Court Opinion

ID: 9836977
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-02 03:15:49.944213+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:45:19.639555
License: Public Domain

CRAWFORD, Judge
(dissenting):
I dissent because I disagree with the majority’s analysis of whether the error prejudiced a substantial right of appellee. Based on the charged offenses, there is no likelihood that the error affected his substantial rights. United States v. Powell, 49 MJ 460 (1998); see also United States v. Johnson-Saunders, 48 MJ 74, 75-76 (1998) (Crawford, J., dissenting); United States v. Edwards, 45 MJ 114, 117-18 (1996) (Crawford, J., dissenting). This is not a case where we should presume prejudice. To say that any reasonable convening authority might suspend or set aside the discharge or reduce confinement or forfeitures only if the convening authority is advised by a statutorily-qualified person under these circumstances ignores the totality of the evidence surrounding appellee’s offenses, as well as the procedural disposition of the case. The court below does not have the authority simply to order a new action by presuming that error affected the substantial rights of the defendant. See United States v. Hasting, 461 U.S. 499, 103 S.Ct. 1974, 76 L.Ed.2d 96 (1983).
Appellate review is hindered by incomplete or sloppy trial and post-trial work, and an appellate court should not be forced to accept such a record. However, there is a difference between an exercise of supervisory authority and a finding of plain error where no showing of prejudice has been made. See United States v. Cook, 46 MJ 37, 39 (1997), citing United States v. Griffin, 8 USCMA 206, 207, 24 CMR 16, 17 (1957). Cf. United States v. Smith, 36 MJ 455, 457 (CMA 1993)(this Court exercised “supervisory jurisdiction”). In Griffin, we said, “Sometimes error can best be cured by returning the case to the level of proceedings at which the error occurred; in other instances, the reviewing authority, by the exercise of its own powers, can effectively eliminate the harmful consequences of the error in earlier proceedings. ...” 8 USCMA at 207, 24 CMR at 17. The precedents set by following one course rather than the other may vary greatly, even where the ultimate outcomes seem similar.
While the majority focuses on the nature of the right affected and characterizes this as “a fundamental flaw in the post-trial process,” 51 MJ at 188, it does not recognize that where there is a mistake in the SJA’s recommendation — either in the substance of the recommendation or in the author — the *190defense counsel and the accused have a chance to comment on legal errors in the recommendation. Once a comment is made, the SJA may simply agree or not agree with the comment. ROM 1106(d)(4); see, e.g., United States v. Thompson, 26 MJ 512 (ACMR), pet. denied, 27 MJ 403 (1988). Either way, an accused’s comments are before the convening authority. Here, defense counsel, in submitting an extensive clemency package to the convening authority, did not object to the author of the SJA recommendation though his inadequate rank was obvious. This failure to object or comment is evidence that there was no impact on a substantial right. Further, appellee has failed to make any showing to the contrary.
As we indicated in United States v. Reist, 50 MJ 108 (1999), errors that are known at the time of pretrial and trial proceedings are waived where not challenged contemporaneously. However, where the error is not known, such as in United States v. Dinges, 49 MJ 232 (1998) and United States v. Edwards, supra, it is not waived. But our cases have been anything but clear on waiver. See 2 F. Gilligan & F. Lederer, Court-Martial Procedure § 24-64.20 (1991 & 1998 Supp.).
For all of the foregoing reasons, I dissent.