Court Opinion

ID: 1078889
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 20:28:54.784235+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:58.129789
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                          AT NASHVILLE
                                    October 17, 2000 Session

                  PHYLLIS McBRIDE v. STATE OF TENNESSEE

                Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Rutherford County
                         No. F-47543 James K. Clayton, Jr., Judge

                     No. M2000-00034-CCA-R3-PC - Filed March 22, 2001

The Petitioner, Phyllis McBride, was convicted by a Rutherford County jury of first degree murder.
On appeal, this Court affirmed the conviction. The Petitioner filed an application for permission to
appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court which was denied. The Petitioner then filed a petition for
post-conviction relief. Following a hearing, the petition was dismissed. The Petitioner now appeals
the trial court’s denial of post-conviction relief. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial
court.

     Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Criminal Court Affirmed

ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER , J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which THOMAS T. WOODALL and
NORMA MCGEE OGLE , JJ., joined.

Joe M. Brandon, Jr., Smyrna, Tennessee, for the appellant, Phyllis McBride

Michael E. Moore, Solicitor General; Todd R. Kelley, Assistant Attorney General; William C.
Whitesell, Jr., District Attorney General; and David L. Puckett, Assistant District Attorney General;
for the appellee, State of Tennessee.

                                              OPINION

        The Petitioner, Phyllis McBride, was convicted by a Rutherford County jury of first degree
murder. On appeal, this Court affirmed the conviction. See State v. Phyliss Ann McBride, No.
01C01-9606-CC-00269, 1997 WL 661480, at *2 (Tenn. Crim. App., Nashville, Oct. 24, 1997). The
Petitioner filed an application for permission to appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court which was
denied. The Petitioner then filed a petition for post-conviction relief. Following a hearing, the
petition was dismissed. The Petitioner now appeals the trial court’s denial of post-conviction relief.
Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
                                               FACTS

        On September 28, 1993, the Petitioner, Phyllis McBride, went to trial for the murder of her
husband, Bobby McBride. On that date, the trial court selected thirty-one prospective jurors during
the voir dire process. Twelve jurors were placed in the jury box, four were seated in front of the jury
box and the remaining fifteen potential jurors were seated along the railing near the jury box. The
Defendant’s counsel at trial (Counsel) examined the twelve jurors in the jury box and the four that
were seated in front of the jury box; however, he failed to individually question the fifteen potential
jurors seated along the railing. Counsel did address the fifteen jurors seated along the railing as
follows: “By the way, I didn’t mean to neglect you, but all the questions I’ve asked, if any of you
happen to replace people up here, all those questions will apply to you.” Phyliss Ann McBride, 1997
WL 661480, at *2.

        Following the voir dire process, written challenges were submitted to the trial court. Two
jurors were excused and replaced. After exercising the Petitioner’s peremptory challenges, Counsel
asked to approach the bench, where the following colloquy occurred:

        COUNSEL: We were under the impression that, really, we were questioning the
        jurors, and as they would be replaced, we would be able to ask specific questions to
        the jurors that took their seats.
        COURT: I explained that to you this morning, and you've seen us operate under that
        procedure.
        COUNSEL: Okay. That's fine.
        COUNSEL 2: Judge, there's only one question, I think, [that] has not been asked that
        I think is important. Maybe you could do that. Somebody should have read the list
        of witnesses, both the State's and the defense, because we don't know whether any
        of these people are related to the witnesses or have any association with them, and
        I think that's fairly significant.
        COURT: It's a little bit late to start re-asking questions.

Id. at *2-3. Written challenges were again submitted and one more juror was replaced. Three of the
individuals seated along the railing were ultimately placed on the jury without any further
questioning.

         The jury found the Petitioner guilty of first degree murder, and the Petitioner was sentenced
to life imprisonment. On appeal, Counsel raised the issue that he was not allowed to question three
of the jurors; however, this Court affirmed the conviction and held “that not only did defense counsel
not object to the method of jury selection, [he] also agreed to the method of selection prior to voir
dire.” Phyliss Ann McBride, 1997 WL 661480, at *3.

        The Petitioner then filed a petition for post-conviction relief arguing that Counsel was
ineffective for not objecting to the method of jury selection. At the post-conviction hearing, the trial
court found that Counsel was not ineffective because he followed the same procedure as was

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customary in the area. The trial court also found that even if Counsel had been ineffective, the
Petitioner was not prejudiced. The Petitioner now appeals the trial court’s denial of post-conviction
relief.

                                             ANALYSIS

         The Petitioner argues that she was “denied a fair and impartial jury” because three of the
individuals that had been seated along the railing during voir dire were ultimately placed on the jury
without being individually questioned. Specifically, the Petitioner argues that because of Counsel’s
failure to examine all of the jurors, she was denied the right to exercise any meaningful or intelligent
challenges. After reviewing the record, we conclude that the Petitioner was not prejudiced by
Counsel’s failure to individually question all of the jurors.

        In order to obtain post-conviction relief, a petitioner must show that his or her conviction or
sentence is void or voidable because of the abridgment of a constitutional right. Tenn. Code Ann.
§ 40-30-203. The petitioner bears the burden of proving factual allegations in the petition for post-
conviction relief by clear and convincing evidence. Id. § 40-30-210(f). A post-conviction court’s
factual findings are subject to a de novo review by this Court; however, we must accord these factual
findings a presumption of correctness, which is overcome only when a preponderance of the
evidence is contrary to the post-conviction court’s factual findings. Jahiel Fields v. State, No.
E1999-00915-SC-R11-PC, 2001 WL 166380, at * 4 (Tenn., Feb. 20, 2001) (citing Henley v. State,
960 S.W.2d 572, 578 (Tenn. 1997)). A post-conviction court’s conclusions of law, such as whether
counsel’s performance was deficient or whether that deficiency was prejudicial, are subject to a
purely de novo review by this Court, with no presumption of correctness. Id. at *5.

        The right of a criminally accused to representation is guaranteed by both the Sixth
Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 9 of the Tennessee Constitution.
State v. Burns, 6 S.W.3d 453, 461 (Tenn. 1999); Baxter v. Rose, 523 S.W.2d 930, 936 (Tenn. 1975).
This right to representation includes the right to “reasonably effective” assistance. Burns, 6 S.W.3d
at 461.

        In reviewing a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, this Court must determine whether
the advice given or services rendered by the attorney are within the range of competence demanded
of attorneys in criminal cases. Baxter, 523 S.W.2d at 936. To prevail on a claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel, a petitioner must show that “counsel’s representation fell below an objective
standard of reasonableness,” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688 (1984), and that this
performance prejudiced the defense, resulting in a failure to produce a reliable result. Id. at 687;
Cooper v. State, 849 S.W.2d 744, 747 (Tenn.1993). To satisfy the requirement of prejudice, a
petitioner must show a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unreasonable error, the fact
finder would have had reasonable doubt regarding the petitioner’s guilt. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 695.
This reasonable probability must be “sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id. at 694;
see also Harris v. State, 875 S.W.2d 662, 665 (Tenn. 1994).

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        When evaluating an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the reviewing court should judge
the attorney’s performance within the context of the case as a whole, taking into account all relevant
circumstances. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690; State v. Mitchell, 753 S.W.2d 148, 149 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1988). The reviewing court must evaluate the questionable conduct from the attorney’s
perspective at the time. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690; Cooper, 849 S.W.2d at 746; Hellard v. State,
629 S.W.2d 4, 9 (Tenn. 1982). In doing so, the reviewing court must be highly deferential and
“should indulge a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of
reasonable professional assistance.” Burns, 6 S.W.3d at 462. Counsel should not be deemed to have
been ineffective merely because a different procedure or strategy might have produced a different
result. Williams v. State, 599 S.W.2d 276, 279-80 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1980).

        The Petitioner has failed to show that Counsel’s conduct fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness during the voir dire process. Although the trial court deviated from the jury selection
procedure as set forth in the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure 24(c)1, no objection was made
by either Counsel or the State when they met in the judge’s chambers before voir dire to discuss the
jury selection process. Phyliss Ann McBride, 1997 WL 661480, at *2. However, in reviewing
Counsel’s conduct within the context of the case as a whole, Counsel merely followed the same
procedure as was customary in the area.

        In addition, the Petitioner has failed to show that she suffered any prejudice as a result of the
voir dire procedure followed by Counsel. The only evidence presented at the post-conviction hearing
was the testimony of the Petitioner. The Petitioner testified that three jurors were ultimately placed
on her jury without being individually questioned. However, no evidence was presented that the
there was a reasonable probability that, but for Counsel’s alleged error, the jury would have had
reasonable doubt regarding the Petitioner’s guilt.

        The only question that Counsel had planned to ask the three jurors that ultimately were
placed on the jury without being questioned was whether or not they had any association with any
of the witnesses. Although Counsel did not individually ask each of the jurors this question, all three
were present during the entire voir dire process. Counsel told those jurors that the questions being
asked of the other jurors also applied to them. None of the jurors ultimately chosen indicated that
there were any problems concerning his or her ability to be fair and impartial. Further, no evidence
was presented that the jurors chosen to hear the case knew any of the witnesses. Thus, we conclude

         1
            At the time of the Petitioner’s trial, Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure 24(c) provided:
          After twelve prospective jurors have been passed for cause, co unsel will subm it simultaneously a nd in writing,
to the trial judge, th e name of any juror either counsel elects to challenge peremptorily. Upon each submission each
counsel shall submit either a challenge or a blank sheet of paper. Neither party shall make known the fac t that the party
has not challenge d. Replac ement juro rs will then be ex amined fo r cause and , after passed , counsel will aga in submit
simultaneou sly, and in writing, to the trial judge the name o f any juror co unsel elects to c hallenge pe remptorily. T his
procedure will be followed until a full jury has been selected and accepted by counsel. Peremptory challenges may be
directed to any member of the jury and counsel shall not be limited to replacement jurors. Alternate jurors will be
selected in the same manner. The trial judge will keep a list of those challenged and, if the same juror is challenged by
both parties, each will be charged with the challenge. The trial judge shall not disclose to any juror the identity of the
party challenging the juror.

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that the trial court’s factual findings are supported by a preponderance of the evidence, and our
review of the trial court’s conclusions of law indicates that the trial court correctly found that the
Petitioner did not suffer any prejudice from the jury selection process in this case.

       Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.

                                                       ___________________________________
                                                       ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER, JUDGE

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