ACCEPTED
13-14-00301-CR
THIRTEENTH COURT OF APPEALS FILED CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS IN THE 13TH COURT OF APPEALS 2/23/2015 3:21:34 PM CORPUS CHRISTI DORIAN RAMIREZ CLERK
2/23/15
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
DORIAN E. RAMIREZ, CLERK BY DTello FOR THE THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS Cause No.13-14-00301-CR RECEIVED IN 13th COURT OF APPEALS
Cause No.13-14-00171-CR
CORPUS CHRISTI/EDINBURG, TEXAS Cause No.13-14-00172-CR2/23/2015 3:21:34 PM DORIAN E. RAMIREZ
MICHAEL DAVID RAMIREZ Clerk V.
STATE OF TEXAS
On Direct Appeal from: THE DISTRICT COURT OF
THE 445TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT IN CAMERON COUNTY, TEXAS
CAUSE NO. 09-CR-2098-I CAUSE NO. 2013-DCR-02246 CAUSE NO. 10-CR-2650-I
* * * * * * * * * * APPELLANT'S BRIEF * * * * * * * * * *
LARRY WARNER Counsel for Michael Ramirez COA No.13-14-00171-CR 3109 Banyan Circle Harlingen, Tx 78550 7443 Phone (956) 454 4994 Tex.State Bar# 20871500 Usdc,Stdx# 1230 office@larrywarner.com website: larrywarner.com Member, Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States (1984); Board Certified, Criminal Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1983)
APPELLANT REQUESTS ORAL ARGUMENT, PURSUANT TO TEX.R.APP.PROC.39.7
Pursuant to Tex.R.App.Proc.38.1(a),Appellant provides the following identity of parties and counsel:
PARTIES AND INTERESTED PERSONS
1. Michael David Ramirez, Appellant.
2. Hon. Julie Allen, State Bar No. 24055096, Assistant District Attorney, Cameron County Courthouse, 964 East Harrison, Brownsville, Texas 78520, Phone (956) 544-0849. PROSECUTING ATTORNEY AT TRIAL
3. Hon. Carlos Martinez, State Bar No. 24081022, Assistant District Attorney, Cameron County Courthouse, 964 East Harrison, Brownsville, Texas 78520, Phone (956) 544-0849. PROSECUTING ATTORNEY AT TRIAL
4. Hon. Gustavo Elizondo, State Bar No. 24086827, Assistant District Attorney, Cameron County Courthouse, 964 East Harrison, Brownsville, Texas 78520, Phone (956) 544-0849. PROSECUTING ATTORNEY AT TRIAL
5. Hon. Luis V. Saenz, State Bar No. 17514880, District Attorney, District Attorney, Cameron County Courthouse, 964 East Harrison, Brownsville, Texas 78520, Phone (956) 544-0849. PROSECUTING ATTORNEY AT TRIAL AND ON APPEAL
6. Hon. Jennifer Marie Avendano, State Bar No.
24052304, District Attorney, District Attorney, Cameron County Courthouse, 964 East Harrison, Brownsville, Texas 78520, Phone (956) 544-0849. PROSECUTING ATTORNEY ON APPEAL
7. Hon. Alfredo Padilla, State Bar No. 15404600, Law Offices of Alfredo Padilla, 777 East Harrison St., 2nd Floor, Brownsville, Texas 78520, Phone (956) 544-7100
3
DEFENSE ATTORNEY AT TRIAL
8. HON. LARRY WARNER, State Bar No. 20871500, Law Office of Larry Warner, 3109 Banyan Circle, Harlingen, TX 78550. Phone (956) 230-0361. DEFENSE ATTORNEY ON APPEAL
4
Pursuant to Tex.R.App.Proc.38.1(b,Appellant provides the following table of contents:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
IDENTITY OF PARTIES.................................2-3
TABLE OF CONTENTS...................................4-6
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES................................7-9
STATEMENT OF CASE.................................10-11
ISSUES PRESENTED..................................12-14
1. Did egregious harm result from the following error in the instructions to the jury at guilt/innocence?
EGREGIOUS HARM IN JURY INSTRUCTIONS?
In order to return a verdict, each verdict (sic) must agree thereto, but jurors have a duty to consult with one another and to deliberate with a view to reaching an agreement if it can be done without violence to individual judgment. Each juror must decide the case for himself but only after an impartial consideration of the evidence with his fellow jurors. (RR 7 17)
2. Did reversible error result from the Trial Judge’s submitting theft as a lesser included offense of robbery over defense’s timely and specific objections? (RR 7 11/5)
3. Did Egregious harm result from failure to instruct jury on what to do if they find that he is either guilty of robbery or of theft, but
5
they are not sure which, then find him guilty of theft? (RR 7 16)
4. Is the following closing argument of the prosecutor one of “community expectations”?
“So what do we have to do now? You’ve got to send a message to the community that if you go into our property, our gated property -- Mr. Gaubatz told you it was closed -- if you go into our property, you disregard any sort of right for the victim.” (RR 7 48)
5. Did the following argument asking the jurors to take the place of the complaining witness deprive the defendant of a fair trial? U.S.CONST.amend.VI;TEX.CONST.art.I,sec.10
“Wouldn’t you be in fear at 3:00 in the morning? The dog is barking, he gets up, he’s scared. And what happened then? He sees somebody there. He sees an individual going onto his property. Think about how traumatic that was. Think about how traumatic that could have been for all the other victims that raised their hands during voir dire.” (RR 7 48)
6. Was the following harmless error beyond a reasonable doubt?
The prosecutor asked the jury to imagine what would have happened if the complaining witness had not simply stopped in his tracks instead of pursuing the defendant. (RR 7 51/18) Defense counsel objected that the argument was outside the record. (RR 7 51/21) The judge overruled the objection. (RR 7 52/1) The prosecutor
6
continued to ask the jury to imagine what might have happened. (RR 7 51-52)
7. Was the trial court’s bringing back the jury to the courtroom and responding orally, rather than in writing, to their request for evidence fundamental error? TEX.CODE CRIM.P.art.36.27 Did counsel’s inquiry constitute an objection? Was any error harmless beyond a reasonable doubt?
STATEMENT OF FACTS................................15-17
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT...............................18-23
ARGUMENT..........................................24-38
CONCLUSION AND REQUEST FOR RELIEF....................39
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE...............................40
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE............................40
7
Pursuant to Tex.R.App.Proc.38.1(c),Appellant provides the following index of authorities arranged alphabetically and indicating the pages of the brief where the authorities are cited:
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
CASES PAGES Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, 347 U.S. 483 (1954) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 The Court of Criminal Appeals adopted and rejected factual sufficiency review of the evidence.
Brooks v. State,323S.W.3d893(Tex.Crim.App.2010) . . 26 The Court of Criminal Appeals changed its mind, twice, in adopting and then, twenty years later, rejecting factual sufficiency review of the evidence Chandler v. State,689 S.W.332,334hn4(Tex.App.–Fort Worth1985,pet.ref’d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 “It is improper in argument for a prosecutor to ask members of the jury to place themselves in the shoes of the victim."
Cosio v. State,353 S.W.3d766(Tex.Crim.App.2011) . 24,25 Failing to instruct the jury that they must return a unanimous verdict is fundamental error.
Day v. State,No. 2-06-005-CR(Tex.App.–Fort Worth May 17, 2007) 2007 WL1441078 at*2fn7 . . . . . . . . . 24 “Jury verdicts in criminal cases must be unanimous.”
Francis v. State, 36 S.W.3d 121, 126 (Tex.Crim.App. 2000) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 “Jury verdicts in criminal cases must be unanimous.”
Fuentes v. State, 991S.W.2d267, 274hn16(Tex.Crim.App. 1999) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28,29 “If you believe from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of either capital murder or aggravated robbery, but you have a reasonable doubt as to which of said offenses he is guilty, then you must resolve that
8
doubt in the defendant's favor and find him guilty of the lesser offense of aggravated robbery.
In re Committment of Hill,334 S.W.3d236(Tex.Sup.2011) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35,36 A party preserved error by asking a specific and proper question, stating the basis on which it sought to ask that question, and obtaining an adverse ruling from the trial court.
In re Winship,397U.S.358(1958) . . . . . . . . . . 29 Giving instruction on giving the defendant the benefit of the doubt if the jury was unsure of which offense he was guilty, implicates his right to proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lawrence v. State,240 S.W.3d 912,917 hn12 fn24(Tex. Crim.App.2007) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32,33 “Numerous decisions of other appellate courts, including Texas courts of appeals and courts of other jurisdictions, are in accord with our holdings....”
Ngo v.State,175 S.W.3d 738(Tex.Crim.App.En Banc 2005) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,25 Failing to instruct the jury that they must return a unanimous verdict is fundamental error.
People v. Davis, 7 Cal.4th 797, 30 Cal.Rptr.2d 50, 872 P.2d 591, 598–99 (1994) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Texas appellate courts have relied on decisions of California courts.
People v. Vance, 116 Cal.Rptr.3d 98,102hn1(2010) . 33 “We conclude that the prosecutor made a sustained Golden Rule closing argument so blatant that it alone requires reversal.”
Plessy v. Ferguson,163 U.S.537(1896) . . . . . . 25,26 Counsel may advocate for a position taken by a minority of Judges.
Rushing v. State,50 S.W.3d 715,742hn42(Tex.App.–Waco 2001,pet.ref’d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29,30 “Anything more than a scintilla of evidence is sufficient to entitle a defendant to a lesser charge.”
Sanders v. State,664S.W.2d705,710(Tex.Crim.App.1982)
9
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,26 An offense that must be submitted as lesser included if requested by the accused, may not be submitted at behest of the State over a defense objection.
Thomas v. State, 578 S.W.2d 691,695(Tex.Crim.App.1979) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33,34 There was an instruction to disregard in Ramirez. It was ineffective to cure the harm done.
CONSTITUTIONS & CODES: TEX.CODE CRIM.P.art.36.27 . . . 6,14,17,22,24,29,35,37 TEX.CONST.art.I,sec.10 . . . . . . . . . 5,13,16,21,30 Tex.Const.art.V,§ 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 U.S.CONST.amend.VI . . . . . . . . . . . 5,13,16,21,30
OTHER: Criminal Law News November 1, 2010 27 No. 22 West's Criminal Law News 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,32
10
Pursuant to Tex.R.App.P.38.1(a), Appellant provides the following statement of the case, stating concisely the nature of the case, the course of the proceedings, and the trial court's disposition of the case:
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
The defendant was charged by indictment with
robbery.(CR4;42)
He pleaded not guilty and tried the case to the
jury.(CR42)
The defendant rested without presenting any
evidence; the defendant did not testify.
“MR. PADILLA: We rest, Your Honor.”
(RRvol.7,p.4,line11) (subsequently RR 4,7/11)
The jury found him guilty of robbery.(CR42)
He had elected to have the judge impose
punishment.(CR42)
The judge imposed a sentence of six years’
imprisonment, no probation.(CR42)
The judge held a hearing on motions to revoke prior
probations.
“Plea of Not True on MTR's 32 9 13 Defendant sentenced in 2013-DCR-2246 33 9 14 Defendant Sentenced on MTR's 34 9" (RR 9 3)
11
The judge plainly considered the evidence at the
jury trial in determining the motions to revoke. He
revoked the two prior probations, sentenced the
defendant to six years confinement on each of the two
prior probations, and ran the two sixes on the
probation revocations concurrently with the six for the
weedeater robbery.
“I am to going find the 22 allegations in the Motions to Revoke to be true, and find 23 you guilty of the offenses stated therein, and I'm going 24 to sentence you to six years TDC in each of those cases, 25 but it is to run concurrent with the 2013 case.” (RR9 34/21-25)
Defendant gave timely notice of appeal to this Court of Appeals.(CR 46)
12
Pursuant to Tex.R.App.Proc.38.1(e), Appellant presents this statement of issues presented:
ISSUES PRESENTED
1. Did egregious harm result from the following error in the instructions to the jury at guilt/innocence?
EGREGIOUS HARM IN JURY INSTRUCTIONS?
In order to return a verdict, each verdict (sic)
must agree thereto, but jurors have a duty to consult
with one another and to deliberate with a view to
reaching an agreement if it can be done without
violence to individual judgment. Each juror must decide
the case for himself but only after an impartial
consideration of the evidence with his fellow jurors.
(RR 7 17)
2. Did reversible error result from the Trial Judge’s submitting theft as a lesser included offense of robbery over defense’s timely and specific objections? RR7 11/5
3. Did Egregious harm result from failure to instruct jury on what to do if they find that he is either guilty of robbery or of theft, but they are not sure which, then find him guilty of theft? RR 7 16
4. Is the following closing argument of the prosecutor one of “community expectations”?
13
“So what do we have to do now? You’ve got to send a message to the community that if you go into our property, our gated property -- Mr. Gaubatz told you it was closed -- if you go into our property, you disregard any sort of right for the victim.” (RR 7 48)
5. Did the following argument asking the jurors to take the place of the complaining witness deprive the defendant of a fair trial? U.S.CONST.amend.VI;TEX.CONST.art.I,sec.10
“Wouldn’t you be in fear at 3:00 in the morning? The dog is barking, he gets up, he’s scared. And what happened then? He sees somebody there. He sees an individual going onto his property. Think about how traumatic that was. Think about how traumatic that could have been for all the other victims that raised their hands during voir dire.” (RR 7 48)
6. Was the following harmless error beyond a reasonable doubt?
The prosecutor asked the jury to imagine what would
have happened if the complaining witness had not simply
stopped in his tracks instead of pursuing the
defendant. (RR 7 51/18) Defense counsel objected that
the argument was outside the record. (RR 7 51/21) The
judge overruled the objection. (RR 7 52/1) The
14
prosecutor continued to ask the jury to imagine what
might have happened. (RR 7 51-52)
7. Was the trial court’s bringing back the jury to the courtroom and responding orally, rather than in writing, to their request for evidence fundamental error? TEX.CODE CRIM.P.art.36.27 Did counsel’s inquiry constitute an objection? Was any error harmless beyond a reasonable doubt?
15
Pursuant to Tex.R.App.Proc.38.1(f), Appellant provides the following statement of facts stating concisely without argument the facts pertinent to the issues of points presented:
STATEMENT OF FACTS
1. Did egregious harm result from the following error in the instructions to the jury at guilt/innocence?
EGREGIOUS HARM IN JURY INSTRUCTIONS?
In order to return a verdict, each verdict (sic)
must agree thereto, but jurors have a duty to consult
with one another and to deliberate with a view to
reaching an agreement if it can be done without
violence to individual judgment. Each juror must decide
the case for himself but only after an impartial
consideration of the evidence with his fellow jurors.
(RR 7 17)
2. Did reversible error result from the Trial Judge’s submitting theft as a lesser included offense of robbery over defense’s timely and specific objections? RR7 11/5
3. Did Egregious harm result from failure to instruct jury on what to do if they find that he is either guilty of robbery or of theft, but they are not sure which, then find him guilty of theft? (RR 7 16)
16
4. Is the following closing argument of the prosecutor one of “community expectations”?
“So what do we have to do now? You’ve got to send a message to the community that if you go into our property, our gated property -- Mr. Gaubatz told you it was closed -- if you go into our property, you disregard any sort of right for the victim.” (RR 7 48)
5. Did the following argument asking the jurors to take the place of the complaining witness deprive the defendant of a fair trial? U.S.CONST.amend.VI;TEX.CONST.art.I,sec.10
“Wouldn’t you be in fear at 3:00 in the morning? The dog is barking, he gets up, he’s scared. And what happened then? He sees somebody there. He sees an individual going onto his property. Think about how traumatic that was. Think about how traumatic that could have been for all the other victims that raised their hands during voir dire.” (RR 7 48)
6. Was the following harmless error beyond a reasonable doubt?
The prosecutor asked the jury to imagine what would
have happened if the complaining witness had not simply
stopped in his tracks instead of pursuing the
defendant. (RR 7 51/18) Defense counsel objected that
the argument was outside the record. (RR 7 51/21) The
17
judge overruled the objection. (RR 7 52/1) The
prosecutor continued to ask the jury to imagine what
might have happened. (RR 7 51-52)
7. Was the trial court’s bringing back the jury to the courtroom and responding orally, rather than in writing, to their request for evidence fundamental error? TEX.CODE CRIM.P.art.36.27 Did counsel’s inquiry constitute an objection? Was any error harmless beyond a reasonable doubt?
18
Pursuant to Tex. R. App. Proc. 38.1(g), Appellant provides the following summary of the argument which he hopes the Court will find to be a succinct and accurate statement of the argument made in the body of the brief not merely a repetition of the issues or points presented for review:
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT
1. Did egregious harm result from the following error in the instructions to the jury at guilt/innocence?
“In order to return a verdict, each verdict (sic) must agree thereto, but jurors have a duty to consult with one another and to deliberate with a view to reaching an agreement if it can be done without violence to individual judgment. Each juror must decide the case for himself but only after an impartial consideration of the evidence with his fellow jurors.” (RR 7 17)
Jury verdicts in criminal cases must be unanimous.
The Judge has a duty to instruct the jury on the law
applicable to the case. Failing to instruct the jury
that they must return a unanimous verdict is
fundamental error. The jury asked for evidence, but the
Judge could not give it to them. Their having rendered
a verdict does not make the error in the instructions
moot.
19
2. Did reversible error result from the Trial Judge’s submitting theft as a lesser included offense of robbery over defense’s timely and specific objections? (RR 7 11/5)
There was no evidence that the defendant was only
guilty of theft. That defendant was not convicted of
theft does not obviate the error in submitting theft.
The error is not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt
because submitting the theft as well as the robbery
made it more likely that the jury would convict the
defendant of robbery.
3. Did Egregious harm result from failure to instruct jury on what to do if they find that he is either guilty of robbery or of theft, but they are not sure which, then find him guilty of theft? (RR 7 16)
Failure to instruct jury on what to do if they find that he is either guilty of robbery or of theft, but they are not sure which, then find him guilty of theft is fundamental error. (RR 7 16)
The Judge has a duty to instruct the jury on the
law applicable to the case. The error is not harmless
beyond a reasonable doubt because the instructions are
fundamentally incomplete. They do not tell the jury
20
what to do if they are not sure of which offense the
defendant is guilty.
The indictment charged robbery. Theft is a lesser,
as a matter of law. The defense argued that Appellant
was only guilty of theft, that the Complaining Witness
had come up with the threats and fear statement after
the Harlingen Police did not devote any effort to theft
of a weedeater case. The defense argument was based on
the evidence that the Complaining Witness did not
maintain that he felt threatened at first, that the HPD
did nothing on the theft of the weedeater case until
the CW maintained that he felt threatened, turning
theft into robbery. The instructions as a whole submit
robbery and submit theft.
4. Is the following closing argument of the prosecutor one of “community expectations”?
“So what do we have to do now? You’ve got to send a message to the community that if you go into our property, our gated property -- Mr. Gaubatz told you it was closed -- if you go into our property, you disregard any sort of right for the victim.” (RR 7 48)
21
Saying “Send a message” is akin to “the community
expects”.
5. Did the following argument asking the jurors to take the place of the complaining witness deprive the defendant of a fair trial? U.S.CONST.amend.VI;TEX.CONST.art.I,sec.10
“Wouldn’t you be in fear at 3:00 in the morning? The dog is barking, he gets up, he’s scared. And what happened then? He sees somebody there. He sees an individual going onto his property. Think about how traumatic that was. Think about how traumatic that could have been for all the other victims that raised their hands during voir dire.” (RR 7 48)
It did deprive the defendant of a fair trial. The
verdict is supposed to be based on the evidence, not on
taking the place of the victim, the complaining
witness. Asking the jurors to take the place of the
victim called for a verdict based on inflamed passions,
rather than one based on reason and the evidence.
6. Was the following harmless error beyond a reasonable doubt?
The prosecutor asked the jury to imagine what would
have happened if the complaining witness had not simply
stopped in his tracks instead of pursuing the
22
defendant. (RR 7 51/18) Defense counsel objected that
the argument was outside the record. (RR 7 51/21) The
judge overruled the objection. (RR 7 52/1) The
prosecutor continued to ask the jury to imagine what
might have happened. (RR 7 51-52)
The argument was erroneous because it was outside
the record. It was harmful because it called upon the
jury to rely upon matters outside the record in
reaching their verdict. It was harmful because it
called upon the jury to speculate on what might have
happened instead of basing their verdict on the
evidence. It was not harmful beyond a reasonable doubt
because it called upon the jury to violate the court’s
instructions to base its verdict on the evidence. It
inflamed the passions of the jury and prompted a
verdict based on speculation and emotion rather than
reason.
7. Was the trial court’s bringing back the jury to the courtroom and responding orally, rather than in writing, to their request for evidence fundamental error? TEX.CODE CRIM.P.art.36.27 Did counsel’s inquiry constitute an objection? Was any error harmless beyond a reasonable doubt?
23
Counsel’s inquiry was an objection. The Court’s
action amounted to overruling the objection. The error
was fundamental because the statute requires a written
response to the jury, not an oral one. Calling the jury
into the courtroom tends to emphasize the instruction
given in the courtroom and to deëmphasize the written
instructions.
24
Pursuant to Tex. R. App. Proc. 38.1(h), Appellant provides the following argument or the contentions made, with appropriate citations to the authorities and to the record:
ARGUMENT
1. Did egregious harm result from the following error in the instructions to the jury at guilt/innocence?
Egregious harm did result from this instruction:
“In order to return a verdict, each verdict (sic) must agree thereto, but jurors have a duty to consult with one another and to deliberate with a view to reaching an agreement if it can be done without violence to individual judgment. Each juror must decide the case for himself but only after an impartial consideration of the evidence with his fellow jurors.” (RR 7 17)
“Jury verdicts in criminal cases must be unanimous.”
Day v. State,No. 2-06-005-CR(Tex.App.–Fort Worth May 17,
2007)(not selected for publication)2007WL1441078at*2fn7
See: TEX.CONST.art.V,§13; Francis v. State, 36 S.W.3d
121, 126 (Tex.Crim.App.2000). The Judge has a duty to
instruct the jury on the law applicable to the case.
TEX.CODE CRIM.P.art.36.14 Failing to instruct the jury
that they must return a unanimous verdict is fundamental
25
error. Ngo v.State,175 S.W.3d 738(Tex.Crim.App.En Banc
2005) Cosio v. State,353 S.W.3d766(Tex.Crim.App.2011)
2. Did reversible error result from the Trial Judge’s submitting theft as a lesser included offense of robbery over defense’s timely and specific objections? RR7 11/5
There was no evidence that the defendant was only
guilty of theft. That defendant was not convicted of
theft does not obviate the error in submitting theft. The
error is not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt because
submitting the theft as well as the robbery made it more
likely that the jury would convict the defendant of
robbery.
Three Judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals of
Texas noted that the status of the law was: “an offense
that must be submitted as lesser included if requested by
the accused, may not be submitted at behest of the State
over a defense objection!” Sanders v.
State,664S.W.2d705,710(Tex.Crim.App.1982)(Clinton,J.dis
sent) Counsel may advocate for a position taken by a
minority of Judges. That sort of advocacy is what
26
happened to Plessy v. Ferguson,163 U.S.537(1896) when
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas,
347U.S.483(1954) was argued, successfully. That is what
happened when the Court of Criminal Appeals changed its
mind, twice, in adopting and then, twenty years later,
rejecting factual sufficiency review of the evidence.
Brooks v. State,323S.W.3d893(Tex.Crim.App.2010)
The sequence in Sanders is what happened here. The
defendant was indicted for robbery. The state wanted to
submit theft as a lesser. The defendant objected, the
Trial Court overruled the objection. (RR 7 11/5)
Harm resulted. Theft was not mentioned in the
indictment. Of course it is true that robbery is assault
plus theft. But there was no evidence that the defendant,
if guilty of anything, was only guilty of misdemeanor
theft. The jurors must have thought that since there were
two charges, robbery and theft, and theft was not even
mentioned in the indictment, then he must be guilty of
one or the other.
27
The Court of Appeals should find error, find that
harm did result, and find that the error was not harmless
beyond a reasonable doubt.
3. Did Egregious harm result from failure to instruct jury on what to do if they find that he is either guilty of robbery or of theft, but they are not sure which, then find him guilty of theft? (RR 7 16)
Failure to instruct jury on what to do if they find
that he is either guilty of robbery or of theft, but they
are not sure which, then find him guilty of theft is
fundamental error. (RR 7 16)
The Judge has a duty to instruct the jury on the law
applicable to the case. The error is not harmless beyond
a reasonable doubt because the instructions are
fundamentally incomplete. They do not tell the jury what
to do if they are not sure of which offense the defendant
is guilty.
The indictment charged robbery. Theft is a lesser, as
a matter of law. The defense argued that Appellant was
only guilty of theft, that the Complaining Witness had
28
come up with the threats and fear statement after the
Harlingen Police did not devote any effort to theft of a
weedeater case. The defense argument was based on the
evidence that the Complaining Witness did not maintain
that he felt threatened at first, that the HPD did
nothing on the theft of the weedeater case until the CW
maintained that he felt threatened, turning theft into
robbery. The instructions as a whole submit robbery and
submit theft.
“It wasn’t only until they went in and the Judge gave them his advice that he thought they should treat it as a robbery, then they decided at that point to make it -- to make it into a robbery but originally it was a theft. And what did the Harlingen Police Department do in investigating this case? Absolutely nothing. Absolutely nothing.” (RR 7 34/1-7)
Typically, the trial judge gives an instruction like
this one when there are two offenses of which the
defendant might be convicted:
“If you believe from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of either capital murder or aggravated robbery, but you have a reasonable doubt as to which of said offenses he is guilty, then you must resolve that doubt in the defendant's favor and find him guilty of the lesser offense of aggravated
29
r o b b e r y . ” F u e n t e s v . State,991S.W.2d267,274hn16(Tex.Crim.App.1999)
Giving that instruction on giving the defendant the
benefit of the doubt if the jury were unsure of which
offense he was guilty, implicates both his right to proof
beyond a reasonable doubt, In re
Winship,397U.S.358(1958), and to have the Judge instruct
the jury on the law applicable to the case. TEX.CODE
CRIM.P.art.36.14
Harm resulted, since theft of an $80 weedeater is “a
class B misdemeanor”,TEX.PEN.CODE §31.03(e)(2)(A)(i),
while robbery without a deadly weapon is a “felony of the
second degree” TEX.PEN.CODE.§29.03(b)
It is reversible error not to give such an
instruction if there is some evidence that the defendant
is guilty of the lesser-included offense:
“If there is some evidence that if a defendant is guilty, he is guilty only of a lesser-included offense, then the defendant is entitled to have the jury instructed that it may find the defendant guilty only of the lesser-included offense. Wesbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d 103, 113 (Tex.Crim.App.2000), cert. denied, 532 U.S. 944, 121 S.Ct. 1407, 149
30
L.Ed.2d 349 (2001). “The evidence must establish the lesser-included offense as a valid rational alternative to the charged offense.” Id. (citing Rousseau v. State, 855 S.W.2d 666, 672–73 (Tex.Crim.App.1993)). “Anything more than a scintilla of evidence is sufficient to entitle a defendant to a lesser charge.” Bignall v. State, 887 S.W.2d 21, 23 (Tex.Crim.App.1994).” Rushing v. State,50 S.W.3d 715,742hn42(Tex.App.–Waco 2001,pet.ref’d) [internal quotations unchanged]
The Court of Appeals should find egregious harm,
should find that the error is not harmless beyond a
reasonable doubt, and should require a new trial.
5. Did the following argument asking the jurors to take the place of the complaining witness deprive the defendant of a fair trial? U.S.CONST.amend.VI;TEX.CONST.art.I,sec.10
“Wouldn’t you be in fear at 3:00 in the morning? The dog is barking, he gets up, he’s scared. And what happened then? He sees somebody there. He sees an individual going onto his property. Think about how traumatic that was. Think about how traumatic that could have been for all the other victims that raised their hands during voir dire.” (RR 7 48)
It did deprive the defendant of a fair trial. The
verdict is supposed to be based on the evidence, not on
taking the place of the victim, the complaining witness.
31
Asking the jurors to take the place of the victim called
for a verdict based on inflamed passions, rather than one
based on reason and the evidence.
The prosecutor’s “golden rule” argument, asking the
jury to put itself in the victim’s shoes” required
reversal of a murder conviction. Criminal Law News
November 1, 2010 27 No. 22 West's Criminal Law News 29
That is precisely what the prosecutor’s argument did at
the weedeater trial.
6. Was the following harmless error beyond a reasonable doubt?
The prosecutor asked the jury to imagine what would
have happened if the complaining witness had not simply
stopped in his tracks instead of pursuing the defendant.
(RR 7 51/18) Defense counsel objected that the argument
was outside the record. (RR 7 51/21) The judge overruled
the objection. (RR 7 52/1) The prosecutor continued to
ask the jury to imagine what might have happened. (RR 7
51-52)
32
The argument was erroneous because it was indeed
outside the record. It was harmful because it called upon
the jury to rely upon matters outside the record in
reaching their verdict. It was harmful because it called
upon the jury to speculate on what might have happened
instead of basing their verdict on the evidence. It was
not harmful beyond a reasonable doubt because it called
upon the jury to violate the court’s instructions to base
its verdict on the evidence. It inflamed the passions of
the jury and prompted a verdict based on speculation and
emotion rather than reason.
In a trial on the issue of the defendant's guilt of
murder, the prosecutor committed misconduct by making an
improper “Golden Rule” argument inviting the jury to put
itself in the victim's position. Criminal Law News
November 1, 2010 27 No. 22 West's Criminal Law News 29
The Court of Appeals may consider the opinions and
decisions of Courts of other jurisdictions. Texas
appellate Courts have relied on opinions of California
appellate courts before. The Court of Criminal Appeals
may rely upon opinions of other jurisdictions. “Numerous
33
decisions of other appellate courts, including Texas
courts of appeals and courts of other jurisdictions, are
in accord with our holdings....”Lawrence v. State,240
S.W.3d 912,917 hn12 fn24(Tex.Crim.App.2007) Texas
appellate courts have relied on decisions of California
courts: People v. Davis, 7 Cal.4th 797, 30 Cal.Rptr.2d
50, 872 P.2d 591, 598–99 (1994)
“We conclude that the prosecutor made a sustained Golden Rule closing argument so blatant that it alone requires reversal.” People v. Vance, 116 Cal.Rptr.3d 98,102hn1(2010)
Texas’ Second Court of Appeals did note that a
“Golden Rule” argument is improper.
“It is improper in argument for a prosecutor to ask members of the jury to place themselves in the shoes of the victim. *335 United States v. Cook, 592 F.2d 877 (5th Cir.1979)”
- C h a n d l e r v . S t a t e , 6 8 9 S . W . 3 3 2 , 3 3 4 h n 4 ( T e x . A p p . – F o r t Worth1985,pet.ref’d)
There was an instruction to disregard in Ramirez. It
was ineffective to cure the harm done. Thomas v. State,
578 S.W.2d 691,695(Tex.Crim.App.1979). An instruction to
disregard is ineffective when “the remarks are so
inflammatory that their prejudicial effect cannot
34
reasonably be removed by such an admonition.” Thomas v.
State,578 S.W.2d 691,695(Tex.Crim.App.1979).
The instruction to disregard was ineffective because
of the prosecutor’s portrayal of the complaining witness
as a poor old man who was assaulted in his home by one
who even struck the old man’s dog, and further that the
old man could not get any help from the police.
“Mr. Ramirez escalates the situation. From just the taking of a weedeater and a brief confrontation with Mr. Gaubatz, he escalates it to a threat. He puts his hand behind his back, and again pardon me for my language but this is what was said. He puts his hand behind his back and he looks at Mr. Gaubatz directly in the eyes and he says, “It’s not worth it, I'll fuck you up,” intending to get him to back off so that he can take off with that weedeater. He didn’t want to drop it. He’d been asked to put it down, to leave it. He wasn’t going to. He was trying to get out of there with that weedeater and he was trying to scare Mr. Gaubatz into stopping, to not coming out. You heard, Mr. Gaubatz told us that his dog got a hold of Mr. Ramirez. Mr. Ramirez hit his dog with the weedeater in his hands, got into his truck, into his white Jeep Liberty, and drove off.” (RR 7 24)
So, when the prosecutor asked the jurors to take the
place of the complaining witness, a person in that
situation would be faced with one who had been threatened
35
verbally and who was confronted by another whose
additional threat was veiled...a hand behind his back.
The Judge’s instruction to disregard could not have cured
the effect of asking a jury to imagine being accosted by
a robber.
The Court of Appeals should require a new trial.
7. Was the trial court’s bringing back the jury to the courtroom and responding orally, rather than in writing, to their request for evidence fundamental error? TEX.CODE CRIM.P.art.36.27 Did counsel’s inquiry constitute an objection? Was any error harmless beyond a reasonable doubt?
Counsel’s inquiry was an objection. The Court’s
action amounted to overruling the objection. The error
was fundamental because the statute requires a written
response to the jury, not an oral one. Calling the jury
into the courtroom tends to emphasize the instruction
given in the courtroom and to deëmphasize the written
instructions.
Counsel’s inquiry was an objection.
“A party preserves error by a timely request that makes clear—by words or context—the grounds for the request and by obtaining a ruling on that request, whether express or implicit. TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1. Thus, in Babcock, we held that
36
a party preserved error by asking a specific and proper question, stating the basis on which it sought to ask that question, and obtaining an adverse ruling from the trial court. 767 S.W.2d at 708.” In re Committment of Hill,334 S.W.3d236(Tex.Sup.2011)
The interaction between counsel and the Court in
Ramirez was more subtle, but the result was the same. It
was obvious that Counsel did not agree with bringing the
jury back into the courtroom to answer their note.
“The Court has received a note through the bailiff obviously at 11:07 a.m. It reads as follows, “Need copy of police report to read, need copy of victim affidavit to read,”
and it’s signed by the presiding juror. (RR 7 54/1-5)
***
Defense counsel at trial made it clear that he
objected to bringing the jury back into the courtroom to
be instructed instead of giving them a written
instruction.
“THE COURT: I'll tell you what, why don’t we bring them -- let’s start making arrangements so we can bring them in. MR. PADILLA: For what purpose, Judge? You're going to give them a written answer and response? That’ll probably be faster than bringing them in, Judge.
37
THE COURT: I’m thinking now the verbal admonishment will be faster, but -- MR. PADILLA: Well, there is a record, but -- you know, what happens in the past, Judge, and I know this Court has a lot of experience in trying cases, but they’ll start nitpicking different items, you know, so -- THE COURT: That’s fine. We’ll just -- MR. PADILLA: They won’t ask for any other evidence that was not introduced once you give them that written instruction. THE COURT: We’ll just -- all right. Let’s bring them in. (Jury enters courtroom.)” (RR 7 55/4-23)
The trial court plainly overruled the objection that
the instruction be in writing by saying:
“THE COURT: We’ll just -- all right. Let’s bring them in. (Jury enters courtroom.)” (RR 7 55/4-23)
Defense counsel at trial pointed out the harm of not
complying with the plain words of the statute and the
positive effects of complying with the Rule.
“but they’ll start nitpicking different items, you know, so --
***
MR. PADILLA: They won’t ask for any other evidence that was not introduced once you give them that written instruction.” (RR 7 55/4-23)
The Court of Appeals should not be seduced by the
Sophist’s characterization of TEX.CODE CRIM.P.art.36.27
38
as “not a mandatory statute.” Why bother with statutes,
then? Shall the Legislature now designate each statute
as “mandatory”, just as it declares every enactment an
emergency? This is the “children’s law” one speaking
from the Judgment Seat rejected. Julius Caesar,
39
Pursuant to Tex. R. App. Proc. 38.1(I), Appellant provides a short conclusion that clearly states the nature of the relief sought:
CONCLUSION AND REQUEST FOR RELIEF
For the failure of proof, the Court of Appeals should
acquit the Appellant.
Failing an acquittal, the Court of Appeals should
remand for a new trial.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED February 23, 2015.
/s/Larry Warner Larry Warner, Counsel for Michael Ramirez COA No.13-14-00171-CR 3109 Banyan Circle Harlingen, Tx 78550 7443 Phone (956) 454 4994 Tex.State Bar# 20871500 Usdc,Stdx# 1230 office@larrywarner.com website: larrywarner.com Member, Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States (1984); Board Certified, Criminal Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1983)
40
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that I had delivered a copy of the
foregoing APPELLANT’S INITIAL BRIEF via fax to the
following counsel of record on this 23RD day of February,
2015 to the District Attorney’s office at 964 E. Harrison
Street, 2nd Floor, Brownsville, Texas 78520. Fax: 1-956-
544-0869.
Respectfully Submitted, February 23, 2015.
/s/Larry Warner Larry Warner, Counsel for Appellant
Certificate Of Compliance I certify that this brief complies with TEX.R.APP.9(i) (2)(B) and was prepared using WordPerfect X3, font in Courier New 14pt. And contains 4254 words as counted by the WordCount Tool of this software program.
Respectfully Submitted, February 23, 2015.
/s/Larry Warner Larry Warner, Counsel for Appellant