Justin Springer v. State of Mississippi

187 So. 3d 1050, 2015 Miss. App. LEXIS 589, 2015 WL 7212145
CourtCourt of Appeals of Mississippi
DecidedNovember 17, 2015
Docket2014-CA-00850-COA
StatusPublished

This text of 187 So. 3d 1050 (Justin Springer v. State of Mississippi) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Mississippi primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Justin Springer v. State of Mississippi, 187 So. 3d 1050, 2015 Miss. App. LEXIS 589, 2015 WL 7212145 (Mich. Ct. App. 2015).

Opinion

FAIR, J.,

for the Court:

¶ 1. Justin Springer was convicted of capital murder on May 6, 2011. Springer v. State, 89 So.3d 567, 568 (¶ 1) (Miss.2012). He was sentenced to life in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, without the possibility of parole. Id. On appeal, Springer argued that the verdict was contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence. Id. The supreme court affirmed his conviction. Id.

¶ 2. Following his appeal, Springer filed an application for leave to proceed in the trial court to file a motion for post-conviction relief. The supreme court granted Springer’s request only as to his allegations of the unconstitutional denial of a speedy trial and directed the trial court to hold a hearing to determine whether Springer’s trial counsel was ineffective for not filing a motion for a speedy trial, and whether his appellate counsel was ineffective for not raising his trial counsel’s ineffectiveness on appeal.

¶ 3. Both Springer and his trial counsel testified at the hearing. After applying the Barker factors, 1 the court found that Springer’s statutory and constitutional rights to a speedy trial were not violated and that he was not denied effective assistance of counsel. Springer appealed.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

¶ 4. When reviewing the denial of a PCR motion, an appellate court “will not disturb the trial court’s factual findings unless they are found to be clearly erroneous.” Callins v. State, 975 So.2d 219, 222 (¶ 8) (Miss.2008).

DISCUSSION

¶ 5. Springer claims that his trial counsel was ineffective because she did not file a motion for a speedy trial. He additionally argues that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise his trial counsel’s ineffectiveness on appeal.

¶ 6. “The standard for considering ineffective assistance of counsel is the same for appellate performance as it is for trial performance.” Foster v. State, 687 So.2d 1124, 1138 (Miss.1996). To succeed on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, Springer must show “that his counsel’s performance was deficient and that the deficiency prejudiced [his] defense.” Burns v. State, 813 So.2d 668, 673 (¶ 14) (Miss.2001) (citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984)). Here, for Springer to prevail in his ineffective assistance claim, “he must demonstrate that, but for his counsel’s errors, his speedy trial claim would have succeeded.” Oliver v. State, 20 So.3d 16, 22 (¶ 14) (Miss.Ct.App.2009).

¶ 7. The United States Constitution and the Mississippi Constitution afford, a defendant the right to a speedy trial. The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution states, in relevant part, that “the accused shall enjoy , the right to a speedy and public trial,” Article 3, Section 26 of the Mississippi Constitution likewise states, in part, that “the accused shall have a right to ... a speedy and public trial,” The constitutional right to a speedy trial attaches at the time of arrest, indictment, or information, when a person has been accused. McBride v. State, 61 So.3d 174, 179 (¶ 11) (Miss.Ct.App.2010).

¶ 8. Mississippi Code Annotated section 99-17-1 (Rev.2015) creates a statutory right to a speedy trial: “Unless good *1054 cause be shown, and a continuance duly granted by the court, all offenses for which indictments are presented to the court shall be tried no later than two hundred seventy (270) days , after the accused has been arraigned.” Review of a speedy trial claim encompasses the fact question of whether the trial delay rose from good cause.

Under this [c]ourt’s standard of reviéw, this [c]ourt will uphold a decision based on substantial, credible evidence. If no probative evidence supports the trial court’s finding of good cause, this [c]ourt will ordinarily reverse. The [S]tate bears the burden of proving good cause for a speedy trial delay, and thus bears the risk of non-persuasion.

DeLoach v. State, 722 So.2d 512, 516 (¶ 12) (Miss.1998) (internal citations omitted).

¶ 9. In Barker, the United States Supreme Court provided a four-factor balancing test to be used when determining whether a defendant’s right to speedy trial has been violated. The factors are as follows: (1) “[l]ength of delay,” (2) “the reason for the delay,” (3) “the defendant’s assertion of his or her right/’ and (4) “prejudice to the defendant.” Barker, 407 U.S. at 530, 92 S.Ct. 2182. The court must consider the totality of the circumstances on a case-by-case basis. Boone v. State, 964 So.2d 512, 519 (¶¶ 12-13) (Miss.Ct.App.2006). “Any delay of over eight months is presumptively prejudicial and triggers ‘balancing of the other three factors.” Robinson v. State, 920 So.2d 1009, 1013 (¶ 13) (Miss.Ct.App.2003).

1.Length of Delay

¶ 10. Springer’s right to a speedy trial attached on June 10, 2008, after he was arrested. His trial did not begin until May 3, 2011-1,057 days later. Thus, prejudice is presumed and we must look to the other factors.

2. Reason for Delay

¶ 11. “Once there is a finding that the delay is presumptively prejudicial, the burden shifts to the prosecution to produce evidence justifying the delay and to persuade the trier, of .fact of. the legitimacy of these .reasons.” DeLoach, 722 So.2d at 517 (¶ 17). Springer was first indicted for capital murder on February 3, 2009, but the charge was dropped due to “an error in the charging document.” Springer was indicted again on April 6, 2009. At the time of the arraignment on April 30, 2009, the State sought the death penalty. The record shows that, after negotiations between Springer’s counsel and the State, the State decided not to pursue the death penalty. The record also shows that Springer’s counsel asked for a number of continuances “to investigate the case, evaluate the evidence, [and] prepare legal defenses,” which áccounted for the delay between his arraignment and trial. The State filed no motions for continuance. So the State is only responsible for the delay between Springer’s arrest date, June 10, 2008, and his arraignment, April 30, 2009 (322 days). Because the record shows no good cause for the delay, this factor weighs against the State.

3. Assertion of Right to Speedy Trial

¶ 12. The third factor concerns Springer’s assertion' of his' right to a speedy trial. At no time between his June 10, 2008 arrest and his May 3, 2011 trial did he assert his right to' a speedy trial. In fact, the record shows he made no assertion of his right to a speedy trial until he filed his application to. proceed in the trial court on his PCR motion. In support of his argument, Springer must produce “more than a bare, unsubstantiated, thoroughly self-serving” statement. See Howard v. State, 171 So.3d 566, 573 (¶ 32) *1055

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Related

Barker v. Wingo
407 U.S. 514 (Supreme Court, 1972)
Strickland v. Washington
466 U.S. 668 (Supreme Court, 1984)
Duplantis v. State
708 So. 2d 1327 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 1998)
Oliver v. State
20 So. 3d 16 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2009)
DeLoach v. State
722 So. 2d 512 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 1998)
Sharp v. State
786 So. 2d 372 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 2001)
Foster v. State
687 So. 2d 1124 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 1996)
Burns v. State
813 So. 2d 668 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 2001)
Callins v. State
975 So. 2d 219 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 2008)
McBride v. State
61 So. 3d 174 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2010)
Dennis Darnell Howard v. State of Mississippi
171 So. 3d 566 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2015)
Johnson v. State
68 So. 3d 1239 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 2011)
Springer v. State
89 So. 3d 567 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 2012)
Robinson v. State
920 So. 2d 1009 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2003)
Boone v. State
964 So. 2d 512 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2006)

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Bluebook (online)
187 So. 3d 1050, 2015 Miss. App. LEXIS 589, 2015 WL 7212145, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/justin-springer-v-state-of-mississippi-missctapp-2015.