Opinion ID: 501759
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Consideration of Mitigating Circumstances

Text: 102 Coleman first argues that the trial court failed to consider mitigating circumstances dealing with his personal history and characteristics. Although he did not present any evidence as to mitigating circumstances at the sentencing hearing, see Darden v. Wainwright, 477 U.S. 187, 106 S.Ct. 2464, 2474, 91 L.Ed.2d 144 (1986) (similar decision at death sentence hearing); Baldwin v. Alabama, 472 U.S. 372, 105 S.Ct. 2727, 86 L.Ed.2d 300 (1985) (passim, same); Williams v. Oklahoma, 358 U.S. 576, 583, 79 S.Ct. 421, 425, 3 L.Ed.2d 516 (1959) (same), the pre-sentence report listed several factors which Coleman argues militated in favor of leniency, including: his community service, clean record, and alleged psychological disorders. The trial court stated that it had considered all of the evidence and materials presented in rendering its Findings. See also Coleman II, 185 Mont. 299, 605 P.2d at 1019 (rejecting contention that trial court did not give proper consideration to evidence when making its findings). 103 State court findings of fact arrive at a federal habeas corpus proceeding with a presumption of correctness. Wainwright v. Goode, 464 U.S. 78, 85, 104 S.Ct. 378, 382, 78 L.Ed.2d 187 (1983) (per curiam). This presumption applies both to state trial and appellate court findings of fact, id. (involving state appellate court's interpretation of trial court proceedings in imposing death sentence), and may only be overcome by  'convincing evidence.'  Kennick v. Superior Court, 736 F.2d 1277, 1281 (9th Cir.1984) (quoting 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2254(d)). 104 The record reveals that the trial court considered all of the evidence and arguments presented regarding mitigation, but found that there was no evidence of mitigating factors sufficiently substantial to call for leniency. At the June 14th hearing, the court stated that it had received the pre-sentence report and noted that the significant part of it relative to mitigating circumstances, is that the defendant has never been convicted of any felony prior to this charge. The trial court then agreed to accept a brief from the State and from Coleman's counsel specifically discussing the relevant aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Coleman III, 633 P.2d at 632. At that hearing and again at the later July 10th hearing, the court stated several times, without challenge, that it had read and considered all materials submitted. The court's Findings similarly stated it had reviewed all matters submitted, together with the evidence produced at trial, and ... [observed] the defendant's demeanor during trial and while testifying.... Finally, at the July 10th hearing, Coleman's attorney reviewed for the court the circumstances from his client's personal history favoring leniency, and the State argued in rebuttal. In light of the trial court's repeated and unchallenged statements that it had received and considered all evidence presented, its specific reference to the pre-sentence report, its acceptance of written briefs and oral argument regarding mitigating circumstances, and Coleman's decision to proceed on the basis of the written record, see Williams v. Oklahoma, 358 U.S. at 583, 79 S.Ct. at 425 (and cases cited supra with full cite to this case), we conclude that the trial court considered all of the mitigating circumstances presented and concluded these factors were not sufficiently substantial to call for leniency. 8 105 Coleman maintains, however, that the trial court's failure to discuss his personal history and characteristics in its Findings indicates the court did not consider these factors in sentencing. In a series of cases, the Eleventh Circuit has rejected the same argument. Johnson v. Wainwright, 778 F.2d 623, 629 (11th Cir.1985); Funchess v. Wainwright, 772 F.2d 683, 693 (11th Cir.), reh'g denied en banc, 776 F.2d 1057 (1985), cert. denied, 475 U.S. 1031, 106 S.Ct. 1242, 89 L.Ed.2d 349 (1986); Raulerson v. Wainwright, 732 F.2d 803, 805-08 (11th Cir.), reh'g denied, 736 F.2d 1528 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 966, 105 S.Ct. 366, 83 L.Ed.2d 302 (1984); Palmes v. Wainwright, 725 F.2d 1511, 1523 (11th Cir.), reh'g denied, 729 F.2d 1468 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 873, 105 S.Ct. 227, 83 L.Ed.2d 156 (1984); Dobbert v. Strickland, 718 F.2d 1518, 1523-24 (11th Cir.) (Dobbert II ), reh'g denied, 720 F.2d 1294 (1983), cert. denied, 468 U.S. 1220, 104 S.Ct. 3591, 82 L.Ed.2d 887 (1984). In Dobbert II, the court held: 106 The fact that the sentencing order does not refer to specific types of non-statutory 'mitigating' evidence petitioner introduced indicates only the trial court's finding the evidence was not mitigating, not that such evidence was not considered. Whether particular evidence, such as the fact that Dobbert had a difficult childhood, is mitigating depends on the evidence in the case as a whole and the views of the sentencing and reviewing judges. What one person may view as mitigating, another may not. Merely because the Florida courts, operating through a properly drawn statute with appropriate standards to guide discretion, do not share petitioner's view of the evidence reveals no constitutional infirmity. See Proffitt v. Florida, 428 U.S. at 258-59, 96 S.Ct. at 2969-70. 107 718 F.2d at 1524. 108 In Funchess, 772 F.2d 683, the trial judge's Findings of Fact were virtually identical to those made here. The judge in Funchess did not refer to the non-statutory mitigating factors, and stated that sufficient aggravating circumstances exist ... and this Court further finds that there are insufficient mitigating circumstances to outweigh the aggravating circumstances. 772 F.2d at 693 n. 11. The Eleventh Circuit rejected Funchess' argument that the trial judge's failure to discuss any aspect of the non-statutory mitigating circumstances is absolute proof that the trial judge failed altogether to consider these factors: 109 During the second resentencing hearing, Funchess presented evidence relating to certain non-statutory mitigating circumstances. The trial court considered this evidence but obviously was not persuaded that it justified the establishment of any non-statutory mitigating factors. Consequently, the trial judge did not include a detailed discussion regarding these alleged circumstances in his findings of fact. This court has on previous occasions held that '[t]he fact that the sentencing order does not refer to specific types of non-statutory 'mitigating' evidence petitioner introduced indicates only the trial court's finding the evidence was not mitigating, not that such evidence was not considered.' [Raulerson, 732 F.2d at 807]. Accordingly, appellant's argument on this matter is without merit. 110 Id. at 693 (footnotes omitted). 111 We agree with the Eleventh Circuit that a trial judge's failure to discuss a defendant's personal history in its findings does not indicate that these factors were not considered. Montana's death penalty statute authorizes the trial judge to consider a defendant's personal history and characteristics, and lists as a mitigating circumstance [a]ny other fact exist[ing] in mitigation of the penalty. Mont.Code Ann. Secs. 95-2206.7 and 95-2206.9(8). That the trial judge did not refer to evidence of personal history in his Findings only indicates he found that this evidence did not mitigate the penalty and was not sufficiently substantial to call for leniency. Id. Sec. 95-2206.10. Indeed, the trial judge's comments at the July 10th hearing and his Findings expressly stated that this was his view. We must therefore reject Coleman's argument as inconsistent with the trial judge's own comments, a fair reading of the record, and the analysis enunciated by the Eleventh Circuit which we find persuasive.