Smith v. State

444 P.2d 961, 70 N.M. 450
CourtNew Mexico Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 9, 1968
Docket8581
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 444 P.2d 961 (Smith v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Smith v. State, 444 P.2d 961, 70 N.M. 450 (N.M. 1968).

Opinion

444 P.2d 961 (1968)
70 N.M. 450

Diane SMITH, Petitioner-Appellant,
v.
STATE of New Mexico, Defendant-Appellee.

No. 8581.

Supreme Court of New Mexico.

September 9, 1968.

*962 Rudy S. Apodaca, Las Cruces, for appellant.

Boston E. Witt, Atty. Gen., Gary O'Dowd, Spencer T. King, Paul Lacy, Asst. Attys. Gen., Santa Fe, for appellee.

OPINION

MOISE, Justice.

This is an appeal from a denial of relief sought under Rule 93 (§ 21-1-1(93), N.M.S.A. 1953). Appellant was convicted of murder in the first degree. Following conviction, she was sentenced to life imprisonment pursuant to a stipulation between her counsel and the district attorney which was read to the jury, wherein it was agreed that the death penalty would not be sought and that in the event of conviction of murder in the first degree the maximum sentence would be life imprisonment. No appeal was taken from the sentence imposed.

By her motion appellant asserts, generally, denial of her rights under the Constitutions of the United States and the State of New Mexico, without specifying which Articles are claimed to be violated. From her brief, it is apparent that her principal claim is to the effect she was denied due process of law by virtue of the stipulation whereby the jury was deprived of their statutory duty to fix the sentence as provided in § 40A-29-2, N.M.S.A. 1953, which reads:

"When a defendant has been convicted of a capital felony the judge shall sentence that person to death, unless the jury trying such case shall recommend life imprisonment, then the judge shall sentence that person to life imprisonment; provided that in cases wherein the defendant has entered a plea of guilty to the commission of a capital felony, the court may in lieu of sentencing such person to death, sentence the defendant to life imprisonment."

Appellant argues that this statute places on the jury the dual responsibility of determining guilt or innocence and fixing the penalty for first degree murder, and that there may be no waiver of the jury's right and duty concerning the penalty. Our attention is directed to State v. Nelson, 65 N.M. 403, 338 P.2d 301 (1959), cert. denied, 361 U.S. 877, 80 S.Ct. 142, 4 L.Ed.2d 115, wherein we held that § 40-24-10, N.M.S.A. 1953, since repealed and replaced by § 40A-29-2, supra, placed such a two-fold duty on the jury. It was not there determined if a stipulation such as was here entered into would be proper. Also, we note the difference between § 40A-29-2, supra, now in effect, and § 40-24-10, supra, applicable when Nelson, supra, was decided. However, we do not consider the nature or effect of these changes but proceed on the assumption that the law as stated in Nelson, supra, continues unchanged.

Appellant's principal reliance is placed on the reasoning and authority of State v. Christensen, 166 Kan. 152, 199 P.2d 475 (1948), which is the only case passing directly on the issue, although involving a somewhat differently worded statute. This was an appeal from a sentence imposed following conviction in a case where the death penalty had been waived by stipulation, as was done here. The court reversed the conviction holding the statute which provided that "if there is a jury trial the jury shall determine which punishment (death or confinement and hard labor for life) shall be inflicted" was to be literally applied, and that "no stipulation of the parties or consent thereto by the court can change the statute or affect its applicability." *963 It is further stated that under the statute there being considered,

"It is the jury and the jury alone which can determine the penalty, regardless of the attitude of counsel or court. That being the law, it becomes the clear duty of the trial court to so advise the jury and to submit for its determination the question of penalty in the event a verdict of murder in the first degree is returned."

The court there indicated that the authorities "overwhelmingly support the conclusion" that it was reversible error to have proceeded as was done there, and a new trial was granted. We are not aware of any cases to the contrary.

We are not called upon, however, to consider the correctness of the reasoning or result in that case. This is not an appeal from the conviction, but rather is a collateral attack thereon under our Rule 93 procedure. We have held that Rule 93, supra, does not provide a substitute for appeal. State v. Williams, 78 N.M. 431, 432 P.2d 396 (1967). It is a post-conviction remedy, civil in nature, substantially equivalent to habeas corpus, State v. Weddle, 77 N.M. 420, 423 P.2d 611 (1967); United States v. Anselmi, 207 F.2d 312 (3rd Cir.1953), cert. denied, 347 U.S. 902, 74 S.Ct. 430, 98 L.Ed. 1061, and an issue not properly cognizable in a habeas corpus proceeding cannot furnish basis for relief under Rule 93. See State v. Ramirez, 78 N.M. 418, 432 P.2d 262 (1967).

It appears that after the reversal and remand in State v. Christensen, supra, while the defendant was being held in jail awaiting re-trial, she sought habeas corpus asserting that she had been placed in jeopardy in the first trial and since the reversal was not because of any claims advanced by her, to try her again would amount to double jeopardy. In Application of Christensen, 166 Kan. 671, 203 P.2d 258 (1949), it was held that the adoption of the stipulation whereby the question of the penalty to be inflicted in the event defendant was found guilty of first degree murder amounted to a trial error only and, accordingly, by appealing and seeking a new trial defendant had waived any claim based on prior jeopardy, and was not entitled to be released on habeas corpus.

Applying the same reasoning here and assuming, without deciding, that it was error to proceed as was done, we are led to the conclusion that Rule 93 is not a proper device to obtain a review of what may have been a trial error. It is clear that Kansas, relied on by appellant, holds it was nothing more. It must follow that even though the question of the claimed error could have been raised on appeal and a decision obtained, appellant cannot succeed here through collateral attack. State v. Selgado, 78 N.M. 165, 429 P.2d 363 (1967).

Moreover, the trial court found that the stipulation wherein it was agreed that the jury should not be permitted to return a verdict calling for the death penalty was entered into by counsel for defendant as a part of the trial strategy and should not be made the basis for relief under Rule 93. With this we agree. Compare State v. Selgado, supra. In our view, appellant has had the benefit of possible acquittal, or conviction of a lesser degree of homicide, without risking the death penalty. We see no deprivation of any constitutionally guaranteed right, nor do we see any prejudice in appellant having been given a trial free from the risks incident to having the jury consider the possibility of imposing death as the penalty, in the event of a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree. It may have been legally erroneous to have so proceeded, as held in Kansas, but appellant lost nothing thereby and should not now be heard to complain in this proceeding. Compare State v. Blackwell, 76 N.M. 445, 415 P.2d 563 (1966).

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444 P.2d 961, 70 N.M. 450, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/smith-v-state-nm-1968.