Opinion ID: 1609293
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Standard of Proof of Waiver of the Right to Counsel

Text: Having concluded defendant is not entitled to the prophylactic protection provided by Michigan v. Jackson , because he failed to assert or invoke his right to counsel by requesting counsel at any point after the attachment of his Sixth Amendment or La. Const. Art. I, Sec. 13 right to counsel but prior to his making a statement without counsel present, we turn now to the issue of whether defendant validly waived his right to counsel. For the fruits of interrogations occurring after the attachment of the right to counsel at the initiation of adversary judicial criminal proceedings to be admissible in the prosecution's case in chief, the State must prove a voluntary, knowing, and intelligent waiver of the right to counsel. Michigan v. Harvey, 494 U.S. at 348-49, 110 S.Ct. at 1179. To show a knowing and intelligent waiver of the right to counsel, the State must prove an intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a known right or privilege. Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 464, 58 S.Ct. 1019, 1023, 82 L.Ed. 1461 (1938); State v. Harper, 430 So.2d 627, 634 (La.1983). In other words, a defendant may waive his right to counsel if he knows what he is doing and his choice is made with eyes open. Adams v. United States ex rel. McCann, 317 U.S. 269, 63 S.Ct. 236, 87 L.Ed. 268 (1942). A statement or confession is voluntary only if it was the product of defendant's uncoerced free will. The validity of a waiver is determined by carefully scrutinizing the particular facts and circumstances surrounding the case, including the background, experience and conduct of the accused. Harper, 430 So.2d at 634. Although this court defers to the findings of the trial judge as to whether the confession was knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily made, a trial court's conclusions will not stand unless supported by adequate evidence. State v. Brooks, 92-3331 p. 11 (La. 1/17/95) 648 So.2d 366, 372. Courts should indulge in every reasonable presumption against waiver. Brewer v. Williams, 430 U.S. at 404, 97 S.Ct. at 1242; Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 70, 62 S.Ct. 457, 464, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942). In Patterson v. Illinois , the Court explained the focus, as to the knowing and intelligent elements of the inquiry, as follows: Was the accused, who waived his Sixth Amendment rights during ... questioning, made sufficiently aware of his right to have counsel present during the questioning, and of the possible consequences of a decision to forgo the aid of counsel? 487 U.S. at 292, 108 S.Ct. at 2394. [17] Thus, not only must the state show the defendant's choice to make a statement absent the presence of counsel was a voluntary, uncoerced one, but it must also show the choice was knowing and intelligent by showing defendant was aware of his right to have counsel present at the interrogation and understood the consequences of a decision to proceed without the aid of counsel. [18] In Patterson, the Court discussed whether the giving of Miranda warnings immediately prior to the interrogation would sufficiently apprise a defendant of his right to have counsel present during the interrogation and the consequences of a choice to answer questions without counsel present such that defendant could not later complain his waiver was not knowing and intelligent. The Court stated: First, the Miranda warnings given petitioner made him aware of his right to have counsel present during the questioning. By telling petitioner that he had a right to consult with an attorney, to have a lawyer present while he was questioned, and even to have a lawyer appointed for him if he could not afford to retain one on his own, Officer Gresham and ASA Smith conveyed to petitioner the sum and substance of the rights that the Sixth Amendment provided him.... There is little more petitioner could have possibly been told in an effort to satisfy this portion of the waiver inquiry. Second, the Miranda warnings also served to make petitioner aware of the consequences of a decision by him to waive his Sixth Amendment rights during postindictment questioning. Petitioner knew that any statement that he made could be used against him in subsequent criminal proceedings. This is the ultimate adverse consequence petitioner could have suffered by virtue of his choice to make uncounseled admissions to the authorities. . . . . . As a general matter, then, an accused who is admonished with the warnings prescribed by this Court in Miranda ... has been sufficiently apprised of the nature of his Sixth Amendment rights, and of the consequences of abandoning those rights, so that his waiver on this basis will be considered a knowing and intelligent one. We feel that our conclusion in a recent Fifth Amendment case is equally apposite here: Once it is determined that a suspect's decision not to rely on his rights was uncoerced, that he at all times knew he could stand mute and request a lawyer, and that he was aware of the State's intention to use his statements to secure a conviction, the analysis is complete and the waiver is valid as a matter of law. See Moran v. Burbine, 475 U.S., at 422-423, 106 S.Ct. at 1142. [19] Patterson, 487 U.S. at 293-94, 108 S.Ct. at 2395. Thus, under Patterson, in the context of the waiver of the right to counsel in an interrogation, Miranda warnings given to a defendant prior to his making a statement will suffice to meet the state's burden of proving the statement was given as a result of a knowing and intelligent waiver of the Sixth Amendment and La. Const. Art. I, Sec. 13 right to counsel. Of course, the Miranda warnings alone do not answer the question of whether the waiver was valid, as the waiver must not only be knowing and intelligent, but also voluntary, in that it was an uncoerced product of the defendant's free will. Defendant in the instant case does not argue his waiver was invalid because it was not voluntary, knowing, or intelligent. In order to make a complete adjudication on the record before us, however, we must reach this issue. Made part of the record is Detective Dickerson's report summarizing her interrogation of defendant on February 13, 1994. The report indicates defendant was formally advised ... of his rights via Rights form # 208538 and asked if he wished to make a statement. Mr. Carter stated that he understood his rights and voluntarily signed the form. Also part of the record is the Rights of An Arrestee or Suspect form signed by defendant. The form states in part: X You are under arrest for allegedViolation of Revised Statutes of 1950 as amended, ARTICLE 14:42.1 RELATIVE TO Forcible Rape Et. Al. The possibility of your participation in other crimes is also under investigation. According to provisions in the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Louisiana it is my duty to inform you that: I. You need not make any statements; that is, you have a right to remain silent; II. Anything you say may be used against you in trial; III. You have a right to consult with and obtain the advice of an attorney, before answering any questions; IV. If you cannot afford an attorney, the court will obtain an attorney to represent you and advise you; V. You have a right to have your attorney or an appointed attorney present at the time of any questioning or giving of any statement. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I HAVE JUST READ TO YOU? X YES ___ NO The form was signed by defendant and indicates he was apprised he had the right to the assistance of counsel both before and during questioning. The form also informed defendant that anything he said may be used against him in trial. Therefore, defendant was advised of his right to counsel and the consequences of proceeding to answer questions without counsel. Consequently, under Patterson, the State has met its burden of proving defendant made a knowing and intelligent waiver of his right to counsel. The next inquiry is whether the State has also proven a voluntary waiver of the right to counsel. Detective Dickerson's report indicates defendant told her he wanted to make a statement and that he did so voluntarily. The transcript of the suppression hearing reveals Detective Dickerson testified she met with defendant, asked if he would like to give a statement, and advised him of his rights. She testified she did not in any way force, threaten or coerce defendant into giving a statement. The record contains no evidence of any sort, nor even any allegation by defendant, that defendant was somehow coerced or pressured into making the statement or that the statement was not a product of his free will. Therefore, we conclude the State has met its burden of proving defendant's waiver of his right to counsel at the interrogation was also voluntary.