Opinion ID: 1626048
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: defense counsel was impermissibly restricted in the presentation of mitigating evidence.

Text: Jordan contends that the lower court impermissibly restricted testimony concerning mitigating facts which constitute reversible error. The witnesses are Robert Jordan, brother of appellant; Shirley Thames, first cousin; Lucius Brown, prison guard; and Rhett Russell. The testimony of Robert H. Jordan consists of six record pages. He told about his relationship with appellant from boyhood through manhood. A sample of his testimony follows: Well, I can state for a fact that my brother's a very fine man. We had a good relationship. He was a good man in the community, and he raised a good family. He went to church regular. Following that testimony, Robert H. Jordan made a more detailed statement in which he complimented and lauded his brother as a good man. Testimony objected to by the State was whether or not Robert H. Jordan knew his brother's reputation for peace and violence in the community and the trial judge permitted him to answer that question in the affirmative and state that the reputation was good. The only other objection was to testimony of the witness to the effect that Well, I don't know. I believe that they should be ... An objection was sustained as to what the witness believed and thought. The direct examination of Shirley Thames consumes eight (8) pages of the record. She testified at length about the family background and life of Jordan when he was growing up. Objections were sustained to an answer of Mrs. Thames when she stated that Jordan was brought up in the church by his parents and then that she had never been in church service with him at any time; also, objections were sustained to the questions What problem for your family has this matter created? and, Do you know, Mrs. Thames, about the family relationship between Gerald Jordan and his wife? The testimony of Officer Lucius Brown of the Maximum Security Unit consists of five (5) pages. He testified that he had requested, and appointed, Jordan as his hall man. He explained Jordan's duties in that capacity and was highly complimentary of everything Jordan did. Objections were sustained to questions asked Officer Brown as to placing trust in a person selected for the job of hall man, whether Jordan had demonstrated any violent tendencies in Maximum Security (question answered in the negative), questions as to how he would characterize Jordan's attitude, what the reputation of Jordan was for peace and violence in the Maximum Security Unit, and questions as to whether or not Jordan can be rehabilitated, and whether or not Jordan had engaged in fights on the yard. Rhett Russell was called by the defense as a witness and, at a bench conference, the trial judge was informed of the substance of his testimony, the State objected thereto, and the court sustained the objection. Whereupon, the defense made the following proffer of Russell's testimony: BY THE COURT: Let the record show that Defense Counsel has offered the Honorable Rhett Russell as a witness. We had a conference here at the bench and I was informed a little about what he would testify to. And the State objected to it and I sustained it. But I have offered the Defense Attorneys an opportunity to make a record on his testimony. BY MR. KILBRETH: Your Honor, if permitted to testify, Mr. Russell would testify about a method for generating electricity from an alternative energy source, as it is known; through wind tunnels and things of that nature. Mr. Jordan has been in contact with the Tennessee Valley Authority over this invention and has entered into an agreement with them about it. And Mr. Russell is familiar with all those details and would testify about that. BY THE COURT: This is some thoughts and ideas that have been developed by Mr. Jordan since he has been in prison; is that right? BY MR. KILBRETH: That is correct, Your Honor. In Jackson v. State , at page 1256 (1976), this Court said: [T]he defendant ... may also adduce proof of any other circumstance or combination of circumstances surrounding his life and character or the commission of the offense with which he is charged that would be reasonably relevant to the question of whether he should suffer death or be sentenced to life in prison. The United States Supreme Court said in Lockett v. Ohio, 438 U.S. 586, 98 S.Ct. 2954, 57 L.Ed.2d 973 (1978): [T]he Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments require that the sentencer, in all but the rarest kind of capital case, not be precluded from considering, as a mitigating factor, any aspect of a defendant's character or record and any of the circumstances of the offense that the defendant proffers as a basis for a sentence less than death. 438 U.S. at 605, 98 S.Ct. at 2964-65, 57 L.Ed.2d at 990. See also Eddings v. Oklahoma, 455 U.S. 104, 102 S.Ct. 869, 71 L.Ed.2d 1 (1982). The question presented here is whether or not the testimony proposed to be introduced, and which was excluded by the lower court, was competent and reasonably relevant to the question of whether or not Jordan should suffer death or be sentenced to life in prison. Robert Jordan, Shirley Thames, and Officer Lucius Brown testified in detail as to circumstances surrounding the life and character of Jordan. Objections to certain questions were sustained, and we think properly so, because they were not competent and reasonably relevant to the issue. Referring to the above statement of the court in sustaining an objection to the testimony of Rhett Russell, it appears that the court offered the defense attorneys an opportunity to make a record on his testimony. The record does not indicate what was said to the judge at the bench conference about the testimony of Russell. Instead of making a record as permitted by the court, appellant's counsel made a proffer of what was intended to be shown by Russell's testimony. From that proffer, it appears that his testimony would have been hearsay and inadmissible. However, we are of the opinion that such testimony would not be reasonably relevant to the question of whether Jordan should suffer death or be sentenced to life imprisonment. Jordan took the stand and testified at length in his own behalf. He was not interrogated by his counsel as to, nor did he attempt to testify to, the matters sought to be elicited from Rhett Russell. Had Jordan so testified, it would not have been objectionable on the ground of hearsay testimony, and he may have been able to establish it as being relevant in his behalf. Having failed to offer such testimony in evidence, we do not think that he can now complain that the court erred in excluding the testimony of Russell. Therefore, we hold that the lower court did not commit reversible error in excluding the testimony under this assignment.