Court Opinion

ID: 9947493
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-04 21:18:22.05269+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:26:29.283197
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

 STATE OF WASHINGTON,
                                                 No. 85918-8-I
                            Respondent,
                                                 DIVISION ONE
                v.
                                                 PUBLISHED OPINION
 DUSTIN ALAN GRIFFIN,

                                Appellant.

       FELDMAN, J. — Dustin Griffin appeals from an order modifying his judgment

and sentence following remand to resentence him after excising three previous

convictions from his offender score pursuant to State v. Blake. 1 Griffin claims he

was denied his right to be present and right to counsel at the resentencing hearing

and that the trial court erred in requiring him to appear while in “restraint” during the

hearing and by failing to enter a new judgment and sentence. Finding no reversible

error, we affirm.

                                             I

       A jury convicted Griffin of six felony offenses, including aggravated murder in

the first degree. State v. Griffin, No. 54224-2-II, slip. op. at 4 (Wash. Ct. App. July

13, 2021) (unpublished), https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/D2%2054224-2-

1 197 Wn.2d 170, 481 P.3d 521 (2021).
No. 85918-8-I

II%20Unpublished%20Opinion.pdf. On appeal, Division Two of this court affirmed

Griffin’s convictions but remanded the matter for the trial court to correct Griffin’s

offender scores and resentence him because three of his prior convictions were

invalidated by Blake. Id. at 15            Although the court acknowledged that the

recalculations would have no impact on Griffin’s sentence of life without the

possibility of parole on the aggravated murder count and that reduced offender

scores would not affect the standard sentencing ranges on the remaining counts,

the court concluded that resentencing was nevertheless required because the trial

court could impose lower sentences on any of the five concurrent counts and those

sentences could become relevant if the murder conviction was overturned on

collateral review. Id. at 14-15

        Griffin’s September 2022 resentencing hearing occurred during a period of

substantially modified court operations related to the public health emergency

created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in March 2020, in response to the

national and state-declared state of emergency and increasingly stringent

recommendations of public health officials, our Supreme Court issued a series of

orders authorizing trial courts to alter regular procedures. 2 At the time of Griffin’s

hearing, a fifth revised and extended order regarding court operations, issued by

the Washington Supreme Court on February 19, 2021, was in effect and recognized

that,

        [M]any court facilities in Washington are ill-equipped to effectively
        comply with social distancing and other public health requirements
        and therefore continued in-person court appearances jeopardize the
        health and safety of litigants, attorneys, judges, court staff, and

2 Our Supreme Court’s multiple orders can be found at

https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/index.cfm?fa=opinions.scorders.

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No. 85918-8-I

       members of the public. Yet, court operations are recognized as
       essential, and may often be conducted by alternative means, in
       alternative settings, and with extra measures taken for public safety[.]

In re Statewide Response by Washington State Courts to the COVID-19 Public

Health Emergency, No. 25700-B-658, at 1-2. (Wash. Feb. 19, 2021),

https://www.courts.wa.gov/content/publicUpload/Supreme%20Court%20Orders/25

700-B-658.pdf (February 19 order).

       The February 19 order acknowledged that in the preceding eleven months,

Washington courts had taken important steps “to protect public health while

ensuring continued access to justice” by, among other things, “holding proceedings

remotely.” Id. at 2. The order provided that in “all court operations, courts should

follow the most protective public health guidance applicable in their jurisdiction, and

should continue using remote proceedings for public health and safety whenever

appropriate.” Id. at 3. The order encouraged trial courts to continue to hear “in

custody” criminal and juvenile matters by “means that do not require in person

attendance when appropriate.” Id. at 7. The order also directed that “[c]ourts should

continue to allow telephonic or video appearances for all scheduled criminal and

juvenile offender hearings whenever appropriate” and “[a]ll in-person appearances

must be conducted with strict observance of social distancing and other public

health measures. Id. at 11. And lastly, recognizing the fundamental importance of

the right to counsel, the order added: “For all hearings that involve a critical stage of

the proceedings, courts shall provide a means for defendants and respondents to

have the opportunity for private and continual discussion with their attorney.” Id.

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No. 85918-8-I

        Cowlitz County Superior Court likewise entered a superseding order

governing court operations on August 6, 2021. Emergency Order No. 6-A Re: Court

Operations Replacing No. 5-A. 3 That order, effective in September 2022, noted that

Cowlitz County had experienced fluctuating levels of COVID positive cases and

numerous deaths and recognized that the court system served a “vulnerable

population” in “compact” facilities. In light of the particular risks and challenges, the

order provided that, “[a]ll in custody criminal matters shall be heard virtually via the

Zoom platform unless otherwise ordered by the Court.” Id. at 3. 4

        Against this backdrop, Griffin appeared at the September 2022 resentencing

hearing on remand from prison via Zoom, while the judge, defense counsel, and the

prosecutor were present in the courtroom.              Griffin objected to conducting the

resentencing via Zoom and sought permission to attend the hearing in person, but

the trial court overruled his objection and proceeded with resentencing.                   After

considering the parties’ arguments and Griffin’s allocution, the court noted that

Griffin’s recalculated offender score for each crime still far exceeded 9, the

maximum offender score according to the statutory sentencing grid, see RCW

9.94A.510, and that the effect of Blake on Griffin’s offender scores was “miniscule.” 5

The court imposed the same sentences on each count, at the top of the standard

range, concluding that the recalculated offender scores did not impact “the gravity

of this case or the length and breadth of [Griffin’s] criminal past.”

3 See Cowlitz County Superior Court website: Error! Hyperlink reference not

valid.https://www.cowlitzsuperiorcourt.us/all-forms/331-emergency-order-no-6-a-re-court-
operations/viewdocument/331.
4 Zoom is a cloud-based videoconferencing software platform.
5 Griffin’s reduced offender scores were between 24 and 40.

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No. 85918-8-I

      Griffin appeals.

                                         II

A.    Right to be Present

      Griffin argues he “was denied his constitutional right to be physically present

at his resentencing.” We disagree. Additionally, any error was harmless.

      Critical here, Washington trial courts must comply with orders, rules, and

other directives promulgated by our Supreme Court, which has the inherent

authority to administer justice and ensure the safety of court personnel, litigants,

and the public. State v. Wade, __ Wn. App. 2d __, 534 P.3d 1221, 1230-31 (2023).

That of course includes the Supreme Court’s emergency order in place when Griffin

was resentenced (as recounted above). Id. at 1231 (“trial court properly relied on

the Supreme Court’s October 2020 and June 2020 Orders . . . when it decided to

allow Wade’s jury to be selected over Zoom”). Even when such decisions implicate

constitutional rights, as here, trial court decisions implementing COVID protocols

are trial management decisions and are therefore reviewed under an abuse of

discretion standard. State v. Ferguson, 25 Wn. App. 2d 727, 735, 524 P.3d 1080

(2023). A trial court abuses its discretion when its decision is manifestly

unreasonable or based on untenable grounds or untenable reasons. Id.

      The trial court did not abuse its discretion by utilizing Zoom at the

resentencing hearing.     The Supreme Court’s February 19 order mandated

adherence to “the most protective public health guidance” and directed the use of

remote proceedings for the benefit of public health and safety “whenever

appropriate.” The trial court properly complied with that directive based on an

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No. 85918-8-I

individualized consideration of Griffin’s asserted rights and circumstances. As the

defense acknowledged below, because Griffin’s life without parole sentence was

unaffected by his offender score a “full argument on re-sentencing” was not required

and the “scope” of the hearing was “somewhat limited.” Griffin was before the court

to determine only whether a minor change to his exceptionally high offender score

would affect the sentences already imposed on concurrent counts. Griffin was able

to see and hear the participants, he was able to confer with his lawyer (as the

Supreme Court’s February 19 order specifically requires), he had a full and

meaningful opportunity for allocution, and nothing in the hearing transcript suggests

that there were connectivity issues or that the parties expressed difficulty observing

or hearing each other or the court. On this record, the use of videoconferencing

technology complied with the Supreme Court’s February 19 order.

       Recent case law sanctioning the use of safety protocols in accordance with

the Supreme Court’s emergency orders also supports the use of videoconferencing

technology here. In Ferguson, for example, the trial court implemented specific

protocols in the courtroom to ensure the trial proceeded safely “as it was required

to do” under the Supreme Court’s emergency order. 25 Wn. App. 2d at 738.

Division Two of this court concluded that the trial court properly exercised its

discretion because the modifications at issue (plexiglass, masks, and dispersing

jurors throughout courtroom) were consistent with the requirements of the

emergency order in effect and did not prevent communication with Ferguson’s

attorney and because the impact on Ferguson’s rights was not “onerous.” Id. at

738-39.

                                          6
No. 85918-8-I

          We similarly upheld the trial court’s decision in Wade to allow two witnesses

to testify by video due to the risks posed by COVID-19. 534 P.3d at 1229. The

court in Wade identified relevant considerations including the court’s role in the

community, its interest in reducing the backlog of pending cases, Wade’s desire to

proceed to trial, and the health and safety of the witnesses. Id. at 1228. The

evidence in Wade also established that the witnesses involved were particularly

vulnerable to contracting the virus. Id. In approving the use of videoconferencing

technology, we emphasized that “jurors will have an up-close view of the witness,”

such that their demeanor was “on view while they testified,” and they “were cross-

examined under oath.” Id. We also emphasized the critical importance of the

Supreme Court’s emergency order in effect at the time, which recognized “that

courts would need to adopt, modify, or suspend rules . . . during COVID-19.” Id. at

1231. 6

          The trial court’s use of videoconferencing technology at Griffin’s resentencing

hearing comports with these recent decisions because it was similarly required by

the Supreme Court’s emergency order in effect at the time. The trial court was in

best position to “perceive and structure its own proceedings” based on its unique

knowledge of its “own courtroom facilities and resources” and to balance Griffin’s

right to be present against the risks to public health and safety in light of the

conditions in the community and recommendations that existed at the time.

Ferguson, 25 Wn. App. 2d at 738. The court reasonably exercised its discretion in

6 See also State v. D.K., 21 Wn. App.2d 342, 349-50, 507 P.3d 859 (2022) (upholding trial court’s

decision that allowing witnesses to testify remotely was necessary upon consideration of emergency
order, severity of pandemic conditions, health risks to the particular to the witnesses, and whether
“presumption for in-person testimony had been overcome”).

                                                 7
No. 85918-8-I

deciding that the use of videoconferencing was appropriate given the nature of the

hearing, the extent to which Griffin was able to participate by Zoom, and its

assessment of the evolving public health risks.              The court’s decision was not

manifestly unreasonable, nor was based on untenable grounds or untenable

reasons.

       Griffin asserts that physical presence furthers the goals of individualized

sentencing, but points to no Washington authority that supports his argument that

requiring a defendant to participate remotely, over their objection, amounts to

reversible constitutional error where, as here, an emergency order directed the use

of remote proceedings for the benefit of public health and safety “whenever

appropriate.” Instead, Griffin relies on a decision of the Michigan appellate court

holding that a felony sentencing proceeding conducted by videoconference violated

a Michigan rule of criminal procedure that authorized the use of videoconferencing

for sentencing of misdemeanor offenses but not for felonies. 7 He also relies on

federal cases that interpret and apply (1) Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 43,

which requires sentencing to take place in person and is generally not waivable, 8

and (2) federal legislation enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which made the

federal rule waivable under certain limited circumstances. 9 Given the differences in

the applicable rules and the prior interpretations of those rules, the cases cited by

Griffin are inapposite.

7 See People v. Heller, 316 Mich. App. 314, 321, 891 N.W.2d 541 (2016). Griffin also cites People

v. Anderson, 341 Mich. App. 272, 283, 989 N.W.2d 832 (2022), another Michigan appellate court
case applying Heller and holding that the use of videoconferencing for a felony sentencing was
constitutional error.
8 See United States v. Williams, 641 F.3d 758, 764-65 (6th Cir. 2011).
9 See United States v. Fagan, 464 F. Supp. 3d 427, 433 (D. Me. 2020).

                                               8
No. 85918-8-I

         Griffin additionally argues that the trial court failed to follow CrR 3.4(e), which

states that certain trial court proceedings “may be conducted by video conference

only by agreement of the parties.” But a new portion of CrR 3.4(a), adopted in 2021,

titled “Presence Defined,” now states, “Unless a court order or this rule specifically

requires the physical presence of the defendant, the defendant may appear

remotely or through counsel.” And under CrR 3.4(b), also revised in 2021, a

defendant may appear when required to do so either “physically or remotely (in the

court’s discretion)” at all “[n]ecessary” hearings, including “the imposition of

sentence,” unless the rules provide otherwise or the defendant is excused or

excluded for “good cause shown.” Thus, the rules now make clear that the court

has discretion regarding whether to require or allow remote appearance at “every

stage of the trial” (CR 3.4(b)), so long as the court complies with our Supreme

Court’s directives and appropriately safeguards the defendant’s rights (as occurred

here).

         But even if the trial court erred, any error is harmless. Irby, 170 Wn.2d at 885

(violation of a defendant’s right to be present is subject to constitutional harmless

error analysis). Division Three’s opinion in State v. Anderson, 19 Wn. App. 2d 556,

497 P.3d 880 (2021), review denied, 199 Wn.2d 1004 (2022), is persuasive on this

point.    The court in Anderson remanded for resentencing after identifying the

following errors in Anderson’s judgment and sentence: a vague community custody

condition, two scrivener’s errors, and the imposition of discretionary legal financial

obligations. Id. at 559. At resentencing, the parties agreed to modifications of the

judgment and sentence to address the issues set forth in the court’s decision. Id. at

                                              9
No. 85918-8-I

560. Resolving Anderson’s second appeal, the court concluded that the violation of

Anderson’s right to confer with counsel at the remand hearing was harmless beyond

a reasonable doubt because Anderson received all the relief he requested at the

remand hearing, there was nothing to suggest that consultation with Anderson’s

attorney would have “made a difference,” and there was no proper basis to expand

the scope of the mandate. Id. at 564.

        As in Anderson, any trial court error here was harmless beyond a reasonable

doubt because “there is no plausible basis for additional relief.” Id. at 558. The trial

court reduced Griffin’s offender score in accordance with the mandate and the

parties’ agreement. Griffin had the opportunity to speak on his own behalf and

asserted his innocence. And, after having consulted with Griffin, defense counsel

advocated for lower sentences on the concurrent counts on several bases. The trial

court declined to alter the sentences imposed, and specifically found that the modest

reduction of Griffin’s offender scores as a result of excising certain prior convictions

pursuant to Blake did not change its determination as to the appropriate sentences.

While we do not revisit whether remand for resentencing was initially warranted, it

is now evident that the reduction in Griffin’s offender scores does not affect the

ranges or the sentences within those ranges. See State v. Tili, 148 Wn.2d 350, 358,

60 P.3d 1192 (2003) (resentencing not required based on miscalculated offender

score if “the record makes clear that the trial court would impose the same

sentence”). 10 In these circumstances, there is no further relief Griffin could obtain

10 See also In re Personal Restraint of Richardson, 200 Wn.2d 845, 847, 525 P.3d 939 (2022)

(judgment and sentence not facially invalid where reduction of offender score after excising
conviction invalidated by Blake did not reduce standard range and sentence was within that range).

                                               10
No. 85918-8-I

at another resentencing hearing, and any error is thus harmless beyond a

reasonable doubt.

B.     Right to Counsel

       Next, Griffin argues that the remote procedure here violated his right to

counsel. We disagree.

       A criminal defendant is entitled to the assistance of counsel at “critical stages”

of litigation. State v. Heddrick, 166 Wn.2d 898, 909-10, 215 P.3d 201 (2009). This

encompasses a right to consult privately with counsel. Anderson, 19 Wn. App. 2d

at 562. Where an alleged violation of the right to confer privately is raised for the

first time on appeal, the appellant is not entitled to relief unless the constitutional

error is manifest and the error is prejudicial under a constitutional harmless error

analysis. Id. at 563-64.

       The trial court proceedings here satisfy Griffin’s right to privately consult with

his attorney. At the outset of the hearing, Griffin interrupted the prosecutor to inform

the court that he had not had a prior opportunity to confer with his attorney and

wished to do so before proceeding. The court paused the hearing for approximately

thirty minutes to allow Griffin to confer privately with defense counsel in a “breakout

room” utilizing Zoom.      And although Griffin and his attorney were in separate

locations during the hearing, Griffin could see, hear, and communicate with his

counsel.

       These facts differ markedly from those in Anderson—cited by Griffin—where

the attorney was not visible because he participated by telephone, the court failed

to explain to Anderson how he might confer privately with counsel if he wished to do

                                          11
No. 85918-8-I

so, and there was no basis to conclude Anderson knew he could interrupt the

proceedings to consult with counsel. Anderson, 19 Wn. App.2d at 563. Most

importantly, there was nothing in the record in Anderson to indicate that Anderson

did, in fact, communicate privately with his attorney just before he was resentenced.

Here, in contrast, Griffin was able to request a pause in the proceedings and confer

privately with counsel. Id. at 562. On this record, there is no manifest constitutional

error.

C.       Right to Appear Free from Restraint

         Relying on State v. Jackson, 195 Wn.2d 841, 850, 467 P.3d 97 (2020), Griffin

contends that, “[l]ike the shackling of a defendant in a courtroom,” requiring him to

appear remotely from prison via Zoom deprived him of the right to appear free from

restraint. A criminal defendant is entitled to a fair trial under the Sixth and Fourteenth

Amendments to the United States Constitution and article I, section 22 of the

Washington State Constitution. Id. at 852. To ensure that right, “‘a defendant in a

criminal case is entitled to appear at trial free from all bonds or shackles except in

extraordinary circumstances.’” Id. (quoting State v. Finch, 137 Wn.2d 792, 842, 975

P.2d 967 (1999) (plurality opinion)). As Jackson also confirms, “We generally review

alleged constitutional violations de novo.” Id. at 850.

         Beyond asserting that prison itself is “perhaps the most complete form of

restraint,” Griffin does not attempt to explain why Jackson is applicable when there

is nothing in the record to suggest that Griffin was physically restrained in any

manner during the resentencing hearing. We reject Griffin’s attempt to extend

Jackson to prohibit a defendant’s participation in criminal proceedings by

                                           12
No. 85918-8-I

videoconference from prison. Nor does Griffin cite any cases establishing that

appearing remotely from prison by videoconference is tantamount to shackling.

Where, as here, “a party cites no authorities supporting [their] argument, we may

assume that counsel searched diligently and found none.” Carter v. State by &

through Dep’t of Soc. & Health Servs., 26 Wn. App. 2d 299, 317, 526 P.3d 874

(2023). This argument thus fails.

D.     Order Modifying Judgment and Sentence

       Lastly, Griffin argues that, upon resentencing, the trial court was required to

enter a new judgment and sentence instead of an order modifying the sentence.

Again, we disagree.

       Griffin relies on RCW 9.94A.480(1), which provides in relevant part as

follows:

       A current, newly created or reworked judgment and sentence
       document for each felony sentencing shall record any and all
       recommended sentencing agreements or plea agreements and the
       sentences for any and all felony crimes kept as public records under
       RCW 9.94A.475 shall contain the clearly printed name and legal
       signature of the sentencing judge.

Interpretation of a statute is a question of law that we review de novo. State v.

Armendariz, 160 Wn.2d 106, 110, 156 P.3d 201 (2007). We first look to the plain

meaning of the statute, and if the plain language is unambiguous our inquiry ends.

Id.

       According to Griffin, RCW 9.94A.480(1) requires that all terms of a judgment

and sentence must be included in a single final judgment and does not permit the

use of short orders to amend portions of an existing judgment and sentence. This

argument fails because RCW 9.94A.480(1) addresses the content, not the form, of

                                         13
No. 85918-8-I

a judgment and sentence. Nothing in the statute requires an entirely new judgment

and sentence each time the document is amended or corrected. To the contrary,

the inclusion of the language “reworked judgment and sentence” indicates the

legislature   contemplated    amending     a   judgment    and    sentence   in   some

circumstances. RCW 9.94A.480(1) (emphasis added). The language of the statute

does not support Griffin’s argument.

       We likewise reject Griffin’s argument that the order modifying his sentence is

“confusing and imprecise,” such that it is unlikely that the Department of Corrections

will be able to accurately calculate his sentence. The order removes three prior

convictions of possession of a controlled substance that were previously included in

Griffin’s criminal history and attaches an amended statement of Griffin’s criminal

history that reflects the removal. The order also includes amended sentencing

information, which reflects the changes in Griffin’s offender scores resulting from the

removal of three convictions. Finally, the order sets forth the sentences imposed on

each of the six counts. The order is sufficiently clear and precise, and the trial court

did not err by entering the order to modify Griffin’s sentence.

       Affirmed.

WE CONCUR:

                                          14