Court Opinion

ID: 9586291
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:09:11.431846+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:27:31.564371
License: Public Domain

Benham, Judge,
concurring specially.
While agreeing entirely with the majority opinion, I write to discuss several of the enumerations of error in conjunction with each other to dispel any notion that our rulings on Enumerations 1 and 2 are supportive of appellant’s third enumeration as to ineffective assistance of counsel.
1. Appellant’s first and second enumerations of error basically allege prosecutorial misconduct in improperly commenting on the evidence and in impermissibly placing appellant’s character in evidence. The majority opinion, in finding these enumerations meritless, states that counsel either failed to object, failed to request curative instructions, or failed to request a mistrial; therefore, any objection was waived. To the casual observer, the court’s rulings on these issues would be supportive of appellant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Hence, a more in-depth discussion of the alleged misconduct is warranted.
During the opening statement the assistant district attorney stated “they did not have any statement.” Taken by itself, this statement might be violative of appellant’s 5th and 14th Amendment rights to remain silent and not to have the state comment during trial on her silence. Griffin v. State, 3 Ga. App. 476 (60 SE 277) (1908). However, when considered in the context as presented at trial, it was an entirely innocuous statement which is evidenced by appellant’s counsel’s failure to object. Even if the statement were objectionable, which we do not find it to be, the court is not required to grant a mistrial on its own motion under these circumstances. Vernon v. State, 152 Ga. App. 616 (263 SE2d 503) (1979).
Appellant challenges several statements by the assistant district attorney during closing argument: “These aren’t even real Quaaludes. They are counterfeit. They are fake. She even cheats her own drug customers.” “They come in, they want to buy a Quaalude but she’s going to cheat them too. Not only is she out dealing cocaine on the *603streets, pushing her . . “It was pretty dumb to keep this ledger book but we’re not saying that she’s smart. We’re saying she’s a drug dealer and if you’re going to deal drugs in the first place, you’re not too smart.”
Appellant contends that this series of statements is violative of OCGA § 24-9-20, which prohibits the State from placing the defendant’s character in issue. However, we take an entirely different view of these statements because, when viewed in light of the evidence at trial, they are either supported by the evidence or are reasonable and permissible inferences drawn from the evidence. Sharp v. State, 153 Ga. App. 486 (265 SE2d 837) (1980). Therefore, none of the statements complained of was objectionable and would not have warranted curative instructions or a mistrial.
2. Appellant also contends she received ineffective assistance of counsel because her counsel’s loyalty was divided by events which occurred during the trial. The same attorney represented appellant and a co-defendant; the co-defendant received a directed verdict of acquittal during trial. Appellant’s attorney pursued a defense of mere presence throughout the trial, making motions for a directed verdict due to the insufficiency of the evidence. At the end of the State’s presentation, a motion for directed verdict was renewed as to both defendants, whereupon the trial court stated that the evidence was weak as to co-defendant Pipkins but that it would defer ruling on the motion until appellant Acierno testified. Appellant’s attorney immediately rested on her behalf without presenting any evidence. It is reasonable to assume that by this strategy he hoped to save co-defendant Pipkins from conviction, which he did. Appellant contends that this situation caused her attorney’s loyalty to be divided (Glasser v. United States, 315 U. S. 60 (62 SC 457, 86 LE 680) (1942)), and that she, in effect, was thrown to the wolves.
Appellant cites Davis v. State, 129 Ga. App. 796 (201 SE2d 345) (1973), which gives a thorough discussion of the conflict of interest claim as it bears on the right to counsel issue; however, this court, in Davis found no conflict of interest, just as the main opinion here finds no conflict of interest. The dissent of Judge Evans in Davis bears mentioning because it calls into question the majority position. Nevertheless, under either the majority position or the Evans dissent, appellant’s enumeration of error would be meritless because the case in chief, unlike Davis, involves retained counsel and not appointed counsel. Therefore, a heightened scrutiny as is counseled by the dissent in Davis is unwarranted.
Thus, in considering appellant’s enumerations singularly or conjunctively, it cannot be said she was denied effective assistance of counsel.
*604Decided October 8, 1985
Rehearing denied October 29, 1985
G. Hughel Harrison, Rhonda A. Brofman, for appellant.
Thomas C. Lawler III, District Attorney, Alex G. Smith, Assistant District Attorney, for appellee.