Opinion ID: 2165796
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Conduct a Momon Hearing

Text: In Momon v. State, 18 S.W.3d 152 (Tenn.1999), this Court established a new rule in order to assure that the accused in a criminal trial had personally waived his right to testify. In an effort to protect the fundamental right of the accused to testify in a criminal trial and to ensure that any waiver of that right was personal, knowing, and voluntary, this Court implemented a procedure requiring counsel to question a defendant on the record but outside the presence of the jury regarding his decision not to testify. Momon, 18 S.W.3d at 162. A defendant must demonstrate his knowledge of the following: (1) the defendant has the right not to testify, and if the defendant does not testify, then the jury (or court) may not draw any inferences from the defendant's failure to testify; (2) the defendant has the right to testify and that if the defendant wishes to exercise that right, no one can prevent the defendant from testifying; (3) the defendant has consulted with his or her counsel in making the decision whether or not to testify; that the defendant has been advised of the advantages and disadvantages of testifying; and that the defendant has voluntarily and personally waived the right to testify. Id. The ruling applies prospectively. Because the Defendant's trial was conducted several months after this ruling, a Momon hearing was required. The Defendant contends that the trial court erred by failing to ensure, on the record, that he had personally waived his right to testify. While the Defendant concedes that he failed to present this issue either at trial or in his motion for new trial, he insists that the trial court's omission rises to the level of plain error and warrants a remand to the trial court for consideration of the effect of the error. The Court of Criminal Appeals agreed and remanded the cause to the trial court for a determination of whether the error was harmless. Because the Defendant is entitled to a new trial, however, it is not necessary for this Court to determine whether the omission qualifies as plain error. State v. Baby John Doe, 813 S.W.2d 150, 153 (Tenn. Crim.App.1991). The issue is moot. Any ruling would be advisory. Dockery v. Dockery, 559 S.W.2d 952, 954 (Tenn.Ct. App.1977). In State ex rel. Lewis v. State, 208 Tenn. 534, 347 S.W.2d 47 (Tenn.1961), this Court cited with approval the following language: However convenient or desirable for either party that the questions mooted in the case be authoritatively settled for future guidance, the court is not justified in violating fundamental principles of judicial procedure to gratify that desire. To invoke the jurisdiction of a court of justice, it is primarily essential that there be involved a genuine and existing controversy, calling for present adjudication. . . .  347 S.W.2d at 48 (quoting Southern Pac. Co. v. Eshelman, 227 F. 928, 932 (N.D.Cal. 1914)). [9]