Fernandez v. Cook

870 P.2d 870, 217 Utah Adv. Rep. 3, 1993 Utah LEXIS 103, 1993 WL 264683
CourtUtah Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 12, 1993
Docket910395
StatusPublished
Cited by48 cases

This text of 870 P.2d 870 (Fernandez v. Cook) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Utah Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Fernandez v. Cook, 870 P.2d 870, 217 Utah Adv. Rep. 3, 1993 Utah LEXIS 103, 1993 WL 264683 (Utah 1993).

Opinions

HALL, Chief Justice:

The State appeals the grant of a petition for habeas corpus and the denial of the State’s motion for new trial. We reverse.

On May 9,1986, a jury convicted Anastacio Fernandez,' Jr., of two counts of rape of a child in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-402.1. At trial, the State’s primary witness was Fernandez’ daughter (“P.F.”), who stated that from the time she was eleven years old to the time she was thirteen years old, Fernandez had sexual intercourse with her “a lot.”1 She testified in detail of two specific incidents when her father had intercourse with her: one occurring on October 30, 1983, and one on April 18, 1985. On cross-examination, P.F. admitted that she did not get [872]*872along with her father and that she preferred living with her mother and without her father.

The State also presented the testimony of Dr. Kent Gibbs, the physician who examined P.F. subsequent to her accusations that Fernandez had intercourse with her. Dr. Gibbs examined P.F. when she was fourteen years old, approximately one year after the last time Fernandez allegedly had intercourse with her. Dr. Gibbs testified that after performing a pelvic examination on P.F., his findings were inconclusive as to whether she had had intercourse.2 Dr. Gibbs further testified that a girl similarly situated who regularly engaged in intercourse a year before being examined would “not necessarily” possess a different physical makeup than P.F.’s.

Dr. Gary Sazama, a clinical psychologist, also testified on behalf of the prosecution. Dr. Sazama testified that after a two-hour interview with P.F., he concluded that she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, which is characteristic in rape and molestation victims. On cross-examination, Dr. Sa-zama admitted that stress could also result from fabricating a sex abuse story and anticipating a courtroom confrontation. Dr. Saza-ma later opined that P.F.’s particular condition did not result from pretrial stress.

Fernandez was represented by Clint Jud-kins at trial. Judkins presented the testimony of Fernandez and Arselia Fernandez (Fernandez’ wife and P.F.’s mother). Fernandez denied all of P.F.’s -accusations that he had had intercourse with her. He also testified that he and P.F. argued and that he thought her “story” was fabricated to get him out of the house. Consistent with the testimony of Fernandez and P.F., Arselia Fernandez testified that P.F. and her father did not get along and that P.F. was happier when he was gone. Arselia Fernandez claimed that P.F. had never discussed her father’s alleged misconduct with her. She further testified that she did not believe that the alleged rapes occurred and that P.F. was not always truthful.

The jury resolved the dispute in the evidence against Fernandez. He was sentenced to two consecutive minimum mandatory terms of fifteen years to life. Fernandez appealed the sentence and later, on order by this court, was resentenced to two fifteen-year terms to run concurrently instead of consecutively. Fernandez then filed a pro se appeal from the new sentencing order. That appeal was subsequently dismissed on motion of Fernandez’ present counsel.

In April 1988, Fernandez filed a petition for habeas corpus in the Third Judicial District Court. He sought a new trial, arguing that he was denied his constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel and that he was further denied the constitutional right to trial by an impartial jury. The district court dismissed the petition, finding that the issues could have been raised on direct appeal and that there were no unusual circumstances that would justify failure to do so. Fernandez appealed the district court’s ruling. This court reversed and remanded, holding that Fernandez’ failure to raise the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel on appeal did not preclude him from raising it in a habeas corpus proceeding where the alleged ineffective counsel had represented Fernandez on .direct appeal and did not raise the issue.3

On March 23, 1990, the district court held a hearing on Fernandez’ petition for habeas corpus. Among those testifying was Dr. Gibbs. In addition to presenting his findings of the examination performed on P.F., Dr. Gibbs testified that before trial, Judkins had not spoken with him or subpoenaed his records. He also stated that based on the examination, he had written the investigating detective advising that from his findings, he “would be surprised if she was regularly [873]*873sexually active.” Additionally, based on a hypothetical posed, Dr. Gibbs testified that he would expect an easier examination, one without discomfort, for an eleven- to thirteen-year-old girl who claimed to have had intercourse one hundred times. However, consistent with his prior trial testimony, Dr. Gibbs stated that he could not determine conclusively whether P.F. had had sexual intercourse.

Fernandez testified at the hearing that he had discovered a tape recording wherein P.F. said that she wished Fernandez was back in jail. Fernandez claimed that Judkins knew of the tape but failed to question him about it at trial. Furthermore, Fernandez contended that Judkins was not prepared at trial and that despite their several meetings, Judkins never discussed trial strategy with him.

Judkins also testified at the hearing. Jud-kins testified that he had practiced law for nineteen years before becoming a circuit court judge in 1989 and that during that time, he had extensive experience in criminal law on the side of both the defense and the prosecution. Relative to his representation of Fernandez, Judkins stated that he prepared for trial by reviewing the prosecution’s file, the video tape of P.F.’s police interview, and Dr. Gibbs’ post-examination letter and by conducting a number of interviews. Jud-kins stated that a great amount of research was not necessary because he had “extensive background” in this particular area, representing others similarly situated, and therefore had knowledge of the law and defenses available. At the time of trial, Judkins felt that he was adequately prepared to defend Fernandez. Concerning any conduct or decisions that were being called into question, Judkins claimed that he made decisions and proceeded in a manner that in his judgment would best serve Fernandez’ interests.

Finally, Fernandez called as a “legal expert” Lynn Brown, an attorney with extensive experience in criminal defense. Brown testified as to what he or any reasonable attorney would or would not have done in preparation for Fernandez’ defense. All or most of the questions posed and the responses elicited referred indirectly to what Jud-kins should or should not have done, intimating that Judkins had rendered ineffective assistance.

The district court concluded that Fernandez had received ineffective assistance of counsel, denying him the constitutional right to counsel, and ordered that the ease be retried. The court later entered findings of fact and conclusions of law. The State appealed the district court’s decision on Fernandez’ habeas corpus petition but later sought and obtained a dismissal of the appeal. Back before the district court, the State contended that the findings of fact and conclusions of law were in error and should be set aside.

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Bluebook (online)
870 P.2d 870, 217 Utah Adv. Rep. 3, 1993 Utah LEXIS 103, 1993 WL 264683, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fernandez-v-cook-utah-1993.