Summary
holding that Goodchild's claims of constitutional error that would invalidate his murder conviction could be reviewed by habeas corpus even though he could not be discharged from custody due to a concurrent burglary sentence
Summary of this case from State ex rel. Singh v. KemperOpinion
March 4, 1965 —
March 30, 1965.
ORIGINAL PROCEEDING in this court: Habeas Corpus. Denied.
For the petitioner there was a brief and oral argument by Patrick A. Dewane of Manitowoc.
For the respondent the cause was argued by William A. Platz and Betty R. Brown, assistant attorneys general, with whom on the briefs was Bronson C. La Follette, attorney general.
On September 8, 1953, petitioner was convicted by a jury of the second-degree murders of his father and Everett Becker, a friend of his father's, and was sentenced to a fourteen to twenty-five-year term for each crime. The sentences were to run consecutively.
The crimes for which Goodchild was convicted occurred in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, sometime between 2 and 3 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, 1953. He was taken into custody by the Two Rivers police between 3 and 4 a.m. as a material witness. In the afternoon of the same day, Goodchild signed a written statement (Exhibit No. 14) for the police. On the evening of March 15th he gave another statement which was tape recorded (Exhibit No. 16) and reduced to writing (Exhibit No. 15), and was formally arrested for the crimes. Goodchild was taken to the Wisconsin Crime Laboratory in Madison on Monday, March 16th, where he was interviewed. The interview was terminated when petitioner complained of not feeling well. He was returned to Manitowoc and on March 17th appeared in the municipal court on a charge of the second-degree murder of his father. At this time he refused counsel, waived a preliminary hearing, and was bound over to the circuit court.
On March 20th petitioner was brought before the circuit court. The court did not ask for or take a plea from the defendant. The court did instruct him as to his right to counsel. He declined the appointment of counsel. On request of the district attorney, petitioner was ordered to Bradley Memorial Hospital in Madison for a mental examination. He was taken to Madison on March 26th, but Bradley would not accept him for examination. He was then taken to the crime laboratory, where after about two hours had elapsed he gave a confession which was tape recorded (Exhibit No. 23) and transcribed (Exhibit No. 22). Goodchild repeated the confession later that day in Manitowoc in the district attorney's office and signed it when it was reduced to writing (Exhibit No. 17).
On March 30th he appeared in the municipal court on a second charge, to wit, the second-degree murder of his father's friend, Everett Becker. He again refused counsel, waived a preliminary hearing, and was bound over to the circuit court on this additional charge.
Later that day petitioner appeared before the circuit court for the second-degree murder of Everett Becker. At the hearing the court decided to order a mental and physical examination of the defendant at Waupun since Bradley Memorial Hospital had been unable to make the examination. At the specific request of Goodchild, the court appointed Attorney Patrick Dewane as defendant's counsel.
On April 7th, with the approval of defense counsel, Goodchild was formally committed by the circuit court to the Central State Hospital at Waupun for examination. While there he made another confession, this one to a staff psychiatrist (Exhibit No. 25).
On May 19th, Goodchild once again appeared in municipal court, this time with counsel, where he faced amended complaints charging him with the first-degree, rather than the second-degree, murders of his father and Becker. A preliminary hearing was held June 1st and the March 26th confession at Manitowoc was introduced into evidence over objection by Goodchild's attorney. Responding to an amended information in circuit court Goodchild was arraigned on August 4, 1953, and entered a plea of "not guilty" and "not guilty by reason of insanity" to each count of first-degree murder.
No objection was made at the trial to the admission of any of the statements or confessions. Goodchild's trial commenced on August 31st. On September 6, 1953, he was convicted of the included charge of second-degree murder on both counts.
After several unsuccessful attempts to upset his conviction, Goodchild petitioned this court for a writ of habeas corpus (filed August 5, 1964). In substance he asserts three grounds for relief: (1) He was unconstitutionally denied counsel " immediately upon arraignment, on March 17, 1953, and thereafter until March 30, 1953;" (2) confessions and statements, which had been taken between the "arraignment" on March 17, 1953, and the time when counsel was appointed, were unconstitutionally admitted in evidence because they were obtained while petitioner was without counsel; (3) such confessions received in evidence at the trial were admitted in violation of the requirements of the United States constitution as to determining their voluntariness as pronounced in Jackson v. Denno.
Conviction sustained in State v. Goodchild (1956), 272 Wis. 181, 74 N.W.2d 624, certiorari denied 351 U.S. 958, 76 Sup. Ct. 852, 100 L.Ed. 1480. Petitions for habeas corpus to the United States district court for the Eastern district of Wisconsin dismissed September 7, 1956, and November 26, 1956. The denial of the latter petition was affirmed, United States ex rel. Goodchild v. Burke (7th Cir. 1957), 245 F.2d 88, certiorari denied 355 U.S. 915, 78 Sup. Ct. 345, 2 L.Ed.2d 275.
(1964), 378 U.S. 368, 84 Sup. Ct. 1774, 12 L.Ed.2d 908.
These contentions were put at issue by respondent in his return and after counsel was appointed for petitioner briefs were submitted and oral argument was heard on all issues.
Other facts are set forth in the opinion.
Five principal issues are presented by this petition and return:
1. Is the petition for habeas corpus premature?
2. Was it constitutional error not to appoint counsel for petitioner on his "arraignment"?
3. Did admission of confessions and statements obtained between the first appearance in municipal court and the time counsel was appointed constitute constitutional error?
4. Was there constitutional error in the procedure on the trial where the trial judge did not make a determination as to the voluntariness of defendant's confessions before they were received in evidence?
5. If there was constitutional error in the manner of determining the voluntariness of the confessions, was such error waived when counsel, for strategic reasons, failed to object to their receipt in evidence?
Prematurity of Petition.
On April 4, 1961, petitioner was paroled. On July 10, 1961, Goodchild was convicted on his plea of guilty of an April burglary in the municipal court of Milwaukee, and sentenced (under the repeater statute) to not more than eighteen years, the term to run consecutively to the murder sentences. His parole on the murder sentences was revoked on June 2, 1961, effective May 9, 1961. Petitioner has filed a habeas corpus (dated March 26, 1964) contesting his burglary conviction, and that petition is outstanding.
The attorney general contends that Goodchild's instant petition is premature since, even if the murder convictions were vacated, he would still be subject to the eighteen-year burglary term and could not be discharged from custody.
Historically, habeas corpus was utilized to actually free the accused and it is true that, even if the writ Goodchild prays for here were issued, he would not be entitled to immediate liberty. Goodchild asserts claims of constitutional error that would invalidate the murder convictions. We have consistently held that such claims may be reviewed by habeas corpus.
Babbitt v. State (1964), 23 Wis.2d 446, 452, 127 N.W.2d 405, and cases cited therein. Wolke v. Fleming (1964), 24 Wis.2d 606, 613, 614, 129 N.W.2d 841.
There are at least three reasons why we should not consider this petition premature:
1. Although voiding of these convictions at any time prior to the length of the sentence imposed for the burglary could not absolutely result in Goodchild's release, if these two murder convictions were set aside, his parole and conditional-release opportunities would then be based on the single burglary sentence and not in conjunction with the murder sentences.
2. Another reason for taking action on this petition now is that the legislature has provided no post-conviction procedure to adjudicate alleged constitutional errors surrounding a conviction once the time for appeal has passed, unless it be by petition for the writ of habeas corpus addressed to this court.
Sec. 958.13, Stats.
Sec. 292.03, Stats.
3. Furthermore, where habeas corpus results in the delivery of a prisoner for an ordered new trial or other hearing years after his conviction either or both the prosecution and defense may be handicapped by the dimming memory of witnesses that may be still available and by the death or absence of other witnesses. Where constitutional rights may be involved it seems only logical to consider these grievances when presented rather than to postpone our consideration until years later when these difficulties may be aggravated.
We proceed then to a detailed consideration of the petition on its merits.
Denial of Counsel.
Goodchild did not have counsel at the March 17th and March 30th "arraignments" in the municipal court for the second-degree murders of his father and Becker respectively.
These were not "arraignments" although the magistrate so denoted them. The term "arraignment" is reserved for an appearance in a court having jurisdiction to take a plea to an information or indictment that has been filed and to which the court asks the defendant to plead. The municipal court here told the defendant that he had no power to take a plea and the appearances made by the defendant, either on March 17th or March 30th, were not at an "arraignment" but appearances before a magistrate before whom the two complaints were returnable.
Ch. 355, Stats. 1951.
At both of these initial appearances Goodchild was advised "of his right to the aid of counsel" and in open court he told the court he did not want counsel. After waiving the preliminary examination in each instance he was bound over to circuit court.
On March 20, 1953, the defendant was brought before the circuit court on the charge of the second-degree murder of his father. He did not plead to the information which had been read to him. In fact, the hearing was limited to a motion by the district attorney for a mental and physical examination of the defendant. At the hearing Goodchild did state he needed an attorney but after the court repeatedly advised him he could have such counsel, Goodchild stated he would wait until he came back from the examination before he took an attorney. The circuit court ordered a mental and physical examination of the defendant at the Bradley Memorial State Hospital at Madison.
On March 30, 1953, after waiving the preliminary on the charge of the second-degree murder of Becker, Goodchild was brought before the circuit court for arraignment on this charge. Again he entered no plea. The court also entered an amended order directing a mental and physical examination of the defendant at the Central State Hospital at Waupun since the Bradley Memorial State Hospital at Madison had been unable to complete the examination. He requested the appointment of Attorney Patrick Dewane, whom the court, then and there, appointed.
Mr. Dewane represented the defendant at all related and subsequent proceedings, either in the municipal court or the circuit court. Petitioner now contends that the failure of the court to provide him with an attorney at his "arraignment" violates his Sixth amendment (United States constitution) right to counsel.
From March 30, 1953, Goodchild was represented by counsel. Before Attorney Dewane was appointed as counsel to the defendant he had appeared at two preliminaries, where he refused counsel and waived the preliminary examination. At the two related arraignments in circuit court he entered no plea and on March 30th, when he asked for counsel the appointment was made immediately. Counsel represented him at the preliminary examination on the two amended counts of first-degree murder, the only preliminary held on charges on which the defendant was actually tried. Counsel represented him at the subsequent arraignment in circuit court when petitioner, for the first time, entered a plea, and in all phases of the circuit court proceedings, both before and after the trial. Thus, there is no merit whatsoever to his claim that he was denied counsel at the so-called "arraignments" or at any other stage in the court proceedings.
Confessions Obtained Between First Court Appearance and the Time Counsel was Appointed.
Goodchild, relying on Spano v. New York, Massiah v. United States, and Escobedo v. Illinois, contends that any confessions made after his first appearance in municipal court on March 17th and before March 30th (when counsel was appointed) were inadmissible. Involved are three statements or confessions, all given on March 26th. Exhibit No. 23 is a tape recording of a statement made at the state crime laboratory and Exhibit No. 22 is a transcription of the recorded statement. Exhibit No. 26 is a confession he signed after he was returned to Manitowoc. The cases Goodchild cites are distinguishable. In Spano the accused, despite repeated pleas to see his attorney and after approximately eight hours of continual questioning, was tricked into confessing by the repeated urging and misrepresentations of a friend who was a policeman. Massiah involved the planting of a hidden microphone in the car of a co-accused who had become a co-operator with the police. The co-operator then deliberately elicited incriminating statements from Massiah who was out of jail on bail. Not only was the accused in Escobedo, despite attempts to do so, not allowed to consult his counsel during a lengthy interrogation by the police, but his attorney, who was at the police station, was not allowed to see his client.
(1959), 360 U.S. 315, 79 Sup. Ct. 1202, 3 L.Ed.2d 1265.
(1964), 377 U.S. 201, 84 Sup. Ct. 1199, 12 L.Ed.2d 246.
(1964), 378 U.S. 478, 84 Sup. Ct. 1758, 12 L.Ed.2d 977.
The opinions in the cases Goodchild relies on make it clear that the total circumstances must be considered when dealing with a particular situation. Unlike the defendants in these cases, Goodchild was in no way tricked or misled. No surreptitious or extended interrogations took place. He was not threatened or pressured. Goodchild admitted that he was well treated. There is no claim of brutality. He was never denied access to or the assistance of counsel; in fact, he refused counsel when he first appeared in municipal court on March 17th and there is nothing in the record indicating that he ever requested counsel until his arraignment in circuit court on March 30th. He was repeatedly advised of his right to counsel. A consideration of all the facts demonstrates a lack of extenuating circumstances such as were present in Spano, Massiah, and Escobedo, which would render any statement taken before counsel had been appointed inadmissible.
This analysis is contrary to the holding and rationale adopted by the supreme court of California in the very recent case of People v. Dorado. Dorado interprets Escobedo and Massiah as precluding the admission of a confession even when the defendant does not request counsel. The court held (in a four-three decision) that the confession had constitutional defects because:
(1965), 42 Cal.Rptr. 169, 398 P.2d 361.
"(1) the investigation was no longer a general inquiry into an unsolved crime but had begun to focus on a particular suspect, (2) the suspect was in custody, (3) the authorities had carried out a process of interrogations that lent itself to eliciting incriminating statements, (4) the authorities had not effectively informed defendant of his right to counsel or of his absolute right to remain silent, and no evidence establishes that he had waived these rights."
Id. 398 P.2d at page 371.
However, Dorado is distinguishable. The California court recognized that Escobedo permits an accused to waive counsel, but emphasizes the point that a right which is not known cannot be waived. The crucial fact difference is that Dorado was not advised of any rights in regard to counsel while Goodchild was and expressly waived his right to be represented. Thus point (4) of the holding is not pertinent to the present case.
Id. 398 P.2d at page 370.
Not only has the decision in Dorado gone further than any pronouncement of the United States supreme court, but the Dorado rule is contrary to several very recent Wisconsin decisions. In Pulaski v. State and State v. Brown confessions were admitted even though obtained while the accused was unrepresented. It does not appear whether either Pulaski or Brown was advised of his right to counsel, but Pulaski maintained that his request for counsel had fallen on deaf ears. Although the opinions did not allude to Massiah or Escobedo, the holdings in Brown and Pulaski that the confessions were properly admitted are contrary to the ruling in Dorado.
(1964), 24 Wis.2d 450, 129 N.W.2d 204.
(1964), 25 Wis.2d 413, 130 N.W.2d 760.
In Browne v. State the defendant made certain admissions after his arrest. The court found that there was no error in introducing them in evidence. On rehearing, Browne urged that Escobedo (which had been decided by the United States supreme court since our original decision in Browne) was controlling. After recognizing, as do the dissenters in Dorado, that Escobedo turned on particular circumstances, this court pointed out that the only common fact in Browne and Escobedo was a failure to advise the accuseds of their right to remain silent. The court said:
(1964), 24 Wis.2d 491, 129 N.W.2d 175, 131 N.W.2d 169.
"He made no request to consult with an attorney nor did any attorney seek to confer with him. We deem that this fully distinguishes Escobedo and that it does not control the result here.
"With respect to the failure to advise defendant of his constitutional right to remain silent, Holt v. State (1962), 17 Wis.2d 468, 479, 117 N.W.2d 626, held that there is no hard-and-fast rule that an accused must be informed of his constitutional right not to incriminate himself as a condition precedent to admission into evidence of any admissions or confessions made to the police. The most that Escobedo holds in this respect is that the failure to so inform a criminal suspect under arrest, when coupled with other circumstances, may be sufficient to require exclusion of any admission made by him. We find here a total lack of any other circumstances which require exclusion of the instant admissions."
Id. at page 511g.
Thus, the express holding of Browne is contrary to that of Dorado. We believe that this court's interpretation of Escobedo in Browne is correct. We reject the interpretation made by the California court in Dorado.
The United States supreme court denied certiorari in the Browne Case, February 1, 1965, 379 U.S. 1004, 85 Sup. Ct. 1094, 13 L.Ed.2d 706. Rehearing denied March 29, 1965.
Confession Procedure.
Goodchild maintains that his statements and confessions were involuntarily given due to harassment on the part of law-enforcement officers while he was tired, undernourished, and physically and psychologically ill. At the trial the court admitted in evidence all seven confessions and statements. The court followed the established Wisconsin procedure for determining the voluntariness of the confessions. Under this procedure the trial court first passes on the admissibility of the confessions. If clearly involuntary, the confession is not allowed into evidence. If there is a doubt as to its voluntariness, this issue is submitted to the jury with appropriate instructions. A similar procedure that had been followed in New York was recently struck down by the United States supreme court in Jackson v. Denno, as being violative of due process.
State v. Bronston (1959), 7 Wis.2d 627, 97 N.W.2d 504, 98 N.W.2d 468; Pollack v. State (1934), 215 Wis. 200, 253 N.W. 560, 254 N.W. 471.
Approved in Stein v. New York (1953), 346 U.S. 156, 73 Sup. Ct. 1077, 97 L.Ed. 1522.
Supra, footnote 2.
Jackson had confessed to a murder and, after disputed evidence had been received as to the voluntariness of that confession, under the established New York procedure, the defendant was convicted. After losing his appeals, Jackson sought habeas corpus in the federal district court, asserting that his conviction was founded on a confession not properly determined to be voluntary. The writ was there denied and the court of appeals affirmed. The supreme court reversed, holding:
People v. Jackson (1961), 10 N.Y.2d 780, 177 N.E.2d 59; amended opinion (1961), 10 N.Y.2d 816, 178 N.E.2d 234. Certiorari denied (1961), 368 U.S. 949, 82 Sup. Ct. 390, 7 L.Ed.2d 344.
Application of Jackson (D.C. N. Y. 1962), 206 F. Supp. 759.
Jackson v. Denno (2d Cir. 1962), 309 F.2d 573.
"In our view, the New York procedure employed in this case did not afford a reliable determination of the voluntariness of the confession offered in evidence at the trial, did not adequately protect Jackson's right to be free of a conviction based upon a coerced confession and therefore cannot withstand constitutional attack under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment."
Supra, footnote 2, at page 377.
Goodchild contends his convictions for murder were founded on confessions that were not properly determined to be voluntary and under a procedure that is voided by Jackson v. Denno.
Our consideration must first be directed to whether this issue should be determined by our court bearing in mind that Goodchild is imprisoned under criminal judgments that have been finalized and to date there has been no precise ruling by the United States supreme court that Jackson v. Denno is retroactive. In the instant case Goodchild is deprived of any benefit of the effects of Jackson v. Denno invalidating the Wisconsin procedure for determining voluntariness because, as will be detailed below, for strategic reasons no objection was made and, therefore, under the holding in the more recent case of Henry v. Mississippi Goodchild waived any constitutional defect that there may have been in that procedure. We reserve any ruling on whether Jackson v. Denno is retroactive. Nevertheless, we owe a duty to the trial courts, prosecuting attorneys, the defense bar, and to the citizenry of Wisconsin, to speak clearly on the effect of Jackson v. Denno in Wisconsin.
(1965), 379 U.S. 443, 85 Sup. Ct. 564, 13 L.Ed.2d 408.
The rationale adopted by the United States supreme court in Jackson v. Denno in voiding the New York procedure is spelled out in that opinion. The court states:
"Under the New York procedure, the evidence given the jury inevitably injects irrelevant and impermissible considerations of truthfulness of the confession into the assessment of voluntariness. Indeed the jury is told to determine the truthfulness of the confession in assessing its probative value. As a consequence, it cannot be assumed, as the Stein Court assumed, that the jury reliably found the facts against the accused. This unsound assumption undermines Stein's authority as a precedent and its view on the constitutionality of the New York procedure. The admixture of reliability and voluntariness in the considerations of the jury would itself entitle a defendant to further proceedings in any case in which the essential facts are disputed, for we cannot determine how the jury resolved these issues and will not assume that they were reliably and properly resolved against the accused. And it is only a reliable determination on the voluntariness issue which satisfies the constitutional rights of the defendant and which would permit the jury to consider the confession in adjudicating guilt or innocence.
"But we do not rest on this ground alone, for the other alternative hypothesized in Stein — that the jury found the confession involuntary and disregarded it — is equally unacceptable. Under the New York procedure, the fact of a defendant's confession is solidly implanted in the jury's mind, for it has not only heard the confession, but it has been instructed to consider and judge its voluntariness and is in position to assess whether it is true or false. If it finds the confession involuntary, does the jury — indeed, can it — then disregard the confession in accordance with its instructions? If there are lingering doubts about the sufficiency of the other evidence, does the jury unconsciously lay them to rest by resort to the confession? Will uncertainty about the sufficiency of the other evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt actually result in acquittal when the jury knows the defendant has given a truthful confession?
"It is difficult, if not impossible, to prove that a confession which a jury has found to be involuntary has nevertheless influenced the verdict or that its finding of voluntariness, if this is the course it took, was affected by the other evidence showing the confession was true. But the New York procedure poses substantial threats to a defendant's constitutional rights to have an involuntary confession entirely disregarded and to have the coercion issue fairly and reliably determined. These hazards we cannot ignore.
"As reflected in the cases in this Court, police conduct requiring exclusion of a confession has evolved from acts of clear physical brutality to more refined and subtle methods of overcoming a defendant's will.
"`[T]his Court has recognized that coercion can be mental as well as physical, and that the blood of the accused is not the only hallmark of an unconstitutional inquisition. A number of cases have demonstrated, if demonstration were needed, that the efficiency of the rack and the thumbscrew can be matched, given the proper subject, by more sophisticated modes of "persuasion."' Blackburn v. Alabama, 361 U.S. 199, 206.
"Expanded concepts of fairness in obtaining confessions have been accompanied by a correspondingly greater complexity in determining whether an accused's will has been overborne — facts are frequently disputed, questions of credibility are often crucial, and inferences to be drawn from established facts are often determinative. The overall determination of the voluntariness of a confession has thus become an exceedingly sensitive task, one that requires facing the issue squarely, in illuminating isolation and unbeclouded by other issues and the effect of extraneous but prejudicial evidence. See Wilson v. United States, 162 U.S. 613; United States v. Carignan, 342 U.S. 36; Smith v. United States, 348 U.S. 147. Where pure factual considerations are an important ingredient, which is true in the usual case, appellate review in this Court is, as a practical matter, an inadequate substitute for a full and reliable determination of the voluntariness issue in the trial court and the trial court's determination, pro tanto, takes on an increasing finality. The procedures used in the trial court to arrive at its conclusions on the coercion issue progressively take on added significance as the actual measure of the protection afforded a defendant under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment against the use of involuntary confessions. These procedures must, therefore, be fully adequate to insure a reliable and clear-cut determination of the voluntariness of the confession, including the resolution of disputed facts upon which the voluntariness issue may depend. In our view, the New York procedure falls short of satisfying these constitutional requirements. Stein v. New York is overruled."
Jackson v. Denno, supra, footnote 2, at page 386.
If Stein is overruled by Jackson, so too must be the Wisconsin version of the New York rule as set forth in Pollack and Bronston. That is our ruling.
Since the Wisconsin procedure heretofore observed is unconstitutional, we must adopt in its place either the "Massachusetts" or the "orthodox" rule for determining the voluntariness of confessions, both of which rules were approved in Jackson. The differences between the rules are considered in detail in both the majority and minority opinions in Jackson together with their voluminous footnotes, references, and appendices.
Supra, footnote 2, at pages 378, 379.
In essence the orthodox rule provides for a separate hearing before the trial judge alone on the issue of voluntariness with a determination by him that is final. If the trial judge finds on a proper record that the confession is involuntary, that is the end of the matter and the jury never considers the confession. If the judge determines that the confession was voluntarily made, the confession is admitted and the jury consideration is limited to its weight and credibility. In essence this rule is but an extension of the present procedure for establishing the admissibility of evidence challenged by a motion to suppress.
The Massachusetts rule differs in that if the trial judge decides that the confession was voluntary the jury considers the admitted confession and by its own deliberations, under instructions, may nevertheless find it to have been involuntarily given, and thus disregard it completely.
Since Jackson, both New York and Oregon have adopted the Massachusetts procedure. One reason given by the New York court is that the New York state constitution commands a jury trial on the issue of voluntariness. Since the jury-trial provision in the New York constitution is stated in general terms, and does not in express terms require a jury trial on the issue of voluntariness, the New York holding must be the court's own interpretation of the New York constitution. This is because the United States constitution contains a similar general-trial-by-jury requirement, and in Jackson the court ruled that a procedure whereby the jury does not pass on the voluntariness issue — i.e., the orthodox rule — is proper. Wisconsin also has a general jury provision. We reject the New York rationale. We prefer the Jackson rationale and result. Moreover, the determination of whether a confession is voluntary in substance is a ruling on the admissibility of evidence and there is no requirement to have a jury trial on such rulings. There is no constitutional provision requiring the adoption of the Massachusetts procedure in Wisconsin.
People v. Huntley (1965), 15 N.Y.2d 72, 204 N.E.2d 179, 255 N.Y. Supp. 2d 838.
State v. Brewton (Or. 1964), 395 P.2d 874.
Sec. 2, art. I, New York constitution. "Trial by jury in all cases in which it has heretofore been guaranteed by constitutional provision shall remain inviolate forever; . . ."
Sixth amendment, United States constitution: ". . . the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury . . ."
Sec. 5, art. I, Wisconsin constitution: "The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate, . . ."
In adopting the orthodox rule in Michigan, their supreme court has criticized the Massachusetts approach:
"We think the latter rule contains a contradiction in terms. If we arrogate to the trial judge the right to adjudicate voluntariness, even though that question involves issues of fact, we find no basis in logic in submitting the same question over again to the jury to second-guess him. We believe their determination should be limited to truthfulness, i.e., weight and credibility."
People v. Walker (1965), 374 Mich. 331, 132 N.W.2d 87, 91.
Scholars favor the orthodox rule to assure the defendant a clean-cut adjudication of voluntariness and in order to prevent the jury from merging that issue into the issue of guilt. It appears that a consensus of the board of criminal court judges advocates the orthodox view.
Meltzer, Involuntary Confessions: The Allocation of Responsibility between Judge and Jury, 21 University of Chicago Law Review (1954), 317; McCormick, Evidence (hornbook series), p. 233, sec. 112; 3 Wigmore, Evidence (3d ed.), p. 345, sec. 861.
We adopt for the state of Wisconsin the orthodox procedure described in the Jackson v. Denno opinion "under which the judge himself solely and finally determines the voluntariness of the confession, . . ."
Supra, footnote 2, at page 378.
In the interest of better administration of criminal justice we suggest that wherever practicable the prosecutor should within a reasonable time before trial notify the defense as to whether any alleged confession or admission will be offered in evidence at the trial. We also suggest, in cases where such notice is given by the prosecution, that the defense, if it intends to attack the confession or admission as involuntary, notify the prosecutor of a desire by the defense for a special determination on such issue.
Sec. 955.09(3), Stats., lists certain defenses and objections that "must be raised before trial" or "be deemed waived." Confessions are excepted by the express terms of the statute, which provide: "Defenses and objections based on defects in the institution of the proceedings, insufficiency of the information or indictment, invalidity in whole or in part of the statute on which the prosecution is founded, or the use of illegal means to secure evidence (except confessions) must be raised before trial by motion or be deemed waived. But the court may, in its discretion, entertain such motion at a later stage of the trial, in which case the defendant waives any jeopardy that may have attached. A motion to suppress evidence shall be so entertained, with waiver of jeopardy, when it appears that defendant is surprised by the state's possession of such evidence."
At the hearing on the issue, the trial judge sitting alone shall make a determination upon a proper record upon the issue of voluntariness. The state shall have the burden of proving voluntariness beyond a reasonable doubt. At this hearing the defendant may take the stand and testify for the limited purpose of making a record of his version of the facts and circumstances under which the confession was obtained. By so doing, the defendant does not waive his right to decline to take the stand in his own defense on the trial in chief. Neither does he waive any of the other rights stemming from his choice not to testify.
People v. Walker, supra, footnote 33, 132 N.W.2d 87, 91.
Following the hearing the trial judge shall make his determination as to the voluntariness of the confession which determination is upon a question of constitutional fact and shall be supported by findings of fact and conclusions of law. If the confession is held voluntary and admitted, the jury's consideration of that confession and surrounding circumstances shall proceed in accordance with the "orthodox" procedure.
State v. Hoyt (1964), 21 Wis.2d 284, 124 N.W.2d 47, 128 N.W.2d 645; note concurring opinion.
Defendant's Waiver of Constitutional Error in Procedure as to Voluntariness.
Goodchild's attorney did not object to the introduction into evidence of any of the statements or confessions. Neither did he object to the procedure employed for determining voluntariness of the confession. Relying on Henry v. Mississippi, the attorney general contends that Goodchild is bound by this waiver on the part of his attorney. As noted, Henry was decided after Jackson. It involved evidence purportedly obtained as a result of an illegal search and seizure, but the rule announced would be applicable in a confession case. In Henry evidence was admitted at the trial without objection, but on appeal to the state court the defendant alleged that the evidence had been obtained as the result of an illegal search. The court decided that the failure to object was fatal to defendant's appeal. The United States supreme court held that the defendant was bound only if his counsel "knowingly waived" objection to the evidence for purposes of trial strategy. After discussing possible reasons for the failure to object, the court said:
On appeal no objections were made on either point and the only contention made was that the confessions were not properly submitted to the jury under the then established Wisconsin procedure established in Pollack, supra, footnote 18. The lower court was affirmed on this count as on all others. See Goodchild Case, supra, footnote 1.
Supra, footnote 25.
The defendant moved for a directed verdict at the close of the state's case on the ground, among others, that the evidence was erroneously received. The court intimated that this motion may have fulfilled the purpose underlying the rule that timely objection to the introduction of evidence must be made, but declined to answer the question directly. A reading of the opinion, however, indicates that the case was decided on the "trial strategy" ground.
"If either reason motivated the action of petitioner's counsel, and their plans backfired, counsel's deliberate choice of the strategy would amount to a waiver binding on petitioner and would preclude him from a decision on the merits of his federal claim either in the state courts or here."
Henry v. Mississippi, supra, footnote 25, at page 451.
The case was remanded for a factual determination of whether the failure to object was due to ignorance or "`for strategic, tactical, or any other reasons that can fairly be described as the deliberate by-passing of state procedures.'"
Id. at page 450.
The question of whether it is necessary to object to preserve errors based on constitutional rights is somewhat confused by what actually happened in Jackson. There, as in the present case, no objection was made when the confession was introduced. The majority opinion did not even consider the waiver problem. So, but for Henry, the fact that there was no objection would seemingly be of no relevance in the determination of this case. The announced holding of Henry is inconsistent with what was actually done in Jackson, particularly if Jackson's attorney did not raise objections as a matter of trial technique. This inconsistency was not discussed in the Henry opinion. However, inasmuch as the Henry decision was addressed to the specific issue of waiver while Jackson primarily dealt with the practice of submitting a confession to the jury on the voluntariness issue, it is only reasonable to assume that Henry is controlling.
Although Mr. Justice CLARK did in his dissent.
In the instant case there is no need for a Henry type hearing to determine whether the defendant waived any objection he may have had relative to constitutional error associated with the manner in which the issue of voluntariness of his confessions was resolved.
Goodchild's counsel was a former Manitowoc county district attorney. When the district attorney offered Exhibits No. 14 and No. 15 into evidence, Attorney Dewane declared "I have no objection to them; I want the jury to have the whole thing." Similarly, when Exhibit No. 16 was offered, Dewane again repeated that he had no objection, and further said "I want the jury to have the whole story." He expressly stated that he had no objection to the introduction of any of the other statements or confessions. Dewane himself insisted that the whole of the confession Goodchild had given the psychiatrist (Exhibit No. 25) be received when the district attorney only offered portions of it. At oral argument before this court, Dewane explained that he felt that objecting to the confessions and statements would have alienated the jury against his client. An examination of the record and counsel's explanation on oral argument indicate beyond any doubt that Attorney Dewane deliberately declined to object for tactical reasons.
The court suggested in Henry that under exceptional circumstances the accused is not precluded from asserting constitutional claims despite counsel's strategy. There was no elaboration in the opinion of just what might constitute such circumstances. Attorney Dewane defended Goodchild in an able and vigorous fashion. That a conviction nonetheless resulted is not enough of itself to declare that the trial technique employed by counsel was so unwise or questionable as to relieve Goodchild of the consequences of his counsel's waiver. Indeed, Goodchild was not convicted of first-degree murder as charged but of the included lesser offense of second-degree murder.
Henry v. Mississippi, supra, footnote 25, at page 451.
We conclude that because of Henry, Goodchild waived any constitutional error that was involved in the manner in which the issue of voluntariness was resolved.
There is no merit in any other grounds for the issuance of the writ as contained in the subject petition.
By the Court. — Issuance of writ of habeas corpus denied.