Court Opinion

ID: 9583223
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:36:05.054698+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:38:53.304595
License: Public Domain

HENDERSON, Justice
(dissenting).
DUALITY OF FUNCTIONS IN THE APPELLATE COURT
First, we must review the trial court’s ruling for correctness, or at least within a range of error of law which appellate courts seemingly permit the first decision-maker. This inculcates support of the legal system by those outside of it, for it builds within the extra-legal community the confidence that a litigant has not succumbed to a certain mortal who is then and there on the bench. By reviewing for correctness, we instill a dignity and acceptability of the trial process. P. Carrington, D. Meador & M. Rosenberg, Justice on Appeal 2 (1976).
Secondly, our function in the appellate courts is that which is often described as institutional review. Those on the appellate bench witness variations in results and divergences in practices. We know that trial courts work independently and have no self-regulating capacity to promote uniformity among their decisions. Thus, institutional review arises whereby courts at the trial level are, in a sense, commanded to use certain legal principles which have developed over a period of decades by which litigants and lawyers can predict an application of trial court power. Id. at 3. We therefore, at the appellate level, hand down, remit, clarify, decide, reconcile, adjust, adapt, accommodate, and harmonize the rules of former decisions previously announced with the decision at the lower court level. This often spawns criticism of appellate courts.
In the end, we are extremely concerned with the force of our decision on a particular litigant, but we must observe the general principles of law which apply to the affairs of all men and these two functions cannot be bifurcated to such extent that one is forsaken while the other is exalted.
Most recently, I related a story of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes and Judge Learned Hand in State v. Rufener, 392 N.W.2d 424, 431 (S.D.1986) (Henderson, J., dissenting). Cardinal in my thinking was the belief that an overall objective of “justice” could not subserve the rules of evidence and fairness. Any old ballplayer learns, early, that one must play fairly by a set of rules. Our court system must survive by playing by the rules to achieve fairness. Believing that an analysis of this case reflects error, violation of legal principles and fair play (none of which is intended by the trial court), I launch my dissent extremely concerned with the method and manner of adjudication of guilt upon these defendants.
Each and every defendant is guaranteed a fair trial. U.S. Const, amend. XIV, § 1; S.D. Const, art. VI, § 2. While that trial need not be perfect, it must be fair. See Brown v. United States, 411 U.S. 223, 231, 93 S.Ct. 1565, 1570, 36 L.Ed.2d 208, 215 (1973). In my opinion, the circuit court denied defendants Weddell and Honomichl a fair trial when it refused to grant their motions for severance. Therefore, I dissent from the severance portion of the majority opinion.
As if by rote, the majority opinion recites the settled rule that we will not reverse a denial of a motion for severance absent an abuse of trial court discretion and a clear showing of prejudice to the defendants. See State v. Maves, 358 N.W.2d 805, 809 (S.D.1984).1 Notwithstanding my personal fundamental grievances with the settled *551law,2 it is clear to me that defendants in this action were so clearly prejudiced by their participation in a joint trial that denial of severance was a clear abuse of trial court discretion, which, even under our current body of law, requires reversal.3
Shortly after the slaying of Randal Caldwell, Weddell and Honomichl were identified as focal suspects in the crime.4 We must highlight in our minds that Caldwell died from head injuries incurred during a melee in which appellants were active participants. Clearly, the best defense of each appellant was to implicate his codefendant and downplay his own role in the charged event. The circuit court was fully apprised, via motions made for severance, prior to trial, that each appellant intended to employ such a strategy. Despite this red flag of impending trouble, appellants’ motions for severance were denied.5
In this case, each appellant was confronted with his codefendant’s antagonistic defense. To effectuate a proper defense, each appellant was pushed to produce evidence that vindicated himself and incriminated the other. While each appellant cross-examined the other on those segments of the testimony that implicated him, each was compelled to defend against two accusers, the State, and his codefendant. It is precisely this scenario that has prompted “[a]n increasing number of courts [to] find joint trials of defendants with antagonistic defenses unfair.” Dawson, supra, at 1422. See, e.g., United States v. Crawford, 581 F.2d 489 (5th Cir.1978); United States v. Johnson, 478 F.2d 1129 (5th Cir.1973); State v. Sauls, 356 N.W.2d 516 (Iowa 1984); People v. Braune, 363 Ill. 551, 2 N.E.2d 839 (1936).
More pointedly, in State v. No Heart, 353 N.W.2d 43 (S.D.1984), this Court has written “the argument that defenses are ‘inconsistent’ is not a generally accepted basis for severance. Courts look instead to whether defense strategies of co-defendants are antagonistic or whether real prejudice results from irreconcilable defenses." Id. at 47 (emphasis added) (citing United States v. Boyd, 610 F.2d 521, 526 (8th Cir.1979)). The majority opinion expands our language in No Heart, 353 N.W.2d at 47, to adopt the more stringent rule set forth in Boyd, 610 F.2d at 526, that antagonistic defenses by themselves are insufficient, and in order for a denial of severance to reach abuse of discretion status, it must be shown “that the conflict is so prejudicial that the differences are irrec*552oncilable.” Even if we presume that the Boyd test is the correct one, and I certainly do not, in this case the defenses were absolutely irreconcilable.
Weddell testified that (1) he did not hit Caldwell in the head with a club; but (2) Honomichl did hit Caldwell in the head with a club. Honomichl testified that (1) he did not hit Caldwell in the head with a club; but (2) Weddell did hit Caldwell in the head with a club. I fail to conceive of a situation in which the variances in codefendants’ respective testimonies are more irreconcilable or antagonistic than they were in this case.
I fear the majority opinion has confused irreconcilable defenses (or differences) with the jury’s discretionary ability to reach a verdict inconsistent with both defendants’ testimony. I submit that Honomichl’s defense was “irreconcilable”6 with Weddell’s defense and “antagonistic” within the general meaning of the word7 as expressed in No Heart, 353 N.W.2d at 47. The two sets of testimonies were incapable of reconciliation. Consequently, the circuit court committed reversible error when it failed to grant motions for severance.
Additionally, motions for severance were made by both appellants at various points throughout the trial. The settled record indicates that the circuit court was more inclined to grant severance motions, during trial, as it was uncomfortable with the manner in which the trial had progressed, but finally refused to sever defendants due to the investment already made into the trial.8 Although I feel prejudice appeared at the onset of trial, it became more apparent, as the trial progressed, that separate trials should have been ordered.9 Trial judges should be encouraged to grant severance motions made during trial if severance is “necessary to achieve a fair determination of the guilt or innocence of one or more defendants.” American Bar Association Standards for Criminal Justice 13-3.-2(b)(ii) and commentary, at 13-37-38 (2d ed. 1980), and should be reminded of their “continuing duty at all stages of the trial to grant a severance if prejudice does appear.” Schaffer v. United States, 362 U.S. 511, 516, 80 S.Ct. 945, 948, 4 L.Ed.2d 921, 925 (1960).
I also wish to express that jury instructions are not the cure-all that the majority opinion makes them out to be. First of all, for the reasons expressed above, severance should have been granted before the case ever reached the jury, thus obviating the need for cautionary jury instructions. Regarding the instructions themselves, the jury was directed to consider the evidence individually against each defendant as though each one were being tried alone.10 By the very words of the instructions them*553selves, and the majority’s affirmation of them, each member of the jury was directed to simulate separate trials in their minds. If a separate trial is indeed the benchmark of justice, the logical solution is to make them readily available rather than pinning all hopes of a fair trial on a jury’s questionable ability to compartmentalize information, which was presented at a joint trial as one continuous scene, without allowing seepage from one compartment to the other.11
Finally, the true nature of this trial is best captured in the unfortunate truth that the order of cross-examination, presentation of defense, and closing arguments by defense counsel was determined by the flip of a coin. Justice should not be random. A fair trial is guaranteed at every turn. Severance should have been granted.

. "Prejudice by joinder occurs when there is a disparity in treatment between joint and single trials, if this disparity causes harm to the defendant.” Comment, Joint and Single Trials Under Rules 8 and 14 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, 74 Yale LJ. 553, 556 (1965). Another commentator gives an alternate definition of prejudice which is particularly applicable to this case. “ ‘[Prejudice’ more often means a condition or event that unfairly permits a jury to infer guilt quite rationally. For example, a jury may find both defendants guilty because each blamed the other for the offense.” Dawson, Joint Trials of Defendants in Criminal Cases: An Analysis of Efficiencies and Prejudices, 77 Mich.L.Rev. 1379, 1410 (1979) (emphasis in original) (footnote omitted).

. In my mind, due to the inherently prejudicial nature of joint trials and the dubious benefits of such proceedings, severance of defendants should be the general rule rather than the exception. Maves, 358 N.W.2d at 811-12 (Henderson, J., dissenting). See Dawson, supra, at 1379. Admittedly, the trend is opposite, as we, in the courts of this country, have consistently moved toward a greater reliance on joint trials for disposition of criminal cases in which more than one actor may be involved. Id. However, the Uniform Rules of Criminal Procedure provide for severance as a matter of right unless the trial court determines “that because of a significant risk that material evidence which cannot otherwise be preserved will be lost, the severance would defeat the ends of justice.” Unif.R.Crim.P. 472(a) (Approved Draft, 1974). See 2 W. LaFave & J. Israel, Criminal Procedure § 17.2(g) (1984); Dawson, supra, at 1452. Minnesota, as per Minn.R. Crim.P. 17.03, has adopted an intermediate position which places "the burden of justifying a joint trial upon the party wishing it, ordinarily the prosecutor." Dawson, supra, at 1453. See 2 W. LaFave & J. Israel, supra § 17.2(g), at 374. As Dawson, supra, at 1380, so adeptly points out: “While the substantive criminal law scrupulously honors the principle of individual responsibility, that principle is jeopardized in a joint trial of two or more defendants.”

. SDCL 23A-11-2 in pertinent part provides:
If it appears that a defendant or the state is prejudiced by a joinder of offenses or of defendants in an indictment or information or by such joinder for trial together, the court may order an election or separate trials of counts, grant a severance of defendants or provide whatever other relief justice requires.

. Recall, all parties opined that Enos Weston was not a true suspect in the killing. In fact, at the conclusion of State's case, Weston’s motion for judgment of acquittal was granted.

. The presence of mutually antagonistic defenses between codefendants has resulted in reversal of each defendant’s conviction. People v. Braune, 363 Ill. 551, 2 N.E.2d 839 (1936); Murray v. State, 528 P.2d 739 (Okla.Crim.App.1974). See People v. Markham, 19 Mich.App. 616, 173 N.W.2d 307 (1969) (where counsel’s failure to reveal antagonistic nature of defenses resulted in convictions not being reversed).

. "Irreconcilable” is defined as: "Not reconcilable; implacable, incompatible...." Webster’s New International Dictionary of the English Language 1312 (2d ed. 1937).

. "Antagonistic" is defined as: "Acting or tending toward antagonism; hostile; counteracting; inharmonious.” Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language 111 (2d ed. 1937).

. This dilemma is noted in Unif.R.Crim.P. 472, comment at 239 (Approved Draft, 1974). See Dawson, supra, at 1410-11.

. Evidence of the circuit court's growing uneasiness during trial regarding the severance issue is exhibited in two excerpts from Weddell’s May 5, 1986 renewed Motion for Severance.
(1) "But I’m now, of course, more concerned by what has transpired. But we are now deeply into this trial, I'm not about to call a halt, even if I was absolutely convinced I should, and let this matter take its course and let this jury act and bring a verdict. I’m sure, depending on the verdict of course, there will be other activity with regard to this particular issue. But it seems to me that, and our rules require it, that severance motions be brought before trial. Which it was. But my position is that at that point on April 24th [sic] I simply was not in the possession of persuasive evidentiary statements which were certain to appear at this trial upon which I feel that a severance motion ought to be granted. Now, that is my position. And so if I have not said it, I say it again, I will deny the motion." Trial Transcript, 799-800.
(2) "As I indicated, I don’t like the way this thing has developed, but I’m going to let this case take its natural course and then we will take — we will see what happens from there.” Trial Transcript, 805.

. The popular rationale is that joint trials are tolerated because they "are more economical and minimize the burden on witnesses, prosecutors, and courts." Bruton v. United States, 391 *553U.S. 123, 143, 88 S.Ct. 1620, 1631, 20 L.Ed.2d 476, 489 (1968) (White, J., dissenting). A fairly recent study convincingly argues that many supposed efficiencies of joint trials are nonexistent or at least questionable, and in any event, the basic underlying fairness accorded a defendant in a separate proceeding far outweighs any debatable or minimal benefits achieved through joint trials. Dawson, supra, at 1382-97. See 2 W. LaFave & J. Israel supra § 17.2(g).

. Questions have been raised regarding the effectiveness of cautionary instructions in such situations — not on grounds that juries deliberately ignore the court’s instructions — but because sometimes the reality of the situation casts doubt on a jury's ability to comply with instructions. On the broad topic of instructions and their effects upon juries, see generally Bruton, 391 U.S. 123, 88 S.Ct. 1620, 20 L.Ed.2d 476; Delli Paoli v. United States, 352 U.S. 232, 246-48, 77 S.Ct. 294, 302-03, 1 L.Ed.2d 278, 288-89 (1957) (Frankfurter, J., dissenting), rev’d by Bruton, supra; Barton v. United States, 263 F.2d 894, 898 (5th Cir.1959); State v. Maves, 358 N.W.2d 805, 812 (S.D.1984) (Henderson, J., dissenting): 2 W. LaFave & J. Israel, supra § 17.3, at 380; Dawson, supra, at 1405-09; Note, supra, 74 Yale L.J., at 554-55. See also Broeder, The University of Chicago Jury Project, 38 Neb.L.Rev. 744, 753-55 (1959); Comment, Post-Conspiracy Admissions in Joint Prosecutions — Effectiveness of Instructions Limiting the Use of Evidence to One Co-Defendant, 24 U.Chi.L.Rev. 710 (1957).