Court Opinion

ID: 9677025
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 05:41:19.315701+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:53.229563
License: Public Domain

SCHRODER, J.,
dissenting.
Because I believe that oral findings of fact are not sufficient to satisfy due process under Morrissey, I must respectfully dissent. In Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 92 S.Ct. 2593, 33 L.Ed.2d 484 (1972), and Gagnon v. Scarpelli, 411 U.S. 778, 93 S.Ct. 1756, 36 L.Ed.2d 656 (1973), the United States Supreme Court set out the minimum due process requirements that must be afforded a defendant at a probation revocation hearing. These requirements include “a written statement by the factfinders as to the evidence relied on and reasons for revoking (probation or) parole.” Gagnon, 411 U.S. at 786, 93 S.Ct. 1756 (quoting Morrissey, 408 U.S. at 489, 92 S.Ct. 2593).
In this case, although the trial court made an oral statement that provided the reason for revoking probation, there were no written findings setting out that reason, and there were no findings — either oral or written — that provided the evidence relied on in reaching that decision. The order revoking probation merely stated, “the Court finds that the Defendant has violated his/her terms of probation.... ” This lack of specific written findings clearly violates the standard set out in Morrissey and Gagnon. As the United States Supreme Court noted, “The written statement required by Gagnon and Morrissey helps to insure accurate factfinding with respect to any alleged violation and pro*489vides an adequate basis for review to determine if the decision rests on permissible grounds supported by the evidence.” Black v. Romano, 471 U.S. 606, 613-14, 105 S.Ct. 2254, 85 L.Ed.2d 636 (1985).
When the United States Supreme Court has interpreted the U.S. Constitution as guaranteeing certain minimum individual rights, a state may grant its citizens more rights, but a state may not go below that federal floor. See Commonwealth v. Wasson, 842 S.W.2d 487, 492 (Ky.1992); Crayton v. Commonwealth, 846 S.W.2d 684, 690 (Ky.1992) (Stephens, C.J., dissenting). The requirement in Morrissey is clear: to satisfy a parolee or probationer’s due process rights during a revocation hearing, the trial court must provide a written statement that contains two items: (1) the reasons for revoking probation or parole, and (2) the evidence relied upon. As the Commonwealth noted, the trial court can simply enter a written order expressing what it stated orally. Such a requirement is not unduly burdensome and ensures that a parolee’s or probationer’s due process rights are not violated.
Accordingly, I would affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeals and remand to the Hardin Circuit Court for a written statement that details the reasons for revoking Alleman’s probation and the evidence relied upon.
MINTON, C.J., joins this opinion.