Opinion ID: 1245492
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Polygraph of Paul Waldrip

Text: Waldrip claims that the State suppressed the results of a polygraph examination of his son, Paul Waldrip. This claim was raised on direct appeal, and this Court held that Waldrip had not shown prejudice, because the polygraph results would not have been admissible at trial. Waldrip, supra, 267 Ga. at 750, 482 S.E.2d 299. This Court then continued its analysis and found that, even assuming arguendo that the polygraph results would have been admissible, Waldrip still could not show sufficient prejudice to sustain his evidence suppression claim. Id. Waldrip argues now, however, that res judicata should not apply to this claim, because the law has changed since the claim was raised on direct appeal. See Bruce v. Smith, 274 Ga. 432(2), 553 S.E.2d 808 (2001) (noting that the creation of new law can overcome res judicata). But see also Head v. Hill, 277 Ga. 255(II)(A)(1), 587 S.E.2d 613 (2003) (discussing the rules governing the retroactive application of new law). Waldrip also argues that his appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance in how they argued the issue of Paul Waldrip's polygraph. The new law that Waldrip argues is now controlling and that he alleges his appellate counsel should have argued on direct appeal was announced by this Court in Height v. State, 278 Ga. 592(1), 604 S.E.2d 796 (2004) (overruling Baxter v. Kemp, 260 Ga. 184(8), 391 S.E.2d 754 (1990)), where we held that polygraph results may be admissible by the defense in the sentencing phase of a death penalty case, even absent a stipulation by the State, if a sufficient showing of the polygraph's reliability is made. However, even assuming arguendo that this new law could have retroactive effect in this habeas proceeding (see Hill, supra, 277 Ga. at 257, 587 S.E.2d 613), we find Waldrip has failed even to attempt the showing of reliability necessary to conclude that the polygraph results would be admissible under Height. Accordingly, Waldrip has failed to show any prejudice in support of his overall evidence suppression claim or in support of his attempt to overcome the procedural default of that claim. This failure to show prejudice is also fatal to his ineffective assistance of appellate counsel claim. Smith v. Francis, 253 Ga. 782(1), 325 S.E.2d 362 (1985) (addressing the prejudice required in an ineffective assistance claim).