Court Opinion

ID: 9790252
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 01:49:37.146994+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:27.780725
License: Public Domain

CAMERON, Justice,
concurring.
While I concur in the result, I disagree with the majority opinion in its treatment of the comment by the State in its argument to the jury on defendant’s failure to testify. In this, I adhere to my dissent in State v. Arredondo, 111 Ariz. 141, 526 P.2d 163 (1974).
In the instant case, after being advised of his rights, defendant gave a taped statement to police. He also spoke to police in the car on his way back to Tucson following his arrest.
At trial the State introduced and played to the jury the taped statement defendant gave to the police, as well as other statements defendant had made to the police and others about the crime. Defendant conceded that he killed his wife. His defense was that it was manslaughter rather than murder. Thus the only issue at trial was malice.
Defendant did not testify at trial. During the closing argument, defendant’s attorney stated:
*40“You might be frustrated that we didn’t ask something or that you had a better question, you know, those lawyers, you could have done it better. You might have had a better question and you didn’t get it. You can’t guess. You can’t wonder why somebody didn’t appear or maybe, you know, why you didn’t hear from Chris from the witness stand.
“Well, I will tell you that you have heard from him in every relevant way, in his diary, a person’s diary. You have heard in his statement he had nothing different to say. From the statement, from the notes. You have also had an opportunity to view him in his emotional state here. I decide whether or not he can handle things here. Well, you have heard from him and you have heard from all the witnesses. If you didn’t hear from them, you can’t speculate why not. The Judge will tell you that.”
During the State’s closing argument, the prosecutor stated:
“The incident on New Year’s Eve. Well, you heard testimony about what happened, how the police got there, you heard from Kim. * * * [A]nd she was subject to cross examination by the defense, * * *.
******
“Now, it either works for both of us or it doesn’t work for both of us, but it can’t work half for him when he wants it to and half when it doesn’t. If we believe things that were said to other people about the threats — we are not supposed to believe that, excuse me, but we are supposed to believe what Shirley Christensen said to the defendant and that he comes and tells us via the tape recording which can’t be cross examined.” (emphasis added)
Our Constitution states:
“§ 10. Self-incrimination; double jeopardy
“Section 10. No person shall be compelled in any criminal case to give evidence against himself, or be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense.” Ariz. Const., Art. 2, § 10.
Our statute, A.R.S. § 13-117, states:
“Defendant as witness; no comment on failure to testify
“A. A defendant in a criminal action or proceeding shall not be compelled to be a witness against himself, but may be a witness in his own behalf. If he offers himself as a witness in his own behalf, he may be cross-examined to the same extent and subject to the same rules as any other witness.
“B. The defendant’s neglect or refusal to be a witness in his own behalf shall not in any manner prejudice him, or be used against him on the trial or proceedings.”
And the United States Supreme Court, in Griffin v. California, 380 U.S. 609, 85 S.Ct. 1229, 14 L.Ed.2d 106 (1965), held that a defendant’s right not to testify and to be free from comment concerning that choice is part of the protected Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. We have stated:
“ ‘Under both federal law (citation omitted) and Arizona law (citations omitted), a direct or indirect comment upon the failure of the defendant to testify or give evidence at the trial violates his Fifth Amendment rights under the United States Constitution and his Article 2, Section 10 rights under the Arizona Constitution. State v. White, 16 Ariz.App. 279, 282, 492 P.2d 1217, 1220 (1972). See also State v. Rhodes, 110 Ariz. 237, 517 P.2d 507 (1953); State v. Acosta, 101 Ariz. 127, 416 P.2d 560 (1966); State v. Smith, 101 Ariz. 407, 420 P.2d 278 (1966); State v. Villalobos, 6 Ariz.App. 144, 430 P.2d 723 (1967).’ ” State v. Cannon, 118 Ariz. 273, 274, 576 P.2d 132, 133 (1978).
The prosecutor’s comment here drew the jurors’ attention to the fact that the defendant did not testify. State v. Acosta, 101 Ariz. 127, 416 P.2d 560 (1966), quoting 1 Underhill, Criminal Evidence 323 (5th Ed. 1956). See also State v. Lee, 114 Ariz. 101, 559 P.2d 657 (1976); State v. Davis, 115 Ariz. 3, 562 P.2d 1370 (App.1977); State v. Galbraith, 114 Ariz. 174, 559 P.2d 1089 (App.1976). The prosecutor’s remarks spe*41cifically focused the attention of the jury to the fact that defendant did not take the stand and could not be cross-examined. We find this especially egregious in light of the prosecutor’s statement pointing out that the State’s witness, Kim Vincent, was subject to cross-examination. The contrast between the availability for cross-examination of the State’s witness and the defendant could hardly have gone unnoticed by the jury. Whether this was intended or not, the prosecutor’s remarks were a comment on defendant’s failure to testify.
The State and the majority contend, however, that if the prosecutor’s comment was error, it was invited error and justified as a response to the argument made by defense counsel and therefore not reversible.
The doctrine of invited error has often been articulated by this court:
“ ‘Where remarks of the prosecuting attorney, even if improper, are invited or occasioned by accused’s counsel, or are in reply to or retaliation for, his acts or statements, they are, as a general rule, not grounds for reversal, * * * ’.” State v. Gortarez, 98 Ariz. 160, 168, 402 P.2d 992, 997-98 (1965), quoting 23A C.J.S. Criminal Law, § 1108 (1961). See also State v. Edwards, 122 Ariz. 206, 594 P.2d 72 (1979); State v. Starr, 119 Ariz. 472, 581 P.2d 706 (App.1978).
I do not agree with the court’s disposition of this issue for two reasons. First, I do not believe that the prosecutor’s statement in this case was justified by defense counsel’s closing comments. His statements were a preview of the judge’s instructions regarding the defendant’s Fifth Amendment right, which emphasized that the jury was not to draw any negative inferences from the fact that defendant was not on the stand to testify. A correct statement by defense counsel regarding inferences to be drawn by the jury about defendant’s failure to testify does not open the door to prosecutorial comments which characterize defendant’s silence as guilt. United States ex rel. Mitchell v. Pinto, 438 F.2d 814 (3rd Cir.), cert. denied 402 U.S. 961, 91 S.Ct. 1622, 29 L.Ed.2d 124 (1971). The State’s comment went directly to the fact that defendant was not available for cross-examination and implied defendant was therefore less credible.
Second, I question whether the right of the defendant to be free from comment about his failure can be waived by defendant’s counsel. Admittedly, it is often held that defendant is responsible for the actions, strategy and comments of his attorney. However, comments upon the defendant’s right to not take the stand is fundamental error under our statute and Constitution, and I do not believe it can be waived by the defendant’s counsel alone. Even if we assume that defendant’s counsel inferred that defendant failed to take the stand at the suggestion of his counsel, that should not allow the prosecutor to comment on defendant’s exercise of his right to take the stand. But see State v. Arredondo, supra.
I might be persuaded that this error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt if the defendant had only denied killing the victim, because the evidence of the homicide was overwhelming. Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 87 S.Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1967). Defendant, however, defended on the basis that it was manslaughter rather than murder. I cannot say that the comment on defendant’s failure to take the stand was such that it did not, beyond a reasonable doubt, contribute to his conviction of the higher degree of homicide. The comment was not, then, harmless error. Chapman v. California, supra.