Opinion ID: 1847325
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 35

Heading: it was improper for the trial court to provide the prosecutor with an ex parte discovery order, and to also engage in ex pare communications with lawyers from the state attorney general's office.

Text: ś 212. Here, Jerome alleges that the trial court improperly entered an order ex parte upon request of the prosecution for certain telephone records. He also alleges that the record reveals that the trial judge engaged in ex parte communications with lawyers from the state attorney general's office, in which they discussed the sentencing phase instructions. Jerome argues that these alleged ex parte proceedings and communications violated his due process and other constitutional rights and requires reversal of his conviction and sentence. As supporting authority he cites to the following: Mississippi Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3(A)(4); Uniform Circuit Court Rule 1.04; Whitney Nat'l Bank of New Orleans v. Smith, 613 So.2d 312, 313 (Miss.1993); Spencer v. State, 615 So.2d 688 (Fla.1993); McKenzie v. Risley, 915 F.2d 1396 (9th Cir.1990); Pack v. State, 725 P.2d 870 (Okla.Crim.App.1986); United States v. Singer, 785 F.2d 228 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 883, 107 S.Ct. 273, 93 L.Ed.2d 249 (1986). ś 213. Jerome's entire argument that the trial court engaged in ex parte proceedings with prosecutors comes from a brief discussion between the attorneys for Jerome's co-defendant, Clyde Smith and the assistant district attorney at a pre-trial motion hearing concerning only Clyde Smith. Neither Jerome Smith nor his attorneys were present at this hearing held on May 24, 1993. At the start of that hearing, the following exchange took place: BY MR. MOUNGER: Your Honor, one thing, we had previously filed a Motion to Produce and then had filed a supplemental Motion for Discovery asking for some particular items and anything else that may have come in possession of the State. Specifically we're asking for any records that they have obtained as a result of an order that the Court granted to the State ex parte for some telephone records, which there may or may not be any. I ... BY MR. CROOK: There aren't any. BY MR. MOUNGER: There are none? BY MR. CROOK: Are none. Isn't that right? (No audible response from anyone) BY MR. CROOK: Telephone records, there are none. BY DEPUTY SHERIFF TINDALL: Right. ś 214. As can be seen from a review of the record, the issue fails for several reasons. First, this hearing concerned only Clyde, therefore, there is no evidence that an ex parte order was ever entered with regard to Jerome's case. Second, an ex parte order cannot be found in the court papers. Therefore, if such an order was entered, Jerome has failed to make a complete record. See Artis v. State, 643 So.2d 533, 535 (Miss.1994); Peterson v. State, 518 So.2d 632, 638 (Miss. 1987). And, third, apparently even if an ex parte order was entered, no evidence was ever produced as a result. Any error that might exist here was clearly harmless. Hansen v. State, 592 So.2d 114 (Miss.1991). ś 215. Jerome's contention that the trial court entered into ex parte communications with lawyers from the attorney general's office is not supported by the record. We can only find the following statement by the trial court during a conference concerning sentencing phase jury instructions which this Court assumes Jerome is referring to in his argument: THE COURT: I would at least like to have an opportunity to talk to death control in the morning. ś 216. There is nothing in the record to indicate what the term death control actually refers to, nor is there any indication in the record that the trial court ever talked to the so-called death control. At a post-trial hearing held on May 20, 1994, Jerome's attorney, Barry Fisher, questioned Judge Evans concerning this statement, asking if this referred to death penalty attorneys in the Attorney General's Office. The trial court responded by saying, I don't know that either. I assume. I would think it probably would, yes, sir. The trial court never stated that he actually talked with anyone at the Attorney General's Office during the trial, and there is no evidence in the record that he did so. The mere statement by the trial court referred to by Jerome, without more, renders this issue meritless. ś 217. Furthermore, if in fact the trial court's comment meant that he intended to communicate ex parte with the attorney general's office regarding the case, and Jerome's attorneys found this objectionable, then that is exactly what they should have done, object. The failure to object in the trial court waives this issue for appeal purposes. Ballenger v. State, 667 So.2d 1242, 1251 (Miss.1995); Cole v. State, 525 So.2d 365, 369 (Miss.1987); Irving v. State, 498 So.2d 305 (Miss.1986).