Opinion ID: 2517672
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: A Second Evidentiary Hearing Is Unnecessary

Text: Although petitioner presented numerous allegations in Hardy II attacking both his guilt and penalty judgments, we issued an order to show cause as to only two interrelated claims: Is petitioner entitled to reversal of his guilt judgment because [1] he is innocent of the capital crimes of which he was convicted, [in that] a third party named Calvin Boyd committed the murders, and [2] because petitioner's trial counsel rendered constitutionally ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to present evidence demonstrating petitioner's innocence[?] Issuance of the order indicates we concluded petitioner's allegations on these issues state a prima facie case for relief. We have also concluded that the allegations were made without substantial delay; the petition asserts that its allegations are timely, and respondent does not allege otherwise. Respondent denies the facts alleged in the Hardy II petition, and petitioner reasserts his factual allegations in his traverse; hence, we normally would order an evidentiary hearing before a referee to determine the truth of the disputed allegations of facts: [I]f the return and traverse reveal that petitioner's entitlement to relief hinges on the resolution of factual disputes, then the court should order an evidentiary hearing. (Pen.Code, § 1484.) Because appellate courts are ill-suited to conduct evidentiary hearings, it is customary for appellate courts to appoint a referee to take evidence and make recommendations as to the resolution of disputed factual issues. ( People v. Romero (1994) 8 Cal.4th 728, 739-740, 35 Cal.Rptr.2d 270, 883 P.2d 388.) Following receipt of the referee's report, we would entertain the parties' exceptions to its accuracy. (See In re Malone (1996) 12 Cal.4th 935, 941, 50 Cal.Rptr.2d 281, 911 P.2d 468; In re Avena (1996) 12 Cal.4th 694, 709-710, 49 Cal. Rptr.2d 413, 909 P.2d 1017; In re Branch (1969) 70 Cal.2d 200, 203, 74 Cal.Rptr. 238, 449 P.2d 174.) Under unusual circumstances, however, this court may decline to order a hearing and simply decide the case. For example, [i]f the written return admits allegations in the petition that, if true, justify the relief sought, the court may grant relief without an evidentiary hearing. [Citations.] Conversely, consideration of the written return and matters of record may persuade the court that the contentions advanced in the petition lack merit, in which event the court may deny the petition without an evidentiary hearing. ( People v. Romero, supra, 8 Cal.4th at p. 739, 35 Cal.Rptr.2d 270, 883 P.2d 388.) Apparently invoking this latter option, respondent asserts the instant petition may be denied without an evidentiary hearing. We agree an evidentiary hearing is not required to resolve the issues raised in the present petition, but for a different reason. The circumstances of this case are unusual, in that our referee has already held one evidentiary hearing (albeit in response to allegations in the petition for Hardy I) and petitioner's present factual allegations are based on both evidence presented at that hearing that has already been evaluated by the referee, and on witnesses who testified at the hearing whom the referee has already found credible. Stated differently, petitioner has already presented evidence in a contested hearing, and the referee has already determined the truth of facts alleged, including the credibility of various witnesses. Moreover, as we explain post, we largely reject respondent's exceptions to the accuracy of the referee's conclusions. Respondent's denials in Hardy II of the same facts alleged and found true in Hardy I cannot undermine the referee's considered factual conclusions at this late date. Holding a second evidentiary hearing on those facts would also be futile. Respondent had an adequate opportunity to examine the witnesses who testified at the hearing in Hardy I. Indeed, one witness was ordered returned from Kentucky to permit respondent to cross-examine him. Although respondent contends he did not cross-examine petitioner's witnesses (e.g., Raynall Burney, James Moss, Rickey Ginsburg and Michael Small) with an interest and motive similar to that which respondent has in the present habeas corpus proceeding, he does not persuasively explain in what different fashion he would have conducted his cross-examination. Although respondent objected to the examination of these witnesses on the ground that questions of factual innocence were beyond the scope of the reference order, the referee overruled the objection. (See discussion, post.) Accordingly, respondent had every incentive to aggressively question these witnesses at the evidentiary hearing in Hardy I. Nor is it likely respondent could show how he would have conducted his cross-examination differently. The third question in our amended order of reference for Hardy I stated: (3) What were Mr. Demby's reasons why he did not present ... the uncontradicted evidence of other available witnesses who would have provided mitigating evidence at the penalty phase of the trial? Evidence of Boyd's culpability would have constituted strong mitigating evidence for the penalty phase, supporting defense counsel's strategic choice to rely on a lingering doubt defense; thus, respondent had ample incentive to demonstrate why counsel would have been justified in not presenting this evidence. Moreover, the record reveals no lack of effort on respondent's part to discredit petitioner's witnesses on cross-examination. Accordingly, to the extent petitioner's present claims for relief are based on facts already litigated and determined by the referee, respondent's continued disputation of those facts is fruitless, and no reason appears to justify the holding of an additional, superfluous evidentiary hearing. [7]