Opinion ID: 1654062
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Counsel failed to contest evidence retrieved prior to the initial appearance even though a judge was available.

Text: ¶ 16. Jeffrey Davis was taken into custody on the evening of July 12, 1991. He alleges that he was not given a timely initial appearance before a judge pursuant to then Uniform Criminal Rule of Circuit Court Practice 1.04, even though the authorities did obtain a court order from Circuit Judge Kathy King Jackson on Saturday, July 13, to get blood samples from Davis. The State did not dispute Davis's allegation that the failure to provide a prompt initial appearance was not due to lack of access to a judge. Davis alleges that Shaddock was ineffective for failure to object to much of the evidence that was introduced against him because it was obtained in the absence of an initial appearance. ¶ 17. Davis cites Abram v. State, 606 So.2d 1015 (Miss.1992), and Coleman v. State, 592 So.2d 517 (Miss.1991), where this Court found reversible error in part due to failure to provide an initial appearance according to Rule 1.04. However, in each of these cases, there was error in addition to failure to follow Rule 1.04. In Abram the confession in question was found to be coerced; in Coleman the confession was obtained pursuant to an illegal arrest. The State points out that in Morgan v. State, 681 So.2d 82 (Miss.1996), and Veal v. State, 585 So.2d 693 (Miss.1991), this Court found that a violation of Rule 1.04 alone will not result in the suppression of evidence or reversible error where the defendant was informed of his rights and made a knowing and voluntary waiver. ¶ 18. Davis argues here that the State obtained every piece of evidence used in this case prior to initial appearance. This may be true, but the fact remains that the State obtained, first, Davis's confession over the phone to Sheriff Miller. This would have led both to Davis and the murder weapon, the knife, that Davis was carrying at the time he was met by Sheriff Miller. Even if Davis had been given an initial appearance at that time, the State would have had a confession plus the physical evidence Davis had in his possession and at Hillman's trailer. It appears that the State could have then gotten a search warrant for Davis's house even absent Davis's consent, as well as for the collection of blood from Davis. An initial appearance might have resulted in less evidence being gathered, but it would not have resulted in suppression of the evidence against Davis to the extent where there is any reasonable probability that the verdict would have changed. This issue is without merit.