Clark v. State

672 A.2d 1004, 1996 Del. LEXIS 121, 1996 WL 132133
CourtSupreme Court of Delaware
DecidedFebruary 29, 1996
Docket8, 1995
StatusPublished
Cited by23 cases

This text of 672 A.2d 1004 (Clark v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Clark v. State, 672 A.2d 1004, 1996 Del. LEXIS 121, 1996 WL 132133 (Del. 1996).

Opinion

BERGER, Justice:

In this appeal, we consider the January 5, 1995, sentence of death imposed by the Superior Court on Defendant Below — Appellant James B. Clark, Jr. (“Clark”) for the first degree murder of Clark’s adoptive parents, James B. Clark, Sr. (“James”) and Elizabeth C. Clark (“Elizabeth”). Clark has not pursued a direct appeal, as it is his expressed desire to be executed. However, an automatic appeal was docketed pursuant to 11 Del.C. § 4209(g). Clark’s counsel argues that the sentence should be set aside on the following grounds: (i) the Superior Court failed to give appropriate consideration to Clark’s early release from prison; (ii) the Superior Court placed undue emphasis on a crime Clark committed 21 years prior to the murders; and (iii) Clark’s sentence is not proportional to the sentences imposed for similar crimes. After reviewing the record and considering counsel’s arguments, we find no error and, therefore, we affirm the sentence imposed by the Superior Court.

I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On June 13, 1994, Clark was charged with two counts each of first degree murder, possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, and possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited. On September 8, 1994, the Superior Court held a hearing to determine whether or not Clark was competent to enter pleas of guilty to all charges. Two psychiatrists, one called by the defense and one by the prosecution, testified that Clark was competent and the Superior Court so concluded, based upon the undisputed evidence. The following day, Clark entered guilty pleas to all counts of the indictment.

The Superior Court conducted a non-jury penalty hearing from December 5 through December 15, 1994. In an exhaustive opinion issued on January 5, 1995, the Superior Court analyzed the aggravating and mitigating circumstances. The court concluded that three statutory aggravating circumstances had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt and that the aggravating circumstances heavily outweighed the mitigating circumstances. The Superior Court, therefore, concluded that Clark should be sentenced to death.

On January 11, 1995, this Court docketed an automatic appeal from the sentence imposed, and issued a stay of execution. Shortly thereafter, Clark filed a plenary appeal, which was consolidated with this automatic appeal by Order dated January 24, 1995. Two months later, Clark requested that his direct appeal be dismissed. His counsel filed a Motion to Remand for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether Clark’s waiver of his appellate rights was knowing and intelligent. Clark’s motion was granted and the *1006 Superior Court conducted an evidentiary hearing on April 21, 1995 pursuant to this Court’s Order of Remand.

The Superior Court made the following findings and conclusions, which were adopted and approved by this Court:

1) Clark unequivocally stated his desire to abandon his direct appeal.
2) At the hearing, Clark appeared to be mentally alert and responsive. His demeanor at the hearing was consistent with the findings of two psychiatrists, Dr. Stephen Meehanick and Dr. David Raskin, who testified that Clark was competent to enter guilty pleas as of September 8, 1994. There was no evidence that called Clark’s competence into question and Clark was not under the influence of drugs, medication or alcohol at the time of the April 21,1995, hearing.
3) Clark was fully aware of the consequences of abandoning his direct appeal. He was aware that, by waiving his direct appeal, Clark would significantly reduce his chances for any postconviction relief or other collateral attack on his guilty pleas, penalty hearing or sentence. In addition, Clark was fully aware that, by waiving his direct appeal, his execution would be more likely to occur and more likely to take place on an earlier date.
4) Clark was not acting under duress, threats from anyone, or improper influence of any kind. His decision to abandon his direct appeal was wholly voluntary.
5) Clark’s decision was a deliberate, knowing, intelligent and voluntary waiver of his right to a direct appeal.

By Order dated May 3, 1995, Clark’s direct appeal was dismissed.

Clark’s automatic appeal was considered by this Court, en banc, after briefing and oral argument. One of the arguments raised by Clark’s counsel precipitated a remand to the Superior Court for clarification and supplemental findings. After the Superior Court submitted its Supplemental Findings, the parties submitted additional memoranda, which have been fully considered by this Court.

II. FACTS

Clark has confessed and pled guilty to the unprovoked, premeditated murder of his adoptive parents. The murders took place on May 22, 1994. However, in order to understand Clark’s conduct, and for purposes of reviewing the sentence imposed, it is appropriate to review Clark’s entire life.

Clark was born on February 8, 1957, and was adopted by James and Elizabeth at the age of four months. As Elizabeth later wrote in a 1977 letter to Clark’s attorney in a previous matter, “His first year with us was our happiest time. The rest was downhill all the way.” Appellant’s Appendix, A-66. By the time Clark was two years old, he was developing a pattern of pushing, slapping and striking other children frequently. He was expelled from two pre-kindergarten programs because of his behavior and began receiving psychotherapy and medication at the age of five.

In 1965, after Clark attacked a child and cut his face severely enough to require the child’s hospitalization, Clark entered a resident psychiatric treatment program in Maryland. He remained there for three years. Clark returned home in 1968, but was unable to maintain acceptable behavior. In December 1969, after again being expelled from school, Clark was admitted to the Governor Bacon Health Center, where he received residential treatment for the next one and one-half years.

Clark was returned to his adoptive parents in July 1971. The Governor Bacon Health Center described Clark as “moderately improved” following a diagnosis of passive aggressive personality disorder and schizoid personality. Clark returned to public school in September 1971 and managed to complete the eighth grade, despite poor grades and serious behavior problems.

On March 5, 1973, at the age of 16, Clark abducted a three-year-old girl from her backyard. He brought the child to a nearby woods where he beat and choked her. Clark was found guilty of kidnapping and assault with intent to commit murder, but that conviction was reversed. See Clark v. State, Del.Supr., 344 A.2d 231 (1975). After re *1007 mand, Clark entered a Robinson plea to abduction of a child under twelve years of age and assault with intent to commit murder. On September 16,1977, Clark was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with credit given for the four and one-half years previously served.

Clark remained in prison until April 22, 1994.

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Bluebook (online)
672 A.2d 1004, 1996 Del. LEXIS 121, 1996 WL 132133, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/clark-v-state-del-1996.