Court Opinion

ID: 9626771
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 08:23:43.299805+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:06:33.528036
License: Public Domain

Lockett, J.,
concurring and dissenting: I concur with the reasoning of the majority opinion on all issues except the finding that the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel was not violated.
After police officers had made their preliminary investigation at Barber’s home and obtained a statement from Hollis, Detective Gilmore was called to investigate the case. Detective Gilmore had a conversation with Hollis. Hollis again stated that Barber was “drying out” in a VA hospital. Detective Gilmore then drove Hollis to the courthouse for further questioning. En route to the courthouse, and while they were having a general conversation about world problems, Hollis blurted out that she had killed the old man. Later, Detective Gilmore obtained a detailed statement from Hollis. Detective Gilmore followed the proper procedure when he obtained the statement.
On August 2, Hollis made a second request by note asking Detective Gilmore to bring her more cigarettes. After Gilmore gave her the cigarettes, Hollis informed Gilmore that her attorney had advised her not to answer any of the officer’s questions. She then volunteered that she was to plead insanity. Detective Gilmore asked if she was insane. Hollis responded that she was not insane.
The majority opinion states, “The officer’s natural response was his question as to whether or not she was having mental problems.” I agree that it was a natural response for a detective who had been assigned to investigate the case to determine if the defendant was insane. Detective Gilmore was neither a concerned friend nor a casual acquaintance worried about Hollis’ mental health. He was a detective. His duty was to obtain *538information useful to the prosecutor and report those findings to him. He performed his duty.
The Sixth Amendment provides that the accused shall enjoy the right “to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.” This right is meant to assure fairness in the adversary criminal process. Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 344, 9 L. Ed. 2d 799, 83 S. Ct. 792 (1963). Where a defendant demonstrates prejudice to the ability of her counsel to provide adequate representation in a criminal proceeding, appropriate action must be taken. United States v. Morrison, 449 U.S. 361, 66 L. Ed. 2d 564, 101 S. Ct. 665 (1980).
Here, Hollis has demonstrated prejudice to the ability of her counsel to provide an effective defense of insanity in the criminal proceeding. Her response to Detective Gilmore’s question regarding her sanity was effectively used by the prosecution against her defense of insanity.
The trial judge correctly determined that Hollis’ rights had been violated by the State. He incorrectly allowed the statement to be used as rebuttal evidence against the insanity defense of Hollis. Hollis should be granted a new trial.
Prager and Holmes, JJ., join in the foregoing concurring and dissenting opinion.