Opinion ID: 1684901
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Guilt Phase Ineffectiveness

Text: Griffin alleges four separate deficiencies relating to the guilt phase of his trial: (1) counsel conceded Griffin's guilt to the burglary and car theft charges; (2) counsel was ineffective in cross-examination of State witnesses Crespo and Tarallo; (3) counsel failed to advise Griffin of possible judicial bias and then move for recusal of the judge; and (4) counsel failed to present an alternative theory of defense. We address each of these subclaims in turn. Not all decisions of counsel are reviewable under Strickland as constituting ineffective assistance of counsel. [A]ny specific discretionary or judgmental act or position of trial counsel, whether tactical or strategic, on an inquiry as to effectiveness of counsel will not be considered under Strickland. McNeal v. State, 409 So.2d 528, 529 (Fla. 5th DCA 1982). Sometimes a concession of guilt to some of the prosecutor's claims is good trial strategy and within defense counsel's discretion in order to gain credibility and acceptance of the jury. As explained by the district court in McNeal: When faced with the duty of attempting to avoid the consequences of overwhelming evidence of the commission of an atrocious crime, such as a deliberate, considered killing without the remotest legal justification or excuse, it is commonly considered a good trial strategy for a defense counsel to make some halfway concessions to the truth in order to give the appearance of reasonableness and candor and to thereby gain credibility and jury acceptance of some more important position. Id. In considering McNeal's petition for federal habeas relief, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit distinguished McNeal's circumstance from a situation in which defense counsel concedes guilt to the offense charged and makes a plea for leniency. While the latter situation requires a client's consent, the former is counsel's strategy that may bind a client even when made without consultation. See McNeal v. Wainwright, 722 F.2d 674, 677 (11th Cir.1984); see also Atwater v. State, 788 So.2d 223, 231 (Fla.2001) (finding that defense counsel's concession of guilt to lesser offense than first-degree murder was reasonable and did not amount to constitutional violation). Thus, trial counsel's concession of Griffin's guilt to the lesser offenses was proper trial strategy here. We affirm the circuit court's summary denial of relief on this issue. Griffin also argues that trial counsel was ineffective in his cross-examination of State witnesses Officer Crespo and codefendant Tarallo. During examination of Tarallo, counsel elicited testimony about Tarallo's account of being beaten by the police and confessing out of fear and about the benefits that Tarallo received from his plea agreement with the State. Counsel repeatedly tried to get Tarallo to admit that his statement inculpating Griffin was not truthful, but Tarallo steadfastly insisted on his truthfulness. While counsel did not question Officer Crespo about discharging his weapon inside the patrol car, this information was presented at trial by way of expert ballistics testimony. Griffin claims that had counsel questioned Crespo about the shots, it would have supported Griffin's claim that he only fired in response to being fired upon by the police. However, Griffin's theory was contradicted by the testimony of both Crespo, who stated that he did not fire the first shot, and Tarallo, who stated that the first shot was fired from the location next to him which was occupied by Griffin. Thus, we agree with the circuit court's conclusion that Griffin's claim regarding counsel's questioning of these witnesses does not satisfy either Strickland prong. Griffin also argues that counsel was ineffective in failing to challenge possible judicial bias and for not filing a motion to disqualify the judge. Griffin cited two grounds for recusal in his postconviction motion to the circuit court. [5] First, Griffin alleges that in sentencing him on a previous burglary in 1987, the judge stated his belief that Griffin would keep on committing crimes. Second, Griffin argues that the judge's ex parte explanation to the victim's father of a delay in the trial demonstrated prejudice. The circuit court summarily denied this claim because the grounds cited by Griffin were not sufficient to prevail on a motion to disqualify. Thus, counsel's failure in this regard could not meet the Strickland prejudice prong. A motion to disqualify will be dismissed as legally insufficient if it fails to establish a well-grounded fear on the part of the movant that he will not receive a fair hearing. Correll v. State, 698 So.2d 522, 524 (Fla.1997); Quince v. State, 592 So.2d 669, 670 (Fla.1992). To determine if a motion to disqualify is legally sufficient, the court must determine `whether the facts alleged would place a reasonably prudent person in the fear of not receiving a fair and impartial trial.' Correll, 698 So.2d at 524 (quoting Livingston v. State, 441 So.2d 1083, 1087 (Fla.1983)). The grounds asserted by Griffin in his motion below do not meet this standard. Thus, even if Griffin's counsel had moved for recusal on the grounds asserted, he would not have prevailed and the Strickland prejudice prong cannot be met. Thus, the circuit court properly denied relief on this claim. Griffin also asserts that counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate and present an alternative theory of defense (i.e., the police officers fired first and Griffin only fired in self-defense). However, we conclude that summary denial was proper because all of the testimony and evidence shows that Griffin shot first and he did not suggest that any realistic evidence exists to support his alternative theory of defense. Thus, counsel's performance in this regard cannot be deemed deficient. We conclude that Griffin is not entitled to postconviction relief on any of his claims of ineffective assistance during the guilt phase of the trial. Thus, we affirm the circuit court's summary denial.