Opinion ID: 1704799
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: conclusion

Text: For the reasons expressed above, we quash the decision of the First District in Thompson II and remand with directions for a new sentencing proceeding. We hold that the standard enunciated by the United States Supreme Court in Strickland is the appropriate standard for determining prejudice with regard to an ineffective assistance of counsel claim based on counsel's failure to disqualify the presiding judge. We approve of the decisions of the Second District in Kleppinger and the Fourth District in Goines to the extent that they are consistent with this opinion. It is so ordered. QUINCE, C.J., and PARIENTE, and LEWIS, JJ., concur. BELL, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with an opinion, in which CANTERO, J., concurs. WELLS, J., recused. BELL, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part. I agree with the majority that the test enunciated in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984), is the proper standard for evaluating ineffective assistance of counsel claims alleging that counsel failed to timely file a motion to disqualify the presiding judge. I also agree that it is the defendant who bears the burden of proving prejudice under Strickland. However, unlike the majority, I believe that Thompson has failed to meet that burden as to both the determination of guilt and the sentence imposed. In particular, I disagree with the majority's prejudice analysis regarding the sentence imposed by Judge Smith. What the majority fails to acknowledge is that there are two reasonable but conflicting interpretations of Judge Smith's remarks. As found by the experienced postconviction trial judge, one interpretation is that Judge Smith's remarks were simply a reflection of an erroneous belief that the sentencing guidelines would not apply if Thompson was convicted as charged. The second interpretation is the majority's view on postconviction appeal, namely that Judge Smith's remarks suggest that the judge had a preconceived and fixed view as to what sentence Thompson would receive if he was convicted. Majority op. at 491. The majority's decision to ignore the first possible interpretation would be the correct one if this matter was before us on direct appeal or as a petition seeking an extraordinary writ to prohibit Judge Smith from presiding. See Livingston v. State, 441 So.2d 1083 (Fla.1983); Benson v. Tharpe, 685 So.2d 1363 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996); Gonzalez v. Goldstein, 633 So.2d 1183 (Fla. 4th DCA 1994). In such a posture, we would review whether Judge Smith's remarks mandated that he grant a motion to disqualify, which depends upon whether the facts alleged would place a reasonably prudent person in fear of not receiving a fair and impartial trial. Livingston, 441 So.2d at 1087. Obviously, however, Thompson is not before us on direct appeal or seeking extraordinary relief to remove Judge Smith from his case. Instead, he is here appealing the denial of his postconviction claim alleging ineffectiveness of his trial counsel. And as the majority acknowledges, [i]n contrast to [the] relatively low threshold for obtaining relief on appeal, a defendant claiming ineffective assistance of trial counsel in postconviction proceedings may only obtain relief by showing that counsel's deficient performance actually prejudiced the defense. Majority op. at 489 (emphasis added). However, despite this acknowledgment, the majority inexplicably (1) fails to apply the more stringent set of rules and principles that apply in postconviction proceedings and (2) fails to require proof of actual prejudice. The proper application of these postconviction standards dictates that we affirm the postconviction trial judge's interpretation of Judge Smith's remarks and deny relief because Thompson has failed to prove actual bias. In Florida, we assume that jurors and trial judges are unbiased. See Lusk v. State, 446 So.2d 1038, 1041 (Fla.1984) (affirming denial of challenge to juror where the defendant presented no evidence that prospective juror Williams would not have rendered his verdict solely upon the evidence presented); Enter. Leasing Co. v. Jones, 789 So.2d 964, 967-68 (Fla.2001) (rejecting rule that presumes bias whenever judge is privy to confidential information). Given this assumption, when raising a postconviction claim that counsel was ineffective for failing to strike a juror for cause, we require the defendant to prove that the juror was actually biased in order to establish prejudice under Strickland. Carratelli v. State, 961 So.2d 312, 324 (Fla. 2007). If we require the defendant to demonstrate the actual bias of a juror, we must surely require a defendant to prove that a presiding judge was actually biased in order to establish prejudice under Strickland. As stated earlier, Thompson has not met his burden of proving actual bias. During the evidentiary hearing on his postconviction motion, Thompson did not call Judge Smith to explore what Judge Smith was thinking when he made the statements in question. And, there is no evidence in the record demonstrating that Judge Smith was unavailable to provide such testimony. Moreover, as the First District noted, Thompson did not present any evidence suggesting that the aggravating factors relied upon by Judge Smith in imposing the departure sentence did not exist or that the sentence imposed was not within Judge Smith's discretion. See Thompson v. State, 949 So.2d 1169, 1174 (Fla. 1st DCA 2007). Instead, during the postconviction proceeding, Thompson merely argued that the imposition of a life sentence itself demonstrated prejudice. Given the heinous nature of Thompson's crime, this life sentence is certainly not enough to prove that Judge Smith actually held a biased and predetermined view of sentencing. To the contrary, after conducting an evidentiary hearing and reviewing the record, an experienced trial judge expressly found that Judge Smith's remarks were solely a reflection of an erroneous belief that the sentencing guidelines would not apply if Thompson was convicted of a first-degree felony punishable by life. As the trial court's order explained, Judge Smith responded to this crisis of representation created by Defendant. He reasoned that Mr. Greenberg, nor others, should have anything to fear because Defendant would be in prison for life if convicted. The context of Judge Smith's remarks appear to be a mistaken belief that the guidelines did not impact on a first degree felony punishable by life. The context of the statement of this belief was always tied to the threats Defendant made. Judge Smith: Okay. So if convicted in that case, he will be spending the rest of his life in prison? Mr. Greenberg: Perhaps if that's what the guidelines call for. Judge Smith: With a first degree punishable by life, I don't think we need to be worrying about the guidelines. So his threat is that when he gets out of prison, he's going to make you pay for it and kill you and kill me and Mr. Poitinger and Mr. Murrell and the families and everybody. In ruling on the Motion to Withdraw, the context implies Defendant, if not convicted, is not a threat because he will not have been convicted. If convicted, the Judge reasons Defendant cannot physically hurt anyone because he will be in prison for life. The trial court's finding that Judge Smith's statements did not reflect bias or a predetermination as to sentencing is not contradicted by any evidence in the record. Judge Smith's remarks were directly linked to denying Mr. Greenberg's motion to withdraw. And, after the hearing on the motion to withdraw, Judge Smith never made a single comment that could even arguably be considered a manifestation of bias regarding sentencing. Then, during the sentencing hearing, Judge Smith again never indicated anything but a willingness to listen to the defense's arguments and witnesses. At the sentencing hearing and in writing thereafter, Judge Smith explained his reasons for departing from the sentencing guidelines. His explanation does not reflect any bias or predisposition. Thus, the trial court's finding regarding the context of Judge Smith's comments is clearly reasonable. There is absolutely nothing in the record that contradicts the trial court's finding. Given Thompson's failure to satisfy his postconviction burden of proving actual bias, I would affirm the postconviction trial court's reasonable interpretation of Judge Smith's remarks and deny relief. Accordingly, I concur in part and dissent in part. CANTERO, J., concurs.