Opinion ID: 1931326
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Waiver of Mitigating Evidence

Text: It is well established that a competent defendant may waive his right to present mitigating evidence in the penalty phase of his first-degree murder trial. See Durocher v. State, 604 So.2d 810, 812 (Fla. 1992); Pettit v. State, 591 So.2d 618, 620 (Fla.1992) (holding that one convicted of first-degree murder could waive his right to present mitigating evidence, but stressing that the trial judge must carefully analyze the possible statutory and nonstatutory mitigating factors against the aggravators to assure that death is appropriate). Before the trial court may grant a defendant's request to waive the presentation of mitigation, the court is obligated to ensure that the defendant's waiver is knowing, uncoerced, and not due to defense counsel's failure to fully investigate penalty phase matters. See Koon v. Dugger, 619 So.2d 246, 250 (Fla.1993). As Koon states, when a defendant refuses to allow the presentation of mitigating evidence in the penalty phase against his counsel's advice, (1) counsel must inform the court on the record of the defendant's decision; (2) counsel must indicate whether, based on his investigation, he reasonably believes there to be mitigating evidence that could be presented and what that evidence would be; and (3) the trial court should then require the defendant to confirm on the record that his counsel has discussed these matters with him, and despite counsel's recommendation, he wishes to waive presentation of penalty phase evidence. See id. at 250. Application of this rule creates a trial record that adequately reflects the defendant's knowing waiver of his right to present evidence in mitigation. See id. at 249. The procedures set forth in Koon were followed in this case. Defense counsel notified the court on the record that Spann did not wish to present mitigating evidence. Spann told the court that he had been thinking about this decision since he was in jail in 1997. On two separate occasionsat the time Spann waived his presentation of mitigation and again when he waived a jury at the penalty phasethe trial judge inquired in detail, and defense counsel indicated on the record what the mitigating evidence would be if it were presented. The court inquired whether Spann's decision was against the advice of counsel, and counsel said it was. The court inquired directly of Spann whether he wished to waive mitigation and whether he understood the consequences of a waiver. The defense also submitted a written sentencing memorandum, and the court ordered a presentence investigation. The judge heard penalty phase arguments and conducted a Spencer hearing. During the proceedings, Spann maintained his position that he did not wish to be present for the penalty phase and did not wish to present mitigation or even to have a penalty phase jury. At the penalty phase trial, the State called three witnesses who testified to facts in support of aggravating circumstances. At sentencing, the court indicated that it considered the presentence investigation (PSI) and the sentencing scoresheet, as well as statutory and nonstatutory mitigators since the trial court must consider all mitigation anywhere in the record to the extent it is believable and uncontroverted even when a defendant waives the presentation of mitigating evidence. See Overton v. State, 801 So.2d 877 (Fla.2001) (citing Farr v. State, 621 So.2d 1368, 1369 (Fla.1993)). Although the colloquy and repeated questioning of Spann is almost identical to the colloquy in Overton, which was found to be sufficient, Spann argues that his counsel did not thoroughly indicate the mitigation that existed in the record. The trial court solicited both statutory and nonstatutory mitigating evidence from defense counsel. Defense counsel advised the court that Spann was an accomplice with a relatively minor role in the murder, that Spann's mother, sister, and brother would testify that Spann was a good son and brother when he was a young man, and that at some point, Spann fell in with a bad crowd. Counsel also submitted that prison records show that Spann would be capable of living in an open prison environment without being a threat to himself or anyone else. Counsel indicated that a mental health expert was hired to examine Spann, but Spann failed to cooperate. The trial court questioned counsel as to what evidence they sought to present as a result of the mental health evaluation. Counsel also stated that they examined school records, social records, and criminal records, and that they met with Spann's family. The trial court specifically inquired about potential mitigating evidence discovered after meeting with Spann's family members. The trial court acted cautiously, followed the requirements of Koon, and conducted a colloquy similar to that in Overton, which was approved by this Court. The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it granted Spann's request to waive presentation of mitigation. Discretion is abused only when the judicial action is arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable, which is another way of saying that discretion is abused only where no reasonable [person] would take the view adopted by the trial court.' Trease v. State, 768 So.2d 1050, 1053 n. 2 (Fla.2000) (quoting Huff v. State, 569 So.2d 1247, 1249 (Fla.1990)). The record supports the trial court's finding that Spann acted knowingly and intelligently when he waived presentation of mitigation, and that he did so on his own accord and not because his counsel failed to adequately investigate existing or available mitigation. Because there was no abuse of discretion, relief is hereby denied.