Opinion ID: 2062476
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Failure to Make Rulings

Text: Gilliam's final contention is that [t]he post conviction court failed in its duty to set forth, with precision, each contention of the Petitioner, a ruling thereon and the reasons therefor, citing Md.Rule 4-407(a). See also Davis v. State, 285 Md. 19, 36-37, 400 A.2d 406, 414-15 (1979); Duff v. Warden, 234 Md. 646, 648, 200 A.2d 78, 80-81 (1964). While we might have preferred that the post conviction judge's findings of fact and rulings be set out more fully, there is no reason to remand for additional rulings. We are able to decide all of the issues raised on this appeal based on the record without the need to remand for additional factual findings. Cf. State v. D'Onofrio, 221 Md. 20, 155 A.2d 643 (1959). In fact, we have previously addressed all issues on which Gilliam claims the trial judge failed to make a ruling, but one. Gilliam complains that the trial judge failed to rule on his contention that his appellate counsel was inadequate. Appellate counsel's alleged inadequacy in his first appeal was the failure to raise on appeal the issue that Gilliam did not knowingly and intelligently waive a jury trial because there was no showing that he had been told he had the right to have a jury decide whether he was not criminally responsible. The contention is that [a]lthough the trial court extensively questioned Gilliam about jury trial waiver with respect to guilt-innocence as well as sentencing, the record is devoid of any voir dire regarding the right to have a jury decide [whether Gilliam was not criminally responsible by reason of insanity]. The post conviction judge made no finding on this contention. It is obvious that the contention has no merit. As we have already indicated, see part I.B.3, supra, the record reflects that Gilliam had elected not to file a plea of not criminally responsible and there was no basis for such a plea. There was no reason why the trial judge should, in securing a waiver of jury trial, voir dire Gilliam regarding the right to have a jury determine the defense of not criminally responsible by reason of insanity when that defense was not raised. For the reasons indicated, the petition for post conviction relief was properly denied. JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY AFFIRMED.