Brian Hernandez v. Commonwealth of Virginia

• Court: Court of Appeals of Virginia
• Decided: August 13, 2024
• Docket: 1100232
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA UNPUBLISHED

Present: Judges Beales, AtLee and Malveaux Argued at Richmond, Virginia

BRIAN HERNANDEZ MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY v. Record No. 1100-23-2 JUDGE RICHARD Y. ATLEE, JR. AUGUST 13, 2024 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF KING GEORGE COUNTY Herbert M. Hewitt, Judge

Samantha Offutt Thames, Senior Appellate Counsel (Virginia Indigent Defense Commission, on briefs), for appellant.

Matthew J. Beyrau, Assistant Attorney General (Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General, on brief), for appellee.

Appellant Brian Hernandez argues that the Circuit Court of King George County erred by

finding him in contempt. Specifically, he argues that the circuit court judge erred by: (1) testifying

in the contempt proceeding in violation of Code § 19.2-271 and (2) finding the evidence sufficient

to support a finding of contempt. We agree with the first argument, and therefore, we reverse.

I. BACKGROUND

Hernandez was called before the circuit court, with Judge Hewitt presiding, for a

texting-while-driving charge (of which he was later acquitted). Hernandez was upset because in

a prior proceeding before Judge Hewitt, the circuit court had ordered Hernandez’s dog to be

euthanized for being dangerous. When Hernandez appeared in court for a scheduling hearing on

the texting-while-driving charge, he called Judge Hewitt, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, and

* This opinion is not designated for publication. See Code § 17.1-413(A). another courtroom officer “cowards” in open court. The circuit court did not hold Hernandez in

contempt at this time, and it scheduled trial for the texting-while-driving charge for a later date.

When presented with a notice of hearing form from the clerk of court, Hernandez wrote “fuck

you” on the signature line. The circuit court was made aware of the language written on the

form a “day or two” after the hearing, after which it initiated contempt proceedings. It issued a

rule to show cause indicating the basis for contempt was “INSULT LANG TO JUDGE,” with

the scheduling form with the “fuck you” language attached as a supplemental document.

The circuit court held a hearing on the contempt charge. At the beginning of the hearing,

counsel for Hernandez attempted to discern which of the two acts, the “coward” language or the

signing of “fuck you” on the notice of hearing form, were the basis for the contempt charge. He

noted that the show cause cited the summary contempt code section, but the procedural steps

taken suggested an indirect contempt situation. The circuit court responded that “the contempt

that [Hernandez is] being charged with occurred in the [c]ourt’s presence. However, the second

part of the contempt where he wrote an epithet on his signature line on the notice of appearance

was not discovered until later.” It concluded that “there are two prongs” to the contempt charge,

and because the second act occurred outside of the court’s presence, it chose to hold a hearing. It

noted, however, that by “giving him a plenary hearing[,] I’m giving him something that I didn’t

have to give him” and “affording him all the—more protections than the law says that he has.”

The Commonwealth moved the notice-of-hearing form into evidence. Hernandez

objected, arguing that it was not relevant because it was not directed to the court nor published to

the court. The circuit court overruled the objection. It then described the events that occurred

when Hernandez called the court, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, and the officer “cowards.”

Hernandez objected, arguing that the judge was incompetent to testify under Code § 19.2-271,

which prohibits judges from testifying “in any criminal or civil proceeding as to any matter which

-2- came before him in the course of his official duties.” Judge Hewitt overruled these objections,

stating: “Well, I was here[,] and I heard what Mr. Hernandez said, and I saw this document that

was tendered by him. And so that’s the case against him.” The Commonwealth did not present

any witness testimony or additional evidence, and Hernandez also did not testify or present any

evidence in his defense.

After hearing argument on whether Hernandez’s actions constituted contempt of court,

the circuit court ultimately found Hernandez guilty, expressly limiting this ruling on his having

called Judge Hewitt a “coward.” It noted “that historically calling someone a coward w[as]

known as fighting words[,] and a duel would usually occur upon that being said to someone

else. . . . And that is more of an affront to the Court than him signing his signature line with

‘fuck you.’” The judge also agreed with Hernandez’s counsel, finding that the “fuck you”

written on the signature line of the notice of hearing form was “not addressed to” him. After

finding that the “coward” language was “an affront to the respect that is due to the

Commonwealth of Virginia, to the people of Virginia, the sovereign state of the Commonwealth

of Virginia,” the judge ordered Hernandez to pay a $200 fine. Hernandez appeals.

II. ANALYSIS

“Ordinarily, we review questions regarding admissibility of evidence for an abuse of

discretion.” Brown v. Commonwealth, 54 Va. App. 107, 112 (2009). “[O]nly when reasonable

jurists could not differ can we say an abuse of discretion has occurred.” Id. (quoting Tynes v.

Commonwealth, 49 Va. App. 17, 21 (2006)). “However, ‘when the trial court makes an error of

law’ in the admission of evidence, ‘an abuse of discretion occurs.’” Id. (quoting Bass v.

Commonwealth, 31 Va. App. 373, 382 (2000)). “Furthermore, such evidentiary issues presenting

a ‘question of law’ are ‘reviewed de novo by this Court.’” Id. at 112-13 (quoting Abney v.

Commonwealth, 51 Va. App. 337, 345 (2008)).

-3- A. The circuit court judge’s testimony in the plenary hearing violated Code § 19.2-271.

We consider first whether the circuit court judge erred in testifying at the contempt

proceeding. Under Code § 19.2-271, “[n]o judge shall be competent to testify in any criminal or

civil proceeding as to any matter which came before him in the course of his official duties.” “Code

§ 19.2-271 provides an exception,” however, that “‘[n]otwithstanding any other provision of this

section, any judge . . . who is the victim of a crime, shall not be incompetent solely because of his

office to testify in any criminal or civil proceeding arising out of the crime.’” Commonwealth v.

Epps, 273 Va. 410, 414 (2007) (second alteration in original) (quoting Code § 19.2-271).

It is undisputed that Judge Hewitt testified at the contempt hearing. The circuit court could

have handled the contempt issue over Hernandez calling the judge a coward in a direct contempt

proceeding when the offense occurred.1 Gilman v. Commonwealth, 275 Va. 222, 227-28 (2008)

(“[N]o evidence or further proof is required [in a direct contempt proceeding] because the court has

observed the offense.”). But it instead elected to initiate a separate contempt proceeding after

Hernandez’s foul language on the scheduling form was brought to its attention “a day or two” after.

The judge then chose, over Hernandez’s objections, to testify in that hearing, despite being

incompetent to do so under Code § 19.2-271.

1 Acts of contempt can be either direct or indirect. Parham v. Commonwealth, 60 Va. App. 450, 456-57 (2012). Under existing Virginia law, “the substantial difference between a direct and [indirect] contempt is one of procedure.” Id. at 457 (alteration in original) (quoting Burdett v. Commonwealth, 103 Va. 838, 845 (1904)). “Direct contempt usually arises ‘in the face of the court’ as by rude and contumelious behavior; by obstinacy, perverseness, or prevarication; by breach of the peace, or any willful disturbance whatever.” Id. (quoting 4 William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England *285 (1769)). “In such circumstances, ‘immediate punishment is essential to prevent “demoralization of the court’s authority” before the public,’” and no separate hearing is required, as the offense occurred before the court. Id. (quoting In re Oliver, 333 U.S. 257, 275 (1948)). By contrast, in indirect contempt cases, “‘matters that arise at a distance, and of which the court cannot have so perfect a knowledge,’ courts must provide the full panoply of constitutional rights: notice of the charge, right to counsel, presumption of innocence, as well as the opportunity to present evidence and to cross-examine adverse witnesses.” Id. at 458 (quoting Blackstone, supra, at *286). -4- Further, the circuit court judge does not fall within the exception provided by Code

§ 19.2-271 as being “the victim of [the] crime,” because he was not “[a] person harmed by a crime,

tort, or other wrong.” Epps, 273 Va. at 414 (alteration in original) (quoting Victim, Black’s Law

Dictionary (8th ed. 2004)). He suffered no harm, physically or otherwise, nor any other deleterious

consequences. “It is well-established that the court as an institution bears the harm of contemptuous

behavior.” Id. “Judge [Hewitt], individually, did not suffer any harm as a result of [Hernandez’s]

actions. Any harm in this case was suffered by the court as an institution, not by Judge [Hewitt]

personally.” Id. He himself found that Hernandez’s “coward” language was “an affront to the

respect that is due to the Commonwealth of Virginia, to the people of Virginia, the sovereign

state of the Commonwealth of Virginia,” with no mention of any harm personal to him.

Accordingly, the judge’s testimony was given in violation of Code § 19.2-271. And because the

circuit court based its finding of contempt entirely upon this improper testimony from Judge Hewitt,

without any additional evidence to support it, the circuit court erred in finding the evidence was

sufficient for the contempt conviction.

B. The circuit court’s factual findings preclude application of the “right result for the wrong reason” doctrine.

“Under the right result for the wrong reason doctrine, ‘it is the settled rule that how[ever]

erroneous . . . may be the reasons of the court for its judgment upon the face of the judgment itself,

if the judgment be right, it will not be disturbed on account of the reasons.’” Peters v.

Commonwealth, 72 Va. App. 378, 388 (2020) (alterations in original) (quoting Perry v.

Commonwealth, 280 Va. 572, 579 (2010)). “However, the right result for the wrong reason

doctrine, which ‘might more accurately be labelled “the right result for a different reason,”’ has a

limitation. ‘It does not apply unless the record on appeal fully supports the appellee’s argument on

appeal.’” Id. at 388-89 (quoting Spinner v. Commonwealth, 297 Va. 384, 391 (2019)). “Thus, it

-5- does not apply where the development of additional facts is necessary.” Id. at 389 (quoting Spinner,

297 Va. at 391).

Here, as the rule to show cause indicated, the circuit court had the opportunity to base the

contempt ruling upon Hernandez writing “fuck you” on the notice of hearing form, which was

tendered to the court during the contempt hearing as an exhibit. Contempt of court includes “[v]ile,

contemptuous, or insulting language addressed to or published of a judge for or in respect of any act

or proceeding had, or to be had, in such court, or like language used in his presence and intended for

his hearing for or in respect of such act or proceeding[.]” Code § 18.2-456(A)(3); see also Carter v.

Commonwealth, 2 Va. App. 392, 396 (1986) (“Contempt is defined as an act in disrespect of the

court or its processes, or which obstructs the administration of justice, or tends to bring the court

into disrepute.” (quoting 4A Michie’s Jurisprudence, Contempt § 2 (repl. vol. 1983))).

The circuit court judge here, agreeing with defense counsel, held that the notice of hearing

form was “not addressed to me. I didn’t hand him the piece of paper,” going on to explain that the

form instead was exchanged between the clerk of court and Hernandez. That express factual

finding that the form was not addressed to him2 precludes a finding of contempt on those alternate

2 The Commonwealth argues that the document and Hernandez’s written statement could still fall within the ambit of being “published of a judge.” Code § 18.2-456(A)(3). Yet the limited case law discussing this language concerns individuals who made public statements, which were also disseminated by newspapers, about a judge. See Boorde v. Commonwealth, 134 Va. 625, 629-31 (1922) (making a disparaging statement about a judge at a local meeting and in a newspaper); Weston v. Commonwealth, 195 Va. 175, 178-80 (1953) (delivering a sermon containing statements about a judge, with excerpts later being published in The Washington Post). But see Scialdone v. Commonwealth, 279 Va. 422, 446 (2010) (referring to offending language in a document offered into evidence by counsel, for which the court held in him contempt, as being “published to the court” (emphasis added)). In fact, as noted in Boorde, the General Assembly explicitly added the “published of” language to the statute in response to the holding in Yoder v. Commonwealth, 107 Va. 823, 831-32 (1907), where the Supreme Court reversed a contempt ruling for the defendant authoring and disseminating a publication containing negative statements about a judge. In light of this legislative history and case law, we decline to expand the definition of “published of a judge” to include the circumstances here. -6- grounds.3 This finding was not plainly wrong. See Bchara v. Bchara, 38 Va. App. 302, 313 (2002)

(noting that a trial court’s factual finding will be upheld “unless plainly wrong or without evidence

to support it’”). Further, we cannot say that the language Hernandez wrote on the form was “used

in [the judge’s] presence and intended for his hearing,” Code § 18.2-456(A)(3), without “the

development of additional facts,” Peters, 72 Va. App. at 389. Accordingly, we cannot find that the

circuit court reached the “right result for the wrong reason.”

III. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, we find the circuit court erred in permitting the presiding

judge to testify at the contempt proceeding, and the court’s own express factual findings preclude

affirming under the rationale of the circuit court having reached the “right result for the wrong

reason.” Therefore, we reverse the circuit court’s judgment, and we vacate Hernandez’s

contempt conviction.

Reversed, vacated, and final judgment.

Given the Commonwealth’s limited right of appeal under Code § 19.2-398, it has not, 3

and may not, assign error to this factual finding. -7-