Court Opinion

ID: 9596836
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:53:23.657065+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:42:54.122484
License: Public Domain

Donald L. Corbin, Justice, concurring. I concur in the majority’s holding that the trial court erred in granting Appellee Kevin Franklin a new trial pursuant to Ark. R. Crim. P. 37. I write separately to emphasize that trial counsel has a duty to investigate for possible mitigating evidence to present during the sentencing phase of a trial, regardless of whether the defendant may receive the death penalty. The constitutional guarantee of effective assistance of counsel extends to the sentencing phase of the trial. See Coulter v. State, 343 Ark. 22, 31 S.W.3d 826 (2000); Sanford v. State, 342 Ark. 22, 25 S.W.3d 414 (2000); Helton v. State, 325 Ark. 140, 924 S.W.2d 239 (1996). I agree with the majority that, ordinarily, the issue of ineffectiveness in failing to investigate for mitigating evidence has arisen in cases where the defendant was sentenced to death. See, e.g., Williams v. State, 347 Ark. 371, 64 S.W.3d 709 (2002); Camargo v. State, 346 Ark. 118, 55 S.W.3d 255 (2001); Coulter, 343 Ark. 22, 31 S.W.3d 826; Sanford, 342 Ark. 22, 25 S.W.3d 414. However, this court has addressed this issue in non-death cases as well. See Pyle v. State, 340 Ark. 53, 8 S.W.3d 491 (2000); Helton, 325 Ark. 140, 924 S.W.2d 239. Thus, contrary to the State’s assertion, an allegation of ineffectiveness in failing to investigate and present evidence during sentencing is cognizable in cases, like this one, where the defendant received a term of imprisonment. In the present case, Appellee, through his testimony and that of his mother, Diane Willis, presented evidence during the Rule 37 hearing that he asserts mitigated his crime. While I agree with the majority that the proffered evidence does not demonstrate a reasonable probability that Appellee’s sentence would have been lessened had the jury heard this testimony, I take issue with trial counsel’s claim that his failure to present any evidence during sentencing was a matter of trial strategy. In the first place, it would seem to be elementary that one must first investigate for possible mitigating evidence before it can be determined that the best strategy is to present no evidence. Here, it is undisputed that trial counsel did not conduct an investigation to discover whether there was any mitigating evidence to present. Counsel initially testified that he had investigated Appellee’s background. However, when asked about specific facts, counsel stated that he had no recollection whether he had discovered such facts. He then indicated that he was not prepared to address this issue because he had only learned on the morning of the Rule 37 hearing “for sure” that he would be participating in the hearing. He admitted, however, that he did not call a single witness or present a single piece of evidence during the sentencing phase of the trial. He also admitted that he did not conduct any formal investigation into Appellee’s background. In the second place, counsel’s reasons for not calling Appellee or his mother are not reasonable trial strategy. When asked why he did not call them, both of whom were admittedly available to testify, trial counsel explained that he was concerned that they would not make good witnesses. He indicated that the jury might be put offby the fact that Appellee had some gold teeth; however, counsel conceded that the jury could probably see his teeth while he sat at the defense table. Counsel also explained that he was concerned that neither Appellee nor his mother understood the legal theory of accomplice liability, and that, if they took the stand, they would likely incriminate Appellee regarding his presence at the shooting. While this may have been a legitimate concern during the guilt phase of the trial, I cannot see that it was a part of any reasonable strategy during the sentencing phase. The jury had already found him guilty of being an accomplice to murder. Finally, counsel admitted that Appellee had no prior convictions to be impeached with, but he claimed that Appellee had another criminal charge pending that might be used against him. Despite his concern, counsel made no effort to prevent the State from cross-examining Appellee with this information. In sum, I am troubled by what I perceive as trial counsel’s indifferent attitude about these allegations of ineffectiveness. Regardless of whether the death penalty is a permissible sentence, defense counsel has a duty to conduct an investigation for possible mitigating evidence. Moreover, although counsel must use his or her professional judgment when determining whether to present any such evidence, the duty to investigate remains constant and is not a matter of trial strategy. Because trial counsel did not conduct an investigation for mitigating evidence, I would recommend that he be referred to the Committee on Professional Conduct. I nonetheless concur in the judgment because counsel’s failure to investigate did not prejudice Appellee’s sentence.