Court Opinion

ID: 9782099
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-30 17:58:55.50446+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:34:47.735751
License: Public Domain

McHUGH, Judge
(concurring):
153 The majority assumes, without deciding, that the trial court erred in denying Johnson's motion for a new trial because evidence of domestic abuse was admitted in violation of Utah Rule of Evidence 404(b) and that Johnson's counsel was ineffective for failing to invoke the marital privilege and for failing to object to the prosecutor's multiple references to Johnson as a liar during closing argument. Because my colleagues are convinced that these assumed errors are harmless in light of the strong evidence against Johnson, they nevertheless affirm the decision of the trial court.
1 54 Although I too would affirm the trial court, I cannot do so on a presumption that the cumulative effect of these assumed errors was harmless. See State v. Kohl, 2000 UT 35, ¶ 25, 999 P.2d 7 (quoting State v. Dunn, 850 P.2d 1201, 1229 (Utah 1993)) ("Under the cumulative error doctrine, we will reverse only if 'the cumulative effect of the several errors undermines our confidence ... that a fair trial was had."" (alteration in original)). If I believed that the rule 404(b) testimony regarding Johnson's attempt to strangle his pregnant wife, the further testimony from Wife regarding damaging statements made by Johnson during the marriage, and the references to Johnson as a liar during the State's closing argument were all improperly admitted due to error or ineffective assistance of counsel, I could not conclude that the admission of this evidence was harmless. Therefore, I must consider whether evidence was improperly admitted or counsel was ineffective.
1 55 Johnson claims that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the State's references to Johnson as a lar during closing argument. "We have recognized a 'strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance."" State v. Cruz, 2005 UT 45, ¶ 38, 122 P.3d 548 (quoting Myers v. State, 2004 UT 31, ¶ 20, 94 P.3d 211). Under the facts of this case, where defense counsel also referred to one of the State's witnesses as a liar during closing argument, I would hold that Johnson has not overcome this presumption.
T56 Johnson also argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to assert the marital privilege to prevent Wife from testifying about statements made by Johnson. The State argues that the marital privilege is inapplicable both because the statements were made during the commission of a tort and because the purpose of the privilege would not be served by its application here. As the majority opinion explains, this is an issue of first impression in Utah, other jurisdictions are not in agreement on the question, and it is not at all certain whether an objection would have been successful. Thus, trial counsel's decision not to object may have been for strategic reasons. See State v. Gonzales, 2005 UT 72, ¶ 72, 125 P.3d 878 ("Because [trial counsel] may have felt that the objection was futile and chose not to object for strategic reasons (such as not *707drawing attention to this unfortunate information), we will not question her strategy."). Consequently, I would hold that Johnson has not established that trial counsel was ineffective either for failing to object during closing argument or for failing to assert the marital privilege.
T57 Under this analysis, the only remaining issue is whether the admission of the testimony about Johnson's attempt to strangle his pregnant wife while striking her in the stomach and threatening to harm the unborn child was more prejudicial than probative. See Utah R. Evid. 404(b). Presuming that Johnson is correct and the evidence should not have been admitted, when considered alone rather than cumulatively with the allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel, I agree that any error was harmless. See Gonzales, 2005 UT 72 at ¶ 74 ("If the claims are found on appeal to not constitute error ... the [cumulative error] doctrine will not be applied."). In doing so, I look to the totality of the evidence which is set forth in detail by the majority. See State v. Hales, 2007 UT 14, ¶ 86, 152 P.3d 321 (noting that when considering the effect of the error, the court considers the totality of the evidence).