Opinion ID: 1131047
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: part ii. fundamental error and commendable candor

Text: This is a case which to an extent contains fundamental error; it is also one which involves fundamental fairness, or more accurately, the lack thereof. The fundamental error involved is clearly demonstrated by defense counsel's conceded ignorance that his client, Iain Robbins, a sentenced defendant who had been victimized by a prosecutor's broken promise to recommend to the sentencing court that jurisdiction be retained, could receive an increased sentence, should the resentencing court be so inclined. It was at oral argument on defendant's appeal in this Court that defense counsel, Barry Watson, was first made aware that the net result of his inexperience in the criminal practice was seeing his client on resentencing being handed a greater sentence than the one initially imposed by District Judge Magnuson: JUSTICE JOHNSON: So, why, to avoid the very problem which you suggest, wouldn't it have been better to go back before the same district judge and have the prosecutor, I think maybe you're making more out of the dilemma than really exists. MR. WATSON: Well, in retrospect, that may be true, but at the time we had Santobello and Rutherford I [1] to look at, and both of those cases suggested a different judge. To be quite honest, I didn't realize that resentencing before the same judge was an alternative. This is an unusual situation, I would submit to the court, one which even experienced defense attorneys, I don't think, see very often, and we simply referred to the cases we had at the time, and both of those suggested resentencing before a different judge. We had to run with the ball that was tossed to us. Watson, in so responding to Justice Johnson, candidly was admitting to an apparent prima facie case of malpractice, rising to the level of fundamental error. To Watson's everlasting credit was his utter candor in so advising Justice Johnson of his ignorance. Speaking truthfully to Justice Johnson was the only honorable course, and, although doing so put defense counsel in a poor light, it did serve the laudable purpose of paving a route which Robbins might follow in appealing his increased sentence as imposed by Judge Haman or in pursuing post conviction relief. Mr. Watson, had he been so inclined, could just as easily been less honest in his above response to Justice Johnson.