o f f i cer

wo u ld n ot u n der s t a n d t h at a s u s p ect h as m ad e a req u es t fo r ad d i ti o n al

,

i n d ep en d en t ch em ical t es t i n g

, t h e fai l u re t o o b t ai n s u ch t es t i n g i s

7ju s t i fi ab l e. An o ffi cer d o es n o t u n ju s t i fi ab l y fai l t o o b t ai n an ad d i ti o n al

,

i n d ep en d e n t c h e m ical t es t wh en a s u s p ect m ak es o n l y an u n cl ear,

am b i g u o u s

, o r eq u i v o cal s t at em en t t h at co u l d h av e b een

, w i t h th e

b en efi t o f h in ds i gh t

, in t erp ret ed as a req u es t fo r ad di t i o n al t e s t i n g

.

W h et h er a cl ear req u es t was m ad e i s d et erm i n ed by ex am i n i n g t h e wo rd s

u s ed b y t h e s us p ect

, t h e co n t ex t o f t h e co n v ers at i o n b et ween t he o ffi cer

an d t h e s us p ect reg ard in g ch em i cal t es t i n g

, an d o t her ci rcu m s tan ces

rel ev an t t o wh et h er o r n o t t h e s u s p ect ex p res s ed a d es i re fo r s u ch

t es t i n g

.

(Ci t at i o n o m i t ted ; em

ph as i s s up p l i ed ) Hen r

y II

, 31 2 Ga. at 6 3 7 (3 ) (a). As a res u l t

, t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt

reject [ed ] t he “ reas o n ab l y co u l d ” s t an d ard set fo rt h by t h e Co u rt o f

Ap p eal s i n La d

o w

, an d [i t ] o v erru l e[d ] La d o w an d al l ot h er d eci s i on s o f

t h e Co u rt o f Ap p eal s h o l d i n g t h at a s u sp e c t ’s ri g h t to an ad d i ti o n al

,

i n d ep en d en t tes t is in v o k ed b y a s tat em en t t o a l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cer

t h at “ reas on ab l y co ul d ”

– rat her t han “ reas o n ab l y wo u l d”

– b e co n s t ru ed

as an ex pres s i o n o f a req u es t fo r s u ch a t es t

. . . .

Id . at 6 4 0 (3 ) (d ).

Th e Su p rem e Co u rt i n s t ru ct ed u s t o reco n s i d er o u r h o l d i n g i n l i g h t of Hen r y

II

, an d

, i n s o d o i ng we fi n d t hat Hen ry ’ s st at em en t

, t h o u gh ab l e t o s at i s fy th e p rev i ou s

“ reas o nab l y co u l d ” s t an dard fo r t h e reas o n s o u t l i n ed i n H en r y I

, was t oo am

b i g u ou s

t o m eet t h e m o re ex act in g “ reas o n ab l y wo u l d ” s t an d ard an n o u n ced i n H en r y II

. It i s

8u n cl ear wh et h er Hen ry was req u es t i n g t h at h i s d o ct o r perfo rm th e St at e’ s t es t (wh i ch

t h e l a w d o es n o t p erm i t) o r req u es t i n g t h at h i s d o ct o r p erfo rm i n d ep en d en t t es t i n g

aft er t h e St at e-ad m i n i s tered t es t (wh ich t h e l aw d o es p erm i t ), or was si m pl y co n fu s ed

a b o u t th e t es t i n g p ro t o co l an d s eek i n g cl ari fi cat i o n

. In ot her w o rd s

, we fi n d t h a t a

reas on ab l e o ffi cer wo u l d n o t reas o n ab l y co n s t ru e Hen ry ’ s am b i g uo u s s t at em en t t o b e

a req u es t fo r i n dep en den t t e s ti n g o f h is bl o o d

, s o t h e t ro o p er’ s fai l u re t o s ecu re

a dditiona l te sting w a s j ustif ie d

. Acco rd i ng l y

, Hen ry ’ s t ri al co u n s el was no t i n effect ive

f o r fai li n g t o fi l e a m o t i o n to s u p p res s wh i ch

, j u d ged u n der t h e co rrect “ reas o n ab l y

wo u l d ” s tan d ard

, wo u l d h av e b een m eri t l es s

. See, e.g

., S t a t e v. W a l ker

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p.

1 6 8

, 1 74 ( 2 ) ( 8 2 8 SE2 d 4 0 2 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (“ i t i s n o t i n effect iv e as s i s t an ce o f co u n s el to

refra i n f r o m m ak i n g a fu t i l e m o t i o n o r fi l i n g a m eri tl es s m ot i o n t o s u pp res s .”)

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

b

. Vo l u n t a ry Co n s en t

Hen ry al s o arg u es t hat h is t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e fo r fai li ng t o m o v e to

s u p p res s t h e b lo o d t es t res u l t on t h e g ro u nd t h at i t was o bt ai n ed wi th o u t a warran t o r

h i s v o l u n t ary

co n s en t . W h i l e i t i s u n d i s p u ted t h at n o warran t was o b t ai ned , we fi n d

Hen ry ’ s arg u m en t ab o u t co n s en t t o b e ab an d o n ed

.

9Hen ry co rrect l y reci t es l a w p r o vi d i n g t h at co urt s m u s t ex am i n e t h e

v o l u n t ari n es s of co n sen t to a b lo o d t es t u n d er t he t ot al it y o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

. See

e. g

. W i l li a ms v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 G a

. 8 1 7

, 8 23 (7 7 1 SE2 d 3 7 3 ) (2 0 15 ). Hen ry fai l s to

art i cu l at e, h o wev er, an y t h i n g i n v o l u nt ary ab o u t t h e co n s en t h e p ro v i ded t o t h e b l o o d

t es t

. H e i den ti fi es n ot h i n g ab o u t h i s co n d i t i o n o r t h e o ffi cer’ s co n d u ct t o s u p p o rt t h i s

en u m e r a t i o n

. “ [ I] t i s n o t t h i s Co u rt ’ s ro l e t o s p ecu l at e ab o u t th e l eg al b as i s fo r an

ap p el l an t ’ s arg u m en t

. No r i s it t h e fu n ct i o n o f t h i s Co u rt t o cu l l th e reco rd o n b eh al f

o f a p art y i n s earch o f i n s t an ces o f erro r. Th erefo re, in as m u ch as [Hen ry ] fai l s to

p r e s e n t an y m ean i ng fu l arg u m en t i n s u p p o rt o f t h i s en u m erat i o n

, it i s d eem ed

ab an do n ed .” (Ci t at io ns an d p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) S a n t o r o v. S t at e

, 3 6 1 G a. Ap p

. 5 4 6,

5 4 8 (1 ) (8 6 4 SE2 d 7 19 ) (2 0 2 1 ); Co u rt o f Ap peal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (2 ).

c. S ecu r in g Ad d i t i o n a l Tes t o f Bl o o d

In t h e t ri al co u rt

, Hen ry ’ s in i t i a l t r i al co u ns el secu red an o rd er to p erm i t

i n d ep e n d en t t es t i n g of Hen ry ’ s b l o o d h el d by th e GBI, g i v en th at t h e GBI’ s t es t i n g

p l aced Hen ry ’ s b l o o d al co h ol co n cen trat i o n (“ BAC”) at o n l y s l i g h t l y ab o v e t h e l eg al

l i m i t w h e n c o n s i d eri n g t h e t es ti n g ’ s m arg i n o f erro r. Acco rd i ng t o i n i t i al co u n sel ’ s

t es t i m o n y

, d es p i t e th i s co u rt o rd er, t h e GBI creat ed s o m e p ro ced u ral b arri e r s t o

h av in g t h e b l oo d t ran s m it t ed to an i n d ep en d en t l ab fo r fu rt h er t es t i n g

. In i t i al co u n s el

10t es t i fi ed t h at h e m ad e a s t rat eg i c d eci s i o n n o t t o p u sh b ack ag ai ns t t h e GBI t o o b t ai n

t h e bl o o d s am

pl e b ecau s e h e b el i ev ed t h ere was a g o od ch an ce ad d i ti o n al t es t i n g

wo u l d co m e b ack wi t h t h e s am e o r h i g h er BAC. He b el i ev ed Hen ry ’ s d efen s e was

s t ro n g er i f h e co ul d arg u e t h at t h e GBI fai l ed t o as si s t fu rt h er t es t i n g b ecau s e i t h ad

s o m et h in g t o h i d e rat h er t h an act ual l y o b t ai n i n g t h e t es t res u l t s

.

Hen ry s u b s eq u en tl y f

i red i n i t i al co u n s el an d h i red n ew t ri al co u ns el

. Th i s

at t o rn ey t es t ifi ed t h at h e d i d n o t p u rs u e ad d i t i on al t es t i n g b ecau s e h e was i n fo rm ed

t h at i n it i al co u n s el recei ved a l et t er fro m t h e GBI s t at i n g t h at t h e b l oo d was t o o o ld

t o re-t es t . In it i al co u n s el d en i ed recei v i n g s u ch a l et t er.

W i t h reg ard t o Hen ry ’ s in i t i al co un s el

, t h e deci s i o n no t t o p u rs u e ad d i t i o n a l

t es t i n g o f t h e b l o o d was cl earl y a s t rat eg i c o ne.

[ T ]h e re i s a s t ro n g p res u m p t i o n t hat t he perfo rm an ce o f co u n s el w as

wi t h in t he wi d e ran g e o f r e as o n ab l e p ro fes s i o n al l awy eri ng

, an d we

can n o t reach a co nt rary co n cl u s i o n u nl es s d efen d an t s u cces s fu l ly reb u t s

t h e p res u m

p t i on b y cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce. J u d i ci al s cru t i n y o f

co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce m u s t b e h i g h l y d eferen t i al

. Th e tes t h as n o t h i n g

t o do wi th wh at th e b es t l awy ers w o u ld h av e d o n e. No r i s t h e t es t ev en

wh at m o s t g o o d l awy ers wo u l d h av e d o n e. W e as k o n l y wh et h er s o m e

reas o n ab l e lawy er at t h e t ri al co u l d h av e act ed

, i n th e ci rcu m s tan ces

, as

d efen s e co u n s e l act ed

. In d et erm i n i n g wh at co n st i t u t es i n effect iv e

as s i s t an ce, a cri t i cal d i s t in ct i o n i s m ad e b et ween i n ad eq u at e p rep arat i o n

11an d u n wi s e ch o i ces o f tri al t act i cs an d s t rat eg y

. Part i cu l arl y i n reg ard t o

m at t ers o f t ri al s t rat eg y an d t act i c, effect i v en e s s i s n o t ju d g ed b y

h i n d s i g h t o r res u l t

. In d eed

, d eci s i o n s reg ard i n g t ri al t act i cs an d s t rat eg y

m ay fo rm th e b as i s fo r an i n effect i v en es s cl ai m o nl y i f t h ey w er e s o

p at en t l y u n reas o n ab l e t h at n o co m p et en t at t o rn ey wo u ld h av e fo l l o w ed

s u ch a co u rs e.

(Ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) W a l ker v. St a t e

, 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1 8 8

, 1 92 -1 9 3 (4 )

(8 2 5 SE2 d 5 7 8 ) (2 0 1 9). W e d o n o t fi n d t h at i t was p at en t l y u n reas o n ab l e fo r i n i t i al

co u ns el n o t t o p urs u e t es t i ng wh i ch co u l d h av e fu rt h er i n cu l p at ed Hen ry ; t h u s

, we d o

n o t fi n d h i s rep res en tat i o n i n effect i v e.

W i t h reg ard t o Hen ry ’ s s u b s eq u en t t ri al co u ns el

, ev en as s u m i n g h e b as ed h i s

d eci s i o n n o t t o p u rs ue ad d it i o n al b l o o d t es t i n g o n a m i st ak en b el ief t h at t he b l o o d was

t o o o l d t o re-t e s t a s o p p o s ed t o reas o n ed s t rat eg y

, Hen ry can n o t d em o n s t rat e

p reju d i ce. “ [P] reju d i ce i s d em o n s t rat ed o n l y wh ere th ere is a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y

t h at

, ab s en t co u n s el ’ s erro rs

, t h e res u l t o f t h e tri al wo ul d h av e b e e n d i fferen t

. A

‘ reas o n ab l e p roba

bility ’ i s de f

ined as a p ro b ab i l i t y s uffi ci en t t o un d erm i n e co n fi d en ce

i n t h e o u tco m e.” (Ci tat i o n o m i t t ed .) Gr een v. S ta t e

, 3 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. 84 3

, 8 5 2 -8 5 3 (7 )

(8 5 6 SE2 d 4 2 7) (2 0 21 ). Here, n o t o n l y i s i t p u re s p ecu l at io n t h at t h e res u l t s o f

ad d it i o n al b l o o d t es t i n g wo u l d h av e b een ex cu lp at ory

, as ex p l ai ned ab o v e, i t i s al s o

12p o s s i b l e t h at t hey wo u l d hav e b een i n cu l p at o ry

. Acco rd in g l y

, H en ry can n ot

d em o n s t rat e a reas on a b l e p r o b a b i l it y t h at t h e res u l t o f th e t ri al w o u l d h av e b een

d i fferen t i f h i s b l o o d were re-t es t ed

.

d

. Ob t a in in g

t he Cr i me La b Tes t i n g

Da t a

“ A p ers o n s h al l n o t d ri v e o r b e i n act u al ph y s i cal co n t ro l of an y m o v i n g v eh i cl e

wh i le

. . . [t ] h e p ers o n ’ s a l c o h o l co n cen t rat io n i s 0

. 0 8 g ram s o r m o re at an y t i m e

wi t h i n t h ree h o u rs aft er s u ch dri v i n g o r bei n g i n act u al p h y s i cal co n t ro l fro m al co h ol

co n su m ed b efo re s u ch d ri vi n g o r b ei n g i n act u al ph y s i cal co n t ro l en d ed [.] ” OCGA

§ 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 (a) (5 ). Th e s u m m ary t o x i co l o g y rep o rt in d i cat ed t h at Hen ry ’ s BAC was

.0 8 5 g ram s p er 1 0 0 m l wi t h a v ari an ce o f +/

– .0 0 4

. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e fo ren s i c

t o x i co l o g i s t

, t h e v ari an ce i s a s u m m at io n o f th e v ari ab i l i t y of ev ery s t ep o f t he p ro ces s

o f t e s t i ng t h e b l o od

. Sh e fu rt h er t es ti fi ed t hat

, s t at i s t i cal l y

, i f t h e t es t were ru n 1 0 0

t i m es

, 9 9 o f t h o s e t i m es t h e t es t res u lt s wo u ld b e wi t h in th e .0 0 4 v ari an ce. H ere, t h at

wo u l d m ean t h at s h e ex p ect ed t h at 99 o ut o f 1 0 0 t es ts o f Hen ry ’ s b l o o d wo u l d p u t h i s

BAC b et w een .0 8 1 an d .0 8 9 . Th e b l o o d i s act u al l y t es t ed b y t h e GBI t wo t i m es

.

At t ri al

, t he fo ren s i c t o x i c o l o g i s t t es t i fi ed t h at ev ery week th e i n s t ru m en t s

wh i ch p erfo rm t h e BAC an al y s i s are t u ned . Each d ay th ey al s o ru n a s am

p l e wi t h a

k n o wn co n cen trat io n o f al co h o l at th e b eg i n n i n g an d en d of t h e t es t in g to en s u re t h at

13t h e i n s t ru m en t i s wo rk in g accu rat el y t h ro u g h o ut t h e d ay ’ s tes t in g

. Sh e t es t ifi ed t h at

t h e i n s t ru m en t u s ed t o t es t Hen ry ’ s b l o o d was wo rk i n g o n t he d ay o f h i s t es t

.

Hen ry ’ s t ri al co u n s el d i d n o t s ub p o en a th e m o re d et ai l ed t es t i n g d at a fro m t h e

GBI. Aft er rev i ewi n g th o s e reco rd s

, p o st -co n v ict i o n co u n s el ex am i n ed t he fo ren s i c

t o x i co l o g i s t at t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g

. Th ere s h e t es t i fi ed t h at s h e p erfo rm ed

t wo t es ts o n Hen ry ’ s b l o o d s am p l e, wi t h t h e fi rs t reg i s t eri n g a BAC o f .0 8 42 an d t h e

s eco n d a .0 8 4 9

. Th e GBI’ s p o li cy i s t o ro un d t he res u l t s t o t h ree d eci m al p l aces fo r

t h e rep o rt

. On t h e d ay o f t es t i n g Hen ry ’ s s am p l e, co n t ro l s am

pl es wi th k n o wn

q u an ti t i es o f al co ho l were t es t ed t o en s u re t h e i n s t ru m en t was wo rk i n g accu rat el y

.

Th e fi rs t co n t ro l s am

pl e m eas u red .0 0 0 5 h i g h er t han t h e k n o wn lev el o f al co h o l an d

t h e s eco n d co n t ro l s am

pl e m eas u red .0 0 0 2 hi g h er t h an t he k no wn l ev el

. Hen ry ’ s p o s t

co n vi ct i o n co u n sel tri ed t o g et t h e t o x i co l o gi s t t o ag ree t hat

, as a res u l t

, Hen ry ’ s res u l t

co u ld h av e reg i s t ered as m uch as .0 0 05 h i g h er t h an i t real l y was

. Th e t o x ico l o g i s t

t es t i fi ed

, h owev er, t h at th e d ifferen ce b et ween t h e k n o w n s am p l e an d i t s r e c o rd ed

read i n g was wi t h i n t h e ex p ect ed res ul t s an d t hat t es t i n g t h e act u al b l o od s am p l es

t wi ce en s u res t h at t h e res u lt s are accu rat e.

Hen ry arg u es t h at h i s t ri al co u n s el was in effect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o o b t ai n t h i s

m o re d et ai l ed rep o rt b ecau s e i f t h e l ower t es t n u m ber o f

. 0 08 4 2 was us ed

, an d a

14d o wn ward d ev i at io n o f .0 0 4 was ap p l i ed fo r t h e m arg i n o f erro r, an d t h en .0 0 0 5 was

s u b t ract ed fro m t h at d u e t o t h e res u l t o f o n e o f t h e co n tro l s am p l es

, Hen ry ’ s BAC

wo u l d h av e b e e n b e l o w t h e l eg al l i m i t

. Hen ry

, h o wev er, d id n o t p ro v i d e an y

t es t i m o ny th at t h i s wo u l d b e an ap p ro p ri at e way to an al y ze t h e d at a. In d eed

, t h e o n l y

ex p ert t es t i m o n y p ro v i d ed w as fro m t he fo ren s i c t o xi co l o g i s t

, wh o refu s ed t o ad o pt

t h i s ap pro ach an d n ev er ag reed t h at it was p o s s i b l e t h at H en ry ’ s BAC w as b el o w .0 8.

At tri al an d at t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari n g

, s h e n ev er wav ered i n h er co n fi d en ce

ab o ut t h e res u l t s p res en t ed in t h e rep o rt

, an d t hi s t es t i m o n y w as un reb u t t ed

.

Acco rd in g ly

, Hen ry has n o t d em o n s trat ed t h a t h e w a s p reju d i ced b y t h e fai l u re to

o b t ai n t h i s m o re d et ai l ed tes t in g d at a. See Gr een , 3 5 8 Ga. Ap p . at 8 5 2 -8 5 3 (7 ).

In su m m ary

, u p o n reco n si d erat i on o n rem an d i n l i g h t o f Hen r y II

, we h o l d t h at

Hen ry h as n o t dem o n s t rat ed t h at h i s t ri al co u ns el was i n effect i v e an d

, t h us

, t h e t ri al

co u rt d i d n o t err i n d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

McFa d d en , P. J., co n cu r

.

15