Court Opinion

ID: 9736815
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:07:26.336779+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:23:54.849345
License: Public Domain

HENDERSON, Justice
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent. Woodfork did not receive a fair trial. He had an “inherent *338right” to “defend his liberty.” Art. VI, Bill of Rights § 1, S.D. Const.* He could not defend his liberty because (1) he advanced the defense of consent and the trial judge refused — in several ways — to permit him to effectively prove consent; (2) the trial judge would not allow testimony concerning the theft of condoms; (3) the trial judge did not allow cross-examination about statements the victim made concerning pri- or sex acts with appellant and Sapp; (4) the jury was not specifically instructed that “consent” created a defense to first degree rape. Mistakenly, and with belabored judicial effort to keep the critical facts from the jury, was this case tried. The criminally accused’s right to proffer a defense is fundamental. See Chambers v. Mississippi, 410 U.S. 284, 302, 93 S.Ct. 1038, 1049, 35 L.Ed.2d 297, 312 (1973); United States v. Garner, 581 F.2d 481, 488 (5th Cir.1978); United States v. Ballesteros-Acuna, 527 F.2d 928, 930 (9th Cir.1975); and United States v. Thomas, 488 F.2d 334, 335 (6th Cir.1973). This constitutional right to present evidence, and thus a defense, is grounded in the due process clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, Chambers, and in S.D. Const, art. VI, §§ 2 and 7. Thus, the accused “is entitled to have the jury consider any theory of the defense which is supported by law and which has some foundation in the evidence, however tenuous. Tatum v. United States, 190 F.2d 612, 617, 88 U.S.App.D.C. 386 (D.C.Cir.1951); United States v. Phillips, 217 F.2d 435, 442-443 (7th Cir.1954).” United States v. Grimes, 413 F.2d 1376, 1378 (7th Cir.1969). See also, United States v. Chatham, 568 F.2d 445, 450 (5th Cir.1978). In State v. Dokken, 385 N.W.2d 493, 504 (S.D.1986), we reversed a conviction of first degree murder and ordered a new trial because it was “overwhelmingly clear that Dokken’s substantial rights were so violated that he did not receive a fair trial.” Dokken, in his second trial, was acquitted. I am convinced that the “cumulative effect” of the improper rulings deprived Woodfork of his right to a fair trial. Dokken, at 494.
Victim's acts of stealing condoms, in preparation to go out with a man (or men) to have sex and then cry rape (after intercourse) is a combination of contradictory or incongruous acts. The jury should have been permitted to know that she would steal condoms to fulfill her plans to engage in sexual acts. An offer of proof to hear this evidence was denied by the trial judge. This evidence had probative, material value. It was error to exclude it. This evidence (stealing condoms) was relevant to her credibility. Theft, does it not, reflects upon honesty/dishonesty? Dishonesty, does it not, reflects upon credibility? Credibility, does it not, reflects upon the jury’s overall assessment of the witness’ testimony? Under SDCL 19-14-10, it is the general rule that specific instances of the conduct of a witness — to attack his or her credibility — may not be established by extrinsic evidence. There are two exceptions, however. One of these relates to his/her character for truthfulness or untruthfulness. Example before us: The complaining witness’ specific conduct of stealing condoms to go out and have sex bears on her credibility, her direct credibility that she was forcibly raped. In SDCL 19-12-1 we find: “ ‘Relevant evidence’ means evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.” Even if evidence is relevant, a trial judge may, by law, exclude relevant evidence. Such power is granted unto him by SDCL 19-12-3. If the evidence is prejudicial, misleading or cumulative, the trial judge may exclude the evidence. Before us, the evidence was not violative of this state statute. Therefore, it should not have been excluded. Furthermore, under SDCL 19-12-3 “other crime evidence” has been held admissible by this Court. State v. Holland, 346 N.W.2d 302 (S.D.1984); State v. Rose, 324 N.W.2d 894 (S.D.1982). “Other crime evidence” must *339meet two tests: (1) Is it relevant? (2) If relevant, does the prejudicial effect of the evidence substantially outweigh its probative value? State v. Reutter, 374 N.W.2d 617 (S.D.1985). Granted that this Court has, through decisions, held that “other crime evidence” may be used by the prosecution to convict (a) if relevant and (b) its prejudicial effect does not outweigh its probative value, why is it so wrong to allow the defense to establish “other crime evidence” which proves up the defense? Both prosecution and the defense — on the battlefield of truth — should have to play by the same set of rules! Impartiality and the equal administration of justice demands that we seek not a result but, rather, apply the law with neutral force; state judges or justices we might be, but chattels of the state, to do its bidding, we are not.
Alleged victim admitted, under oath, to smoking marijuana on the night of the rape. An independent witness provided testimony that the alleged rape victim removed her underpants at her home before leaving (for the nocturnal activities). Bra, too. Victim, at independent witness’s home, displayed her pubic area to Wood-fork. Victim is white; Woodfork is black. A used condom was found by police at the “rape” site. Woodfork's singular defense was that of consent. Victim testified she voluntarily partied the night in question with Woodfork and his male friend and accepted a ride home. This scenario was not a platonic “stroll in the park” situation. Plato’s contemplation of the “universal” and the “ideal” to a close relationship between two persons — where sexual desire was suppressed or sublimated to further a great ideal — did not mentally abound.
Woodfork was entitled to cross-examine his accuser. Woodfork’s direct examination of Sapp, at the end of the trial, is not a substitute for cross-examination of the accuser. Cross-examination is a vital tool in the arsenal of a defense lawyer and his client because it is the best method for testing the trustworthiness of testimony. To strip it away is to eliminate the right to defend the accused’s liberty. This is another example of why Woodfork was denied a fair trial. Charged with First Degree Rape, he was denied the right to effectively cross-examine the “victim” concerning previous sexual encounters directly relevant to the crime of which he stood accused. U.S. Const, amend. VI; S.D. Const, art. VI, § 7.
Although briefed to this Court, the majority opinion conspicuously avoids treatment of the prejudicial error rule. This is understandable as the Chief Justice of this Court stood alone in State v. Davis, 401 N.W.2d 721 (S.D.1987). By swift, literary passage on previous lonesome waters, the author of the majority opinion now sails past a discussion of prejudicial error. As the captain (sole) of this dissent, bottomed on the premise that prejudicial error was committed below, I cannot, conceptually, lay anchor. In Davis, I cited fourteen separate cases in this Court, plus made reference to a scholarly article of former Chief Justice Roger Traynor of the California Supreme Court, on “The Riddle on Harmless Error,” all regarding harmless error. Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 87 S.Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1967), was also cited. I began my Chapman recognition in a dissent in State v. Chief Eagle, 377 N.W.2d 141 (1985). Again, I point out, as I did in my concurrence-in-result in Davis, that an appellate body must determine if the question involves (a) a violation of a state procedural provision (b) a violation of a state constitutional provision or (c) a federal constitutional transgression. Reference is also made to my special concurrence in State v. Remacle, 386 N.W.2d 38, 40 (S.D.1986), reflecting that the scope of review cannot go back to State v. Reddington, 80 S.D. 390, 125 N.W.2d 58 (1963), as well as its progeny, if a federal constitutional error arises. If a federal constitutional error does arise, the basic tenets of Chapman becomes applicable. This, then, triggers that a court must declare a belief that it was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Each case must be examined to determine what type of error was committed below. If the conceptual road is not laid out from the beginning (like the Interstate), any appellate body can take the wrong fork, get on the gravel, with destination unknown. The reasonable doubt *340hurdle only comes into play when a constitutional violation is apparent. I would adopt the reasonable doubt standard, in this case, because both state and federal constitutional error was committed. Why? Elementary, my dear Watson. The trial judge, by numerous evidentiary errors, absolutely refused to permit Woodfork from defending his liberty by a dogmatic refusal to permit any evidence that the victim consented, thereby precluding a fair trial Art. VI, Bill of Rights, § 1, S.D. Const.; Chambers, id.; Tatum, id. In State v. Webb, 251 N.W.2d 687 (S.D.1977) we held that the harmless error rule should never be used to justify fairness at trial. This Court should stand above the affray of advocacy to prevent the harmless error rule from being an instrument of wrong. Point: The eviden-tiary errors of the trial court were not harmless. “Absent [the alleged error] ... is it clear beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury would have returned a verdict of guilty?” I say no. We cannot answer this question yes, because the judge would not permit Woodfork to proffer his defense for the jury to consider. See, United States v. Hasting, 461 U.S. 499, 103 S.Ct. 1974, 76 L.Ed.2d 96 (1969). Certainly Woodfork had the right to.create a reasonable doubt and the facts of this case are neither speculative nor fantastic about creating a doubt. A jury would not be speculating upon a fantastic defense. Rather, the jury would be deliberating upon the truth of a defense, namely consent. I quote 1A. Wigmore, Evidence § 139, at 1724 (Tillers rev.1983):
[I]f the evidence [offered by the accused] is in truth calculated to cause the jury to doubt, the court should not attempt to decide for the jury that this doubt is purely speculative and fantastic but should afford the accused every opportunity to create that doubt. A contrary rule is unfair to a really innocent accused.
Academically, can the majority opinion truly use Faehnrich as its primary authority for a refusal to give Woodfork's requested instruction on voluntary consent? There does not appear to be any instruction which explicitly mentions “consent. ” In Faehnrich, 359 N.W.2d at 900 we expressed: “In a forcible rape case, a defendant is not entitled to any consent instruction where the evidence of guilt of lack of consent is overwhelming.” In Faehnrich, by making that statement, we relied on State v. Havens, 264 N.W.2d 918 (S.D.1978). We held in Havens that “... consent may be a defense where there is evidence offered and received that the victim did indeed consent; however, that evidence would also have to utterly negate any element of force, coercion or threat.” I sincerely submit that the evidence of guilt or lack of consent is not overwhelming in the case before us. Again, the consent defense was stripped from Woodfork in the instructions. Remember the facts, as you judge the merits of this writing, that testimony from an independent witness established that the alleged rape victim removed her underpants and her bra, at the independent witness' home, and displayed her pubic area to the accused. Those facts, plus her stealing condoms that night certainly negates that there is no evidence of guilt or lack of consent which is “overwhelming.” Faehnrich is totally inapposite.
Justice Sabers, in his dissent, alludes to Michalek. Continuing a decade of writing on the prejudicial error rule in this Court, again I wrote specially therein to concur and to also preserve the integrity of my previous position. In said special concurrence, I wrote that State v. Farley, 290 N.W.2d 491 (S.D.1980) was the controlling case for that set of facts. Moreover, reaching back to the granddaddy, I cited State v. Reddington, 80 S.D. 390, 396, 125 N.W.2d 58, 62 (1963), for the general proposition “There is no definite rule by which to measure prejudicial error and each case must be decided on its own facts.” Point: Prejudicial error occurred here.
Therefore, I hereby vote to reverse this conviction of forcible rape and would remand this case for retrial so that Woodfork could fairly present his defense.

 It provides, inter alia: "All men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, among which are those enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring and protecting property and the pursuit of happiness."