Court Opinion

ID: 9690089
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 18:53:24.905502+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:53.507000
License: Public Domain

AMUNDSON, Justice
(concurring in result).
The sentence imposed in this case is not shocking, nor do I find it disproportionate to the crime after reviewing the record.
This court has consistently advised defense attorneys to make a record at the trial court level when considering an appeal of the sentence. In State v. Holloway, 482 N.W.2d 306, 311 (S.D.1992), we stated:
The settled record and sentencing transcript contain no record of information or data regarding proportionality having been presented to the trial court for its consideration when imposing sentence. That being the ease, this court will not accept an invitation to second guess the trial court on its sentence.
This case was disposed of by entering a plea of nolo contendere on two counts of a twenty-six count indictment. Under SDCL 22-6-6.1 consecutive sentences are authorized for convictions on two or more offenses. Therefore, an attorney representing a defendant on an open plea can easily calculate what a client is facing as a potential sentence; namely, maximum years on each charge with the sentences to run consecutively. In anticipation of such a sentence, the defense attorney should assemble evidence needed for a proportionality presentation to the trial court at the time of sentencing.. Of course, it goes without saying that it is difficult to know what the .sentence will be until one actually hears the pronouncement from the court. If counsel is shocked after hearing the sentence, it would be appropriate at that time to move the court for the opportunity to present evidence on proportionality. In making such a motion, counsel should be prepared to make at least a threshold showing of why the trial court should reconsider the sentence, such as other sentences in the circuit or area.
Another option is SDCL 23A-27-4.1, which allows a trial court to review its final judgment and sentence. The appropriate proportionality data could then be presented to the trial court. Obviously, this should not be standard procedure, because precedent in this jurisdiction clearly shows that a sentence within statutory limits is infrequently found to be shocking or disproportionate to the crime. As a general rule, sentences within the statutory limits will not be set aside. State v. Basker, 468 N.W.2d 413 (S.D.1991).
The reality of life in the defense world is that you have to zealously represent your client’s interest or else defend against an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. This court stated in State v. Sheridan, 383 N.W.2d 865, 867 (S.D.1986) (Henderson, J., specially concurring):
*670To assert disproportionality, all trial counsel must, in the words of the old-timers, ‘root hog, or die!’ In other words, counsel must dig, work, sweat, read, study, and produce statistics, criteria, history of cases, studies, court records, etc. See Janssen, 371 N.W.2d at 357. A foundation must be established at the trial level for the appellate advocacy to come.
After this ease was remanded to the trial court, it is obvious that counsel attempted to “root like a hog” but the trial court did not allow it. In my opinion, the trial court, abused its discretion by denying counsel the right to make his record for appeal after this matter was remanded for review of the sentence. Despite my opinion, this abuse does not warrant a reversal in this case.