In re the Personal Restraint of Orange

100 P.3d 291, 152 Wash. 2d 795
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 10, 2004
DocketNo. 72485-7
StatusPublished
Cited by347 cases

This text of 100 P.3d 291 (In re the Personal Restraint of Orange) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re the Personal Restraint of Orange, 100 P.3d 291, 152 Wash. 2d 795 (Wash. 2004).

Opinions

Owens, J.

In this personal restraint petition, we are asked to decide whether the trial court’s closure of the courtroom during voir dire violated defendant Christopher A. Orange’s constitutional right to a public trial and, if so, whether the error, raised on collateral review, necessitates remand for a new trial. We also must decide whether Orange’s convictions for first degree attempted murder and first degree assault of the same victim, Marcel Walker, violated the double jeopardy clauses of the state and federal constitutions. Additionally, as to Orange’s convictions for first degree murder of Brandy McClure and first degree [800]*800attempted murder of Walker, we must determine whether double jeopardy was violated and, if it was not, whether the imposition of consecutive sentences for those crimes was improper.

The Court of Appeals rejected Orange’s arguments on all three issues and denied his personal restraint petition. We reverse on two of the three questions presented. First, we conclude that the trial court violated Orange’s constitutional right to a public trial. Because the error would have been per se prejudicial on appeal, the failure of Orange’s appellate counsel to raise the issue below constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. The relief for this error is remand for a new trial. Although a new trial will undoubtedly place on the affected community an extremely difficult burden, a burden that will be particularly painful for the families and friends of the victims of the crimes charged in this case, our duty under the constitution is to ensure that, absent a closure order narrowly drawn to protect a clearly identified compelling interest, a trial court may not exclude the public or press from any stage of a criminal trial; in this case, neither the size of the courtroom nor a general concern for security provided an adequate basis for compromising the fundamental tenet “that an accused is at the very least entitled to have his friends, relatives and counsel present, no matter with what offense he may he charged.” In re Oliver, 333 U.S. 257, 271-72, 68 S. Ct. 499, 92 L. Ed. 2d 682 (1948) (emphasis added). Second, with respect to Orange’s convictions for first degree attempted murder and first degree assault of Walker, we hold that the constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy was violated, necessitating dismissal of one of the charges. Finally, for purposes of guidance on retrial, we hold that Orange’s convictions for first degree murder of McClure and first degree attempted murder of Walker did not violate double jeopardy, nor was the trial court’s imposition of consecutive sentences for those crimes improper.

[801]*801FACTS

On October 6, 1994, Orange drove into an Exxon station in Pasco and fired at least 11 shots, emptying his handgun. One bullet struck and killed Brandy McClure, another struck and wounded Marcel Walker, and a third pierced the clothing of Robyn Wilier. The State charged Orange with 11 criminal counts: first degree murder of McClure, first degree attempted murder of Walker, first degree assault of Walker and Wilier, and reckless endangerment of Wilier and six others in the vicinity of the shooting.

At the opening of trial on April 26, 1995, the court discussed with counsel the method for conducting voir dire. Acknowledging that the prospective jurors had completed a lengthy questionnaire, the trial judge explained that they would be interviewed in chambers on eight of the questions — those asking them about past crimes, pretrial publicity, and familiarity with the Orange family’s reputation. As the trial judge told counsel, “The rest of [voir dire] you can conduct in open court.” Verbatim Report of Proceedings (Trial) (VRP) at 2. Encouraging counsel to use the answers in the questionnaires “as a springboard for further inquiry,” the judge warned that he would interrupt counsel if either merely asked jurors the same questions included in the questionnaires. Id. at 5. With that, the following discussion ensued:

[THE COURT:] We’ve been talking — or been asked to discuss the family members of the Oranges being here during the selection of the jury. My only difficulty I have here with that is that this entire courtroom will be filled with the venire, and I don’t think I have any place, 'until we get the jury, for the family to be present, Mr. Egan.
MR. EGAN [defense counsel]: Would it be possible, Your Honor, to have the family seated at the bench alongside the wall of the courtroom.
THE COURT: No or not in my lap either.
MR. EGAN: Would it be all right if they took the back. The family has a significant interest.
[802]*802THE COURT: I understand it. The trouble with it is the limitations of space. Number one, it would be impossible for me to separate the family from the jurors. Number two, I probably wouldn’t even have a place for the family to sit as we select the jury. I understand their concerns and this three-week trial they will be here every inch of the way. But in this process, I just have to play it pretty tough, and I’m going to ask the family— they will have to sit outside.
MR. EGAN: As the process we[nd]s on, Your Honor, and as individual jurors may be excused for cause and space becomes available, will they then be allowed, if there is a bench that can be available to them.
THE COURT: We can reexplore this issue. You bet.
MR. COX [deputy prosecutor]: Your Honor, along the same lines the McClure family has also asked to be present during the jury selection. I have told them there may not be room for them. I’m sure if the Orange family is going to be present for part of the jury selection the McClure family will also want to be in here. And if the Orange family is entitled to it the McClure family—
THE COURT: Yes, it adds to the problem. I am ruling no family members, no spectators will be permitted in this courtroom during the selection of the jury because of the limitation of space, security, etcetera [sic]. That’s my ruling.

Id. at 6-7 (emphasis added). After attending to further housekeeping matters, the trial judge returned to the issue of courtroom space:

All right. Gentlemen, I think this was worthwhile and the jury will be here. The family, of course, they [i.e., the prospective jurors] will have to utilize this area, and I certainly apologize that we don’t have the facilities for all of the families who are definitely interested, concerned to be here throughout the entire trial, but when the jury is selected, well, we will have [a] lot of room and evidence will be produced at that time, and you may attend.

Id. at 41. The court made no written findings on the issue of courtroom space.

Voir dire began after the midmoming recess on Wednesday, April 26,1995, continued on Thursday and Friday, and [803]*803concluded on Monday, May 1. Closing arguments were delivered two weeks later on May 15. Returning its verdict the following day, the jury found Orange guilty on all but the last three counts of reckless endangerment. Orange was sentenced on the eight guilty verdicts on July 11, 1995.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State v. Muhammad
451 P.3d 1060 (Washington Supreme Court, 2019)
State Of Washington, Resp-cross App v. John Alan Whitaker, App-cross
429 P.3d 512 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2018)
State v. Schierman
Washington Supreme Court, 2018
State Of Washington v. Corey A. Pearson
Court of Appeals of Washington, 2018
State Of Washington v. Edward Wilkins
Court of Appeals of Washington, 2017
State Of Washington v. Jonathan Perez Duenas
Court of Appeals of Washington, 2017
In re Pers. Restraint of Rhem
Washington Supreme Court, 2017
State Of Washington v. Ryan Brett Johnson
Court of Appeals of Washington, 2017
State Of Washington v. Mohamed Ibrahim
Court of Appeals of Washington, 2017
State Of Washington, V James C. Mathes
Court of Appeals of Washington, 2017
In re Det. of Reyes
Washington Supreme Court, 2015
State of Washington v. Dallin David Fort
190 Wash. App. 202 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2015)
State v. Love
Washington Supreme Court, 2015
State v. Gomez
Washington Supreme Court, 2015
State Of Washington v. Corey Alexander Schumacher
Court of Appeals of Washington, 2015
In re Pers. Restraint of Speight
Washington Supreme Court, 2014
State Of Washington v. Joseph Dean Byrd
Court of Appeals of Washington, 2014
State Of Washington, V Jennifer Lynn Markwith
Court of Appeals of Washington, 2014
State Of Washington v. Charles Feld
Court of Appeals of Washington, 2014

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
100 P.3d 291, 152 Wash. 2d 795, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-the-personal-restraint-of-orange-wash-2004.