Opinion ID: 1520503
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 24

Heading: failure to inform calhoun of his right of allocution

Text: Calhoun claims ineffective assistance of counsel because he was not informed of his right of allocution. This was discussed in Part I(B) of this opinion where we deemed the point waived because there was no objection in the trial court. Calhoun claims that if he had been advised of his right to allocution he would have told the jury of the circumstances of his life which led to his criminal activity, his remorse, and his resignation to the fact that he would remain in prison for his natural life. One of the trial attorneys testified that he and his cocounsel thought it best that Calhoun not testify at the guilt/innocence phase of the trial because his visual appearance, which they labeled as scary or menacing, would leave a negative impression on the jury. In fact, he said he was afraid that the visual impression would be so negative with the jury that they wouldn't even hear what he said, much less give it credibility, unfortunately. He testified that had he been aware of the right of allocution his position would have been the same. In the post-conviction proceedings trial counsel stated that they did not interpret Code (1957, 1982 Repl.Vol.) Art. 27, § 413 as creating a right of allocution. As our holding in Harris, 306 Md. 344, 509 A.2d 120, clearly indicates, they were correct in this conclusion. As Harris indicates and as we have already said in Part I(B) of this opinion, there was a hiatus in our rules on the subject of allocution in capital cases between January 1, 1979, and July 1, 1984. The Maryland Rules just did not afford defendants in capital cases a right of allocution. It was the common law right of allocution which was in effect at the time of sentencing in this case. None of our cases so held until Harris was decided on May 23 of this year. Defense counsel was not obliged to anticipate our holding in Harris.