Opinion ID: 2062476
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Failure to Advise of the Advantages of a Jury Sentencing Under Mills v. Maryland

Text: Gilliam contends Daneman failed to adequately advise him of the advantages of a jury sentencing under Mills v. Maryland, 486 U.S. 367, 108 S.Ct. 1860, 100 L.Ed.2d 384 (1988), in which the Supreme Court held that a jury must weigh aggravating against mitigating factors when even one juror finds that a mitigating circumstance exists. Although now presented in a somewhat different fashion, this argument has already been decided in Gilliam's first appeal. On direct appeal, Gilliam contended that the trial judge failed to properly advise him of the effect of Mills v. Maryland . Specifically, Gilliam contended that he should have been told that if some, but less than all, of the jurors believed that at least one mitigating factor existed and was not outweighed by the aggravating factor(s), the result would be a deadlocked jury. Once deadlocked, the jury could not impose a sentence of death. Gilliam, 320 Md. at 662, 579 A.2d at 756. The record reflects that the trial judge did advise Gilliam that, if the jury became deadlocked or could not reach a decision in a reasonable amount of time, the sentence could not be death. With respect to Daneman's advice to Gilliam, we also stated in Gilliam's first appeal: [T]he record is clear that Gilliam discussed the significance of the Mills decision with his attorney, as well as its effect on his election to be sentenced by the court. Before trial, when Gilliam was to elect whether to be tried by the court or by a jury, the trial court instructed him on the Mills decision. The court then asked if Gilliam understood the instruction and the record shows the following: `THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir. THE COURT: All right. Mr. Daneman, I take it you have been over this with your client before? MR. DANEMAN: I have.' At no time did defense counsel object to the court's Mills instruction. Further, it is clear that Gilliam's attorney had already thoroughly instructed him on the matter. Therefore, absent clear evidence that Gilliam was in doubt about the effect of Mills on his election to be tried and sentenced by the court, we presume that he was fully informed by his counsel. The ambiguity, if any, in the judge's explanation of Mills does not undermine the judge's finding of a knowing and voluntary election to be sentenced by the court. Id. at 663-64, 579 A.2d at 757. At the post conviction hearing, Gilliam did not testify, and he failed to establish that Daneman was incorrect when he represented to the trial judge that he advised Gilliam of the significance of the Mills decision and the factors to be considered in electing a court or jury sentencing.