Court Opinion

ID: 4791611
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-19 19:30:26.476834+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:09:49.212731
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                       Washington State
                                                                                       Court of Appeals
                                                                                        Division Two

                                                                                       August 19, 2021

    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                        DIVISION II
 STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                              No. 52362-1-II

                               Respondent,

        v.

 MICHAEL LEON PALMER,                                          PUBLISHED OPINION

                               Appellant.

       VELJACIC, J. — Michael Palmer appeals his convictions and sentence for child molestation

in the first degree, assault in the fourth degree, and assault of a child in the second degree. He

argues that the trial court violated his constitutional rights to counsel, confrontation, self-

representation, due process, and against self-incrimination. Because the trial court violated

Palmer’s constitutional right to counsel, we reverse and remand for a new trial.

                                             FACTS

       Palmer and his girlfriend, DD, moved in together in 2013. They lived together with DD’s

two biological children from a prior marriage, her son AD, and her daughter PD. PD has a

diagnosis of autism. Palmer and DD also had a baby together, LP. Sometime in 2014, the family

moved to Washington. Palmer served as caregiver to the children and in that role disciplined both

PD and AD. Child Protective Services (CPS) had been involved with the family, taking custody

of the children in 2015, but releasing LP to Palmer’s custody and PD and AD to DD’s custody.

Palmer subsequently moved from the family residence with LP, but would visit DD’s house on

weekends with LP.
52362-1-II

         During a family car trip in 2016, Palmer grabbed AD by the neck, leaving a scratch. At

some point after the car trip incident, Palmer told DD that PD had touched his penis. Thereafter,

PD disclosed to DD that Palmer had touched her vagina. Approximately four months after PD’s

disclosure, DD contacted law enforcement. Law enforcement authorities interviewed the children

on two separate occasions.

         Detective Richard Ramirez participated in PD’s interview during which he learned of the

accusations against Palmer. Eventually, Ramirez took Palmer into custody, read him Miranda1

rights, and questioned him. Ramirez ended the questioning after Palmer repeatedly refused to

admit to any wrongdoing. Ramirez returned the next morning for additional questioning, but

Palmer refused to talk. The State charged Palmer with one count of child molestation in the first

degree and two counts of assault of a child in the second degree.

         While the case was pending, Palmer had several disputes with his appointed attorneys.

Palmer’s first appointed attorney requested to withdraw due to the absence of a working

relationship. When the trial court asked Palmer whether he wanted to dismiss counsel, Palmer

responded that he was already preparing a “motion to dismiss” his attorney due to ineffective

assistance of counsel. Report of Proceedings (RP) (Oct. 27, 2017) at 3. Palmer said the basis of

the motion was that counsel failed to show up to appointments, and he felt counsel had lied to him.

The court granted the first attorney’s request to withdraw.

         The trial court appointed a second attorney. A few months later, Palmer’s second attorney

told the court that he was close to requesting to withdraw because communications between he

and Palmer had become strained. Approximately a month after that, Palmer informed the court

that he was claiming ineffective assistance of counsel against his second attorney. He told the

1
    Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966).

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court that he did not want his attorney to withdraw, but instead wanted him to conduct further

investigation to acquire additional evidence. The attorney believed the investigations Palmer

wanted would be inappropriate. Based on Palmer’s statements that he did not want counsel to

withdraw, the court kept the second attorney on the case.

          A couple of days later, the second attorney requested to withdraw because Palmer no longer

trusted him and had accused him of lying. Counsel also stated that there had been a complete

breakdown in the attorney-client relationship. The court denied the attorney’s motion and

requested that counsel finish an ongoing CrR 3.5 child hearsay and child competency hearing.

After the hearing, counsel again requested to withdraw, this time citing his safety and professional

standing. The court made no findings or inquiry regarding why counsel felt his safety was at risk

but nonetheless granted the second attorney’s request and allowed him to withdraw.

          The trial court appointed a third attorney to represent Palmer. When Palmer asked whether

he could receive a standby attorney in case the third attorney withdrew, the court told Palmer,

“You have all the attorneys you are going to get right there.” RP (Mar. 12, 2018) at 35. The court

did not inform Palmer of the risks he would face if he dismissed the third attorney and proceeded

pro se.

          Three months later, Palmer wrote an extensive memorandum detailing ineffective

assistance of counsel claims against his third attorney. He also named this third attorney in a

federal civil rights lawsuit. Counsel requested to withdraw, and the trial court granted his request.

The court made no findings regarding counsel’s request to withdraw.

          After Palmer’s third assigned attorney withdrew, the trial court determined that Palmer had

waived his right to counsel via his conduct. The court explained that Palmer had intentionally

delayed trial by creating “artificial, unfounded, and unwarranted conflicts” with his previously

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appointed attorneys. RP (June 15, 208) at 202. The court refused to provide Palmer with another

attorney, forcing him to proceed pro se. The court appointed a fourth attorney as Palmer’s standby

counsel because the law library was inaccessible to Palmer. After his attorneys had withdrawn,

Palmer sought to acquire additional discovery from the State.

         Prior to trial, the State moved to have AD and PD face away from Palmer while they

testified and asked the court to have standby counsel conduct the questioning on Palmer’s behalf.

The State conceded that while “the RCWs” allow complaining witnesses to testify via one-way

teleconferencing, the statute does not apply to pro se defendants.2 RP (June 29, 2018) at 50. The

trial court determined that “children are entitled to be treated carefully in court,” and granted the

State’s request. RP (June 29, 2018) at 58. The court made no findings that AD or PD would suffer

emotional detriment if required to testify while facing Palmer or if Palmer questioned them.

         During the trial, DD testified about an incident she witnessed where Palmer grabbed AD

by the neck, leaving a mark that was later seen by a social service organization. She also testified

about an incident that Palmer had told her about, saying, “Mr. Palmer had said that . . . he had been

in bed naked while I was shopping, and he was watching the kids, and [PD] had gotten into the

bed to play with his penis.” RP (July 3, 2018) at 292. DD further testified that when she asked

PD whether Palmer had touched her vagina, PD told her yes. The State questioned Ramirez at

trial and asked if he had spoken to Palmer after his initial interview. In the presence of the jury,

Ramirez testified that he “went back the next morning, thinking that, you know, a day sitting in

the county jail, you know, there’s some time to think, and maybe Mr. Palmer would want to do the

right thing here.” RP (July 5, 2018) at 75. Ramirez further testified that he told Palmer, “You’ve

2
    While “the RCWs” are voluminous, the State may have been referring to RCW 9A.44.150.

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had some time to think. Do you want to talk?” and that Palmer responded that he did not want to

talk. RP (July 5, 2018) at 75.

       Also at trial, the court required standby counsel to read Palmer’s questions to AD and PD

in lieu of Palmer conducting the cross-examination, as he had with the other witnesses. Before

standby counsel read Palmer’s questions to PD, the court clarified standby counsel’s role, telling

the jury that counsel was not acting as an attorney cross-examining the witness, but rather as a

conduit for Palmer. The court repeated this explanation before AD’s testimony. The court also

told the jury that standby counsel was asking questions prepared by Palmer, which is in fact what

occurred.

       Palmer testified at trial. He admitted to touching PD’s vagina, but asserted that the

touching was inadvertent and occurred as a defensive reaction when he attempted to push PD

away. He also admitted to physically disciplining AD and PD.

       A jury convicted Palmer of child molestation in the first degree, assault in the fourth degree,

and assault of a child in the second degree. The trial court sentenced Palmer to an indeterminate

sentence of 82 months to life imprisonment and ordered 18 months of community custody for his

assault of a child in the second degree conviction and 12 months of community custody for his

assault in the fourth degree charge. The court also imposed several community custody conditions.

       Palmer appeals his convictions and sentence.

                                            ANALYSIS

I.     RIGHT TO COUNSEL

       Palmer argues that he was wrongly deprived of his right to counsel when the trial court

determined he had forfeited his right due to misconduct. We agree.

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        A.      Standard of Review

        Palmer challenges the constitutionality of the trial court’s holding that he waived his right

to counsel. Constitutional challenges are issues of law, and we review such challenges de novo.

State v. Price, 169 Wn. App. 652, 655-56, 281 P.3d 331 (2012).

        B.      Legal Principles

        A criminal defendant has a constitutional right to the assistance of counsel. U.S. CONST.

amend. VI; WASH. CONST. art. I, § 22. However, such right does not entitle a defendant to

deliberately or inadvertently delay trial by his dilatory conduct. State v. Stutzke, 2 Wn. App. 2d

927, 937, 413 P.3d 1037 (2018). A defendant can lose the right to counsel through forfeiture,

waiver, or waiver by conduct. Id.

        Violation of the right to counsel is a “structural error” not subject to the harmless error

analysis. Arizona v. Fulminante, 499 U.S. 279, 309-10, 111 S. Ct. 1246, 113 L. Ed. 2d 302 (1991).

“[D]eprivation of the right to counsel at trial . . . [is a] structural defect[] in the constitution of the

trial mechanism, which def[ies] analysis by ‘harmless-error’ standards. The entire conduct of the

trial from beginning to end is obviously affected by the absence of counsel for a criminal

defendant.” Id.

        C.      Palmer Was Deprived of His Right to Counsel

        The trial court failed to adequately inform Palmer that his conduct would result in the loss

of counsel, and Palmer’s behavior did not rise to the level of extremely dilatory conduct.

Therefore, we conclude that the trial court deprived Palmer of his right to counsel when it refused

to appoint him an additional attorney.

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               1.      Palmer Did Not Forfeit His Right to Counsel

       Forfeiture of the right to counsel requires a defendant to have engaged in “extremely

dilatory” conduct.3 City of Tacoma v. Bishop, 82 Wn. App. 850, 859, 920 P.2d 214 (1996).

Forfeiture results in the loss of the right to counsel regardless of whether the court has warned the

defendant of the consequences of their misconduct or the risks of proceeding without counsel. Id.

Conduct that prevents an attorney from preparing a defense may constitute “‘extremely dilatory

conduct.’” In re Dependency of E.P., 136 Wn. App. 401, 405-406, 149 P.3d 440 (2006) (internal

quotation marks omitted) (quoting In re Welfare of G.E., 116 Wn. App. 326, 334, 65 P.3d 1219

(2003)). While E.P. discussed the right to counsel in a dependency context, the legal principles

apply here.

       In E.P., a mother was appointed two different attorneys to represent her in her child’s

dependency hearing. 136 Wn. App. at 403-04. The first attorney withdrew after the mother failed

to communicate. Id. The second attorney withdrew for the same reason and argued that he had

no information on how the mother wished to proceed so he could not represent her. Id. at 404.

After the mother failed to show up for the hearing, the family court terminated her parental rights.

Id. On appeal, the mother argued that she was denied the right to counsel. Id. The court

determined that the mother’s complete failure to communicate with her attorneys constituted

extremely dilatory conduct. Id. at 406. Further, the court ruled that she had forfeited her right to

counsel because of her extremely dilatory conduct. Id.

       A defendant also engages in extremely dilatory conduct when they are abusive or

threatening towards their attorney. United States v. Thomas, 357 F.3d 357, 362-63 (3rd Cir. 2004).

3
  A study of the authorities discussed herein shows that “extremely dilatory conduct” under the
forfeiture theory is distinct from both voluntary waiver, and separately, “dilatory tactics and
misconduct” under the waiver by conduct theory.

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52362-1-II

In Thomas, the court found that the defendant had threatened to harm his attorney, tore up his

correspondence, refused to provide the names of potential witnesses, hung up on him over the

phone, and demanded that he file frivolous claims. Id. at 363. On appeal, the Third Circuit Court

of Appeals determined that the defendant’s threatening and abusive behavior constituted extremely

dilatory conduct, resulting in his forfeiture of the right to counsel. Id.

          Here, Palmer’s behavior did not constitute extremely dilatory conduct. Palmer was clearly

dissatisfied with all three of his appointed attorneys. Palmer’s dissatisfaction resulted in several

substitutions of counsel, which delayed his trial, as each substitution necessitated a continuance.

However, while Palmer’s conduct resulted in delays, the only support in the record that his conduct

was extremely dilatory comes from his third attorney’s comment that he feared for his personal

safety. The State claims Palmer threatened his attorney, but the record does not support this

assertion. The State references judicial findings but there are no such findings in the record before

us. Because the record does not show that Palmer’s behavior was threatening or abusive like the

defendant’s behavior in Thomas, or that he refused to communicate with his attorneys, like the

mother in E.P., we cannot conclude that Palmer engaged in extremely dilatory conduct.

Consequently, we hold that Palmer did not forfeit his right to counsel. We next turn to voluntary

waiver.

                 2.     Palmer Did Not Voluntarily Waive his Right to Counsel

          Voluntary waiver occurs when a defendant voluntarily decides to proceed without the

assistance of counsel. Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 819-21, 95 S. Ct. 2525, 45 L. Ed. 2d

562 (1975); State v. Madsen, 168 Wn.2d 496, 503-04, 229 P.3d 714 (2010). To validly and

effectively waive the right to counsel, the record must unequivocally demonstrate that the accused

knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived assistance of counsel. Faretta, 422 U.S. at 819-

                                                   8
52362-1-II

21. Nothing in the record before us demonstrates that Palmer expressly waived his right to counsel.

We next turn to waiver by conduct.

               3.      Palmer Did Not Waive His Right to Counsel by Conduct

       A defendant may also waive their right to counsel by conduct. Stutzke, 2 Wn. App. 2d at

937-38. Waiver by conduct occurs when the court advises a defendant of (1) the dangers of

proceeding pro se as required for voluntary waiver, and (2) that the defendant will lose the right to

counsel if they engage in dilatory tactics or misconduct. Id. This is notably distinct from

“extremely dilatory conduct” under forfeiture.

       The trial court failed to inform Palmer of the risks of proceeding pro se. The State asserts

that the trial court informed Palmer that the third attorney would be his last assigned attorney. But,

even assuming the trial court unambiguously told Palmer that it would not assign him another

attorney (which we do not conclude here), the court did not warn Palmer of the risks of proceeding

pro se. Without such warning, Palmer could not have waived his right to counsel by conduct. See

Id. We conclude accordingly.

               4.      Conclusion

       The trial court erred in determining Palmer had waived his right to counsel and thereby

violated this right by requiring Palmer to proceed pro se. The violation of Palmer’s right to counsel

is a structural error, and therefore, we reverse and remand for a new trial.

       Although our holding regarding Palmer’s right to counsel is dispositive, we address some

additional issues which are likely to arise on remand.

II.    RIGHTS OF CONFRONTATION, SELF-REPRESENTATION, AND PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE

       Palmer argues that the trial court violated his confrontation right, his right to self-

representation, and his right to the presumption of innocence by forcing him to question AD and

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PD through standby counsel, and by allowing AD and PD to face away from him while testifying.

We agree that the trial court failed to conduct the analysis that was essential to ensure Palmer’s

rights were not violated.

          A.     The Trial Court Violated Palmer’s Right of Confrontation, Right of Self-
                 Representation, and Right to the Presumption of Innocence

          Constitutional challenges are issues of law we review de novo. Price, 169 Wn. App. at

655-56. The confrontation clause states that “in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy

the right . . . to be confronted with the witnesses against him.” U.S. CONST. amend. VI. In general,

the confrontation clause reflects a preference for face-to-face confrontation that must occasionally

give way to public policy and the necessities of a case. State v. Foster, 135 Wn.2d 441, 456-57,

957 P.2d 712 (1998). Washington’s constitution provides a similar preference for face-to-face

confrontation. WASH. CONST. art. I, § 22; State v. Martin, 171 Wn.2d 521, 531, 252 P.3d 872

(2011).

          Under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, generally, a court may

dispense with the usually preferred face-to-face confrontation for child witnesses in abuse cases:

“[I]f the State makes an adequate showing of necessity, the state interest in protecting child

witnesses from the trauma of testifying in a child abuse case is sufficiently important to justify the

use of a special procedure that permits a child witness in such cases to testify at trial against a

defendant in the absence of face-to-face confrontation with the defendant.” Maryland v. Craig,

497 U.S. 836, 855, 110 S. Ct. 3157, 111 L. Ed. 2d 666 (1990).4 Violations of a pro se defendant’s

confrontation right may also violate such defendant’s right to self-representation because how to

confront a witness is an important strategic decision for a self-represented litigant. See State v.

4
  Craig addressed a Maryland statute similar to RCW 9A.44.150, which allowed child witnesses
to testify away from the courtroom via a one-way closed-circuit television.

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52362-1-II

Coristine, 177 Wn.2d 370, 376, 300 P.3d 400 (2013) (recognizing that the Sixth Amendment

guarantees a defendant’s right to control important strategic decisions of their case).

       It is well established that criminal defendants have a right to self-representation under the

United States and Washington Constitutions. State v. Curry, 191 Wn.2d 475, 482, 423 P.3d 179

(2018). Courts must allow pro se defendants to control strategic decisions regarding their defense.

Id. Even so, a court’s order requiring standby counsel to question the complaining witnesses

instead of the pro se defendant does not automatically violate their right of self-representation.

State v. Estabrook, 68 Wn. App. 309, 317-18, 842 P.2d 1001 (1993); McKaskle v. Wiggins, 465

U.S. 168, 174, 104 S. Ct. 944, 79 L. Ed. 2d 122 (1984). The court must ensure both that the

defendant retains control over their defense and that the jury is not confused by standby counsel’s

participation. McKaskle, 465 U.S. at 178.

       Moreover, changes to courtroom procedures, like procedures for questioning witnesses,

must comport with the protections of due process, thereby ensuring a fair trial. The presumption

of innocence is an elementary component of a fair trial. State v. Chacon, 192 Wn.2d 545, 549,

431 P.3d 477 (2018). Courts must be “wary of a setting that impermissibly influences a jury’s

decision-making process and jeopardizes the presumption of innocence.” State v. Jaime, 168

Wn.2d 857, 862, 233 P.3d 554 (2010). Modifications that jeopardize the presumption of innocence

are prejudicial. Id. at 863-64. When a defendant challenges a court process by arguing that it

violates their right to the presumption of innocence, we must determine whether the process

presented an unacceptable risk that the jury’s deliberation was based on impermissible factors. Id.

       Here, Palmer argues that the trial court violated his confrontation right, his right to self-

representation, and his right to the presumption of innocence by forcing him to question AD and

PD through standby counsel, and by allowing AD and PD to face away from him while testifying.

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       In order to modify courtroom procedures to prevent a face-to-face confrontation between

a witness and the defendant, a trial court is required to analyze why such changes are necessary

and what impact they will have on the defendant’s rights. See Craig, 497 U.S. at 855; McKaskle,

465 U.S. at 178; Jaime, 168 Wn.2d at 862. But such an analysis does not appear in the record.

Absent an analysis, the trial court was constitutionally prohibited from modifying its courtroom

procedures in the manner it did.

III.   RIGHT AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION

       Palmer argues that the State violated his right against self-incrimination when it solicited

comments from Ramirez at trial about Palmer’s decision to remain silent. We agree.

       A.      Standard of Review

       Palmer challenges the constitutionality of the State’s eliciting witness comments on

Palmer’s post-arrest silence. We review such challenges de novo. Price, 169 Wn. App. at 655-

56.

       B.      Legal Principles

       The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution states that no person “shall . . . be

compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.” U.S. CONST., amend V. The

Washington Constitution contains a similar provision: “[n]o person shall be compelled in any

criminal case to give evidence against himself.” WASH. CONST., art. I, § 9. Washington courts

have interpreted both provisions to provide the same protection. State v. Easter, 130 Wn.2d 228,

235, 922 P.2d 1285 (1996).

       The right against self-incrimination prohibits the State from eliciting comments from

witnesses about the defendant’s pre- or post-arrest silence. Id. at 236. The State may also not

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52362-1-II

suggest the defendant is guilty because they chose to remain silent, because the assurance of

Miranda is that remaining silent will not be penalized. Id.

       C.      Analysis

       Here, the State unequivocally elicited a comment from Ramirez about Palmer’s decision

to remain silent. The State asked Ramirez if he had spoken to Palmer after Palmer’s arrest and

overnight confinement. Ramirez testified, “I went back the next morning, thinking that, you know,

a day sitting in the county jail, you know, there’s some time to think, and maybe Mr. Palmer would

want to do the right thing here.” RP (July 5, 2018) at 75. Ramirez further testified that he told

Palmer, “You've had some time to think. Do you want to talk?” and that Palmer responded that

he did not want to talk. RP (July 5, 2018) at 75.

       Ramirez’s testimony was a comment on Palmer’s right to remain silent. See Easter, 130

Wn.2d at 236. More pointedly, contrary to Easter, the State suggested that Palmer was guilty due

to his silence. See Id. Indeed, Ramirez testified that Palmer remained silent after being given a

chance to “do the right thing” by admitting criminal conduct. RP (July 5, 2018) at 75. This

statement presupposed Palmer’s guilt and created an impossible choice: Palmer could either do

right by confessing to molesting a child or do wrong by remaining silent. Implicit in the “silence

equals wrongfulness” notion is that silence withholds the “truth”—that “truth” being one’s

criminal conduct, even if there was no criminal conduct. In this context, a defendant cannot

maintain their presumption of innocence by remaining silent. A detective’s belief on this front

may assist with their investigative duty, but established authority prohibits using a defendant’s

right to remain silent to suggest guilt to the jury. Easter, 130 Wn.2d at 236. Alone, this violation

may warrant reversal and a new trial. However, because we reverse on other grounds, we remind

the State that it is forbidden from eliciting comments about Palmer’s silence during his new trial.

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       Palmer makes additional arguments regarding the State’s mismanagement of his case and

his sentence. Because the constitutional errors discussed above require remand for a new trial, we

do not reach his other arguments.

                                         CONCLUSION

       We conclude that the trial court committed reversible error by denying Palmer his right to

counsel. We do not reach the other issues raised in the assignments of error or in the statement of

additional grounds. We reverse the convictions and remand to the trial court for a new trial. 5

                                                             Veljacic, J.

We concur:

       Worswick, J.

       Lee, C.J.

5
 On the eve of oral argument, Palmer filed a supplemental designation of clerk’s papers with our
court. We will treat this designation of clerk’s papers as a motion to supplemental the record. We
deny the motion and place the clerk’s papers in the court file without action.

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