Derrick Trevor Griffin v. State of Minnesota

883 N.W.2d 282, 2016 Minn. LEXIS 484

• Court: Supreme Court of Minnesota
• Decided: August 3, 2016
• Docket: A16-323
• Status: Published

Opinion

OPINION

CHUTICH, Justice.

In 2012, a Hennepin County jury found appellant Derrick Trevor Griffin guilty of two first-degree murder offenses for the shooting death of one victim. ' See Minn, State §§ 609.185(a)(1) (premeditated murder), .185(a)(3) (drive-by shooting) (2014). The district court sentenced Griffin to life imprisonment without the possibility of release ón the conviction of first-degree premeditated murder. See Minn.Stat. § 609.185(a)(1); ' MinmStat. § 609.106, subd. 2(1) (2014). On direct appeal, we affirmed. State v. Griffin (Griffin I), 834 N.W.2d 688 (Minn.2013).

On July 31, 2015, Griffin filed a timely petition for postconviction relief, claiming that he received ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel. The postcon-viction court summarily denied relief, that is, it denied relief without holding a hearing. Griffin now appeals the postconviction court’s denial of relief. For the reasons stated below, we affirm.

We review the denial of a petition for postconvictio'n relief for an abuse of discretion. Riley v. State, 819 N.W.2d 162, 167 (Minn.2012). A postconviction court abuses its discretion when it has “ ‘exercised its discretion in an arbitrary or capricious manner, based its ruling on an erroneous view, of the law, or made clearly erroneous factual findings.’” Brown v. State, 863 N.W.2d 781, 786 (Minn.2015) (quoting Reed v. State, 793 N.W.2d 725, 729 (2010)). We review the postconviction court’s legal conclusions de novo and its findings of fact for clear error. Greer v. State, 836 N.W.2d 520, 522 (Minn.2013). A petition for postconviction relief- may be summarily denied if the petition, the files, and the records of the proceeding conclusively show that the petitioner is entitled to no relief. MinmStat. § 590.04, subd, 1 (2014). In determining whether to summarily deny a petition, the.postconviction court presumes the facts, alleged in the petition to be true. Bobo v. State, 820 N.W.2d 511, 517 (Minn.2012).

Griffin’s claims on appeal can be grouped into four categories. First, Griffin alleges that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the district court’s admission of an out-of-court statement made by Griffin’s wife, K.G., who identified Griffin near a bar shortly before the murder occurred.

Second, Griffin asserts violations of Minn.Stat. § 609.035 ,(2014) and the Double Jeopardy Clauses of the United States and Minnesota Constitutions, 1 which protect defendants from multiple prosecutions or multiple sentences for the same offense, see State v. Chavarria-Cruz, 839 N.W.2d 515, 520 (Minn.2013); State v. Schmidt, 612 N.W.2d 871, 876 (Minn.2000). He further argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to raise those alleged violations.

Third, Griffin contends that his two first-degree murder convictions, for the murder of one victim, violate Minn.Stat. § 609.04 (2014). 2 See State v. Fort, 768 N.W.2d 335, 344 (Minn.2009); State v. Johnson, 616 N.W.2d 720, 730 (Minn.2000). He further argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to raise this alleged violation.

Fourth, Griffin asserts that his appellate .counsel was ineffective for failing to raise an ineffective-assistance-of-trial-counsel claim on direct appeal. But to establish that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, “the appellant must first show that trial counsel was ineffective.” Fields v. State, 733 N.W.2d 465, 468 (Minn.2007);’ see Sullivan v. State, 585 N.W.2d 782, 784 (Minn.1998) (“Sullivan’s ineffective assistance, of appellate counsel claim is predicated on the underlying claim against his trial counsel. If he cannot establish a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, his appellate counsel claim automatically fails.”). Accordingly, if Griffin cannot establish that his trial counsel was ineffective, his claim that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise, a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel necessarily fails.

Griffin’s claim that ⅜⅛ two first-degree murder convictions violate section 609.04 and that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to raise this alleged violation was not raised in his petition for postconvietion relief. Nor did the postcon- viction court consider Griffin’s arguments regarding this claim. Consequently, these arguments are not properly before us, and we decline to review them. Brocks v. State, 753 N.W.2d 672, 676 (Minn.2008) (“Brocks did not raise this issue in his [posteonviction] petition ... therefore, the posteonviction court did not consider it. It is well settled that claims raised for the first time on appeal ‘are forfeited for purposes of the appeal.’ ” (quoting Schleicher v. State, 718 N.W.2d 440, 445 (Minn.2006))).

Given the above, our analysis of the ineffective-trial-counsel claims addresses only Griffin’s claims that (1) his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the admission of KG.’s out-of-court statement and (2) his convictions violate section 609.035 and the Double Jeopardy Clauses, and that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to raise those alleged violations. 3 Before turning to the merits, however, we address the State’s assertion that petitioner’s claims are procedurally barred by the rule announced in State v. Knaffla, 309 Minn. 246, 243 N.W.2d 737 (1976).

Under the Knaffla rule, if a posteonviction claim was raised, known, or should have been known when a direct ¿ppeal was filed, that claim is procedurally barred and will not be considered in a later petition for posteonviction relief. Leake v. State, 737 N.W.2d 531, 535 (Minn.2007) (citing Knaffla, 309 Minn. at 252, 243 N.W.2d at 741). An unraised claim is not Knajflarh&rred, however, “if (1) the claim is novel or (2) the interests of fairness and justice warrant relief.” Andersen v. State, 830 N.W.2d 1, 8 (Minn.2013).

Whether these exceptions to Knajfla, including the interests-of-justice exception, are still available after enactment of section 590.01, subdivision 1 (2014), is an open question. As we have explained:

In 2005, the Legislature amended section 590.01, subdivision 1, to provide that “[a] petition for posteonviction relief after a direct appeal has been completed may not be based on grounds that could have been raised on direct appeal of the conviction or sentence.” ... Based upon the 2005 amendments to the statute, it is unclear whether the Knajfla exceptions remain applicable to petitions for posteonviction relief. Because that issue has not been raised by the State, we decline to reach it.

Andersen, 830 N.W.2d at 8 n. 3 (citations omitted).

Even assuming that the interests-of-justice exception remains applicable to this petition, however, a viable claim “must have substantive merit and must be asserted without deliberate or inexcusable delay.” Id. at 8. Griffin contends, and the posteonviction court concluded, that the interests-of-justice exception applies to overcome the Knajfla rule regarding Griffin’s ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims because Griffin’s appellate counsel (on his direct appeal in Griffin I) and trial counsel were the same person.

In so ruling, the posteonviction court relied on a decision by the court of appeals, Jama v. State, 756 N.W.2d 107 (Minn.App.2008). In Jama, the court of appeals stated:

[N]o Minnesota cases have squarely considered whether the Knajfla bar applies when the same attorney represented the petitioner at trial and on direct appeal. ... [Considerations of fairness are implicated. Counsel may have an inherent conflict of interest because counsel cannot be expected to allege his or her own incompetence as an aspect of appellate representation. For this reason, a petitioner’s failure to raise an ineffective-assistance-of-trial-counsel claim on direct appeal cannot be considered inexcusable. Courts in other jurisdictions have reached this conclusion.... In sum, in these settings '... failure to raise claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel is presumptively neither deliberate nor inexcusable and that, in fairness, further review should not be barred.

Id. at 112 (citations omitted).

We have not yet addressed whether the Knaffla interests-of-justice exception applies when trial counsel and appellate counsel are the same person. We need not decide this question here, however, because even if we assume that the Knaff-la interests-of-justice exception applies and that Griffin satisfies it, his underlying ineffective-assistance claims lack merit, as shown below.

Griffin argues that his trial counsel should have objected to the district court’s admission of an out-of-court statement by his wife, KG. 4 Under Strickland, a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is established if “ ‘counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness’” and “‘there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.’” Fields, 733 N.W.2d at 468 (quoting Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-88, 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984)).

■ Because the application of the Strickland test involves a mixed question of law and fact, our standard of review is de novo. State v. Rhodes, 657 N.W.2d 823, 842 (Minn.2003); see Strickland, 466 U.S. at 698, 104 S.Ct. 2052. There is a “strong presumption” that counsel’s performance was objectively reasonable. King v. State, 562 N.W.2d 791, 795 (Minn.1997).

Applying these principles here, we conclude that the lack of an objection by Griffin’s trial counsel was objectively reasonable. We held on Griffin’s direct appeal that the district court’s admission of KG.’s out-of-court statement was not an abuse of discretion under the applicable evidentiary rule. Griffin I, 834 N.W.2d at 695 (“Given that the [district] court applied the correct legal test and based on its overall analysis of the relevant factors under [Minn. R. Evid.] 807, we hold that the [district] court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the statement.”). An attorney’s failure to make an objection that Would have been properly .denied is not objectively unreasonable under the Strickland test. See State v. Rainer, 502 N.W.2d 784, 789 (Minn.1993); State v. Tahash, 275 Minn. 242, 244-45, 146 N.W.2d 174, 176 (1966).

Similarly, Griffin’s claim that his convictions violate section 609.035 and the Double Jeopardy Clauses lacks merit. Our careful review of the record shows that section 609.035 and the Double Jeopardy Clauses are not applicable because Griffin was subject, to only one prosecution and received only one sentence. See Chavarria-Cruz, 839 N.W.2d at 520; Schmidt, 612 N.W.2d at 876-78. Therefore, Griffin is not entitled to relief on this ground. And his contention- that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to raise these alleged violations accordingly fails.

Finally, Griffin’s claim of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel is predicated on his underlying claims against his trial counsel. Because he cannot establish that his trial counsel was ineffective, his claim that appellate counsel was ineffective necessarily fails.

Affirmed.

1 . The Double Jeopardy Clauses of the United States Constitution and the Minnesota Constitution provide that no person shall "be twice put in jeopardy” of punishment for the same offense. U.S. Const. amend. V. Minn. Const. art, I, § 7. Similarly, under section 609.035, subdivision 1, "if a person's conduct constitutes more than one offense ... the person may be punished for only one of the offenses and a conviction or acquittal of any one of them is a bar to prosecution for any other of them." Section 609.035 " 'broaden[s] the protection afforded by our constitutional- provisions against double jeopardy,’ ” State v. Schmidt, 612 N.W.2d 871, 876 (Minn.2000) (quoting State v. Johnson, 273 Minn. 394, 400, 141 N.W.2d 517, 521 (1966)).

2 . Under section 609.04,' a defendant “may be convicted.of either the crime charged or an included offense, but not both,” and a "conviction or acquittal of a crime is a bar to further prosecution of any included offense, or other degree of the same crime.” This statute “prevents multiple convictions based on the same conduct committed against the same victim." State v. Johnson, 616 N.W.2d 720, 730 (Minn.2000).

3 . We address Griffin’s claim of double punishment under section 609.035 and the Double Jeopardy Clauses, even though it was not raised before the posteonviction court. See State v. White, 300 Minn. 99, 106, 219 N.W,2d 89, 93 (1974) ("[T]he prohibition against double punishment cannot be wáived....” (citing Minn.Stat. § 609.035)).

4 . While K.G. was leaving a bar with friends, including the murder victim with whom K.G. had an extramarital relationship, she saw a white Cadillac outside and said, "Look at my husband1 over there, stalking me again.” Griffin I, 834 N.W.2d at 689-90. Additional-facts and analysis underlying this hearsay claim are not repeated here, as they are provided in our decision on Griffin’s direct appeal. Id. at 690-95.