State Of Washington, V T.t.

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedOctober 29, 2013
Docket42861-0
StatusUnpublished

This text of State Of Washington, V T.t. (State Of Washington, V T.t.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State Of Washington, V T.t., (Wash. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

1` 1 L. ED COURT OF APPEAL. aMIC1110N Ti

2013 OCT 29 A' 9: 47 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF W

DIVISION II

STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 428E

Respondent,

V.

T.T., UNPUBLISHED OPINION

Appellant.

JOHANSON, J. — Following an earlier direct appeal and remand for further proceedings, TT1 again appeals his first degree child rape juvenile court adjudication. He primarily argues

that the juvenile court erred by conducting a supplemental hearing on remand instead of holding

a new trial. Because our 2010 decision reversed TT' s adjudication due to a confrontation clause

violation and we declined to reach TT' s remaining claims, a new trial was required when we

remand[ ed] for further proceedings." Accordingly, we reverse and again remand for a new

trial.

FACTS

In 2008, the juvenile court adjudicated TT guilty of first degree child rape. State v. T.T.,

noted at 157 Wn. App. 1011, 2010 WL 2927453, at * 1. On appeal, TT argued that the juvenile

court had violated his confrontation clause rights by admitting child hearsay testimony when the

State failed to ask the victim at trial about his ( the victim' s) out -of court statements. In 2010, we -

held that the juvenile court violated RCW 9A.44. 120 and TT' s rights under the federal and state

1 We use initials to protect minors' privacy. No. 42861 -0 -II -

confrontational clauses. T.T., 2010 WL 2927453, at * 3. Although TT requested that his charges

be dismissed with prejudice, we disagreed. T.T., 2010 WL 2927453, at * 3. Because the

evidence at trial, including the erroneously admitted hearsay was sufficient to support proof of

the elements of first degree child rape beyond a reasonable doubt, we reversed TT' s adjudication

based solely on the confrontation violation, declined to reach TT' s other arguments, and

remanded for further proceedings. T.T., 2010 WL 2927453, at * 3.

At a hearing on remand, the juvenile court noted that .it had reviewed the State' s trial

memorandum and our 2010 opinion, and had spoken with the State and with defense counsel the

day before. Both parties interpreted our 2010 decision ( 1) to direct the juvenile court to engage

in " further proceedings" which " would be most appropriately handled by the State presenting

additional testimony regarding the child hearsay statements" and ( 2) to not direct the juvenile

court to conduct a new trial. Verbatim Report Proceedings ( Nov. 22, 2011) at 18. The State then

called the child victim to the stand and asked him several questions about the alleged incident

and his out - - ourt statements. Defense counsel was afforded cross- examination. of c

After the State rested, TT moved to dismiss arguing that the victim' s lack of memory

could not support introduction of the child hearsay statements. The juvenile court denied TT' s

motion, ruling that the confrontation clause. and the Clary test were satisfied because the child

victim took the stand and was asked questions about his prior of - ourt out - c statements.. The

juvenile court again adjudicated TT guilty of first degree child rape. TT again appeals his

adjudication.

2 T.T., 2010 WL 2927453, at * 2 ( citing State v. Clark, 139 Wn.2d 152, 159, 985 P. 2d 377 1999)).

2 No. 42861 -0 -I1

ANALYSIS

TT argues that he was entitled to a new trial on remand and that the juvenile court erred

3 by conducting only a supplemental hearing. We agree. A new trial on remand was necessary

because our prior decision reversed based solely on confrontation clause grounds and, thus,

neither reached nor resolved TT' s other arguments on appeal.

RAP 12. 2 provides, in part, " The appellate court may reverse, affirm, or modify the

decision being reviewed and take any other action as the merits of the case and the interest of

justice may require." When an appellate court reverses a judgment and makes no final ruling on

all the issues in a case, the usual procedure contemplated is a new trial. "` This is true when it is

fairly apparent from the court' s discussion of the case that the cause is remanded with that object

in view. "' State v. Jones, 148 Wn.2d 719, 722, 62 P. 3d 887 ( 2003) ( quoting Elliot v. Peterson,

92 Wn.2d 586, 588, 599 P. 2d 1282 ( 1979)). Division One of this court has held that when we

remand " for further proceedings" or instruct a trial court to enter judgment " in any lawful

manner" consistent with our opinion, " we expect the court to exercise its authority to decide any

issue necessary to resolve the case on remand." State v. Schwab, 134 Wn. App. 635, 645, 141

P. 3d 658 ( 2006), aff'd, 163 Wn.2d 664, 185 P. 3d 1151 ( 2008). But such language does not give

the trial court the authority to decide that a new trial is not necessary when our decision has

signaled that the remand is for a new trial. See Jones, 148 Wn.2d at 722.

3 Because we reverse his adjudication and remand for a new trial, we do not reach his ineffective assistance of counsel claim. We also do not reach the insufficiency of the evidence argument because we addressed this issue in our 2010 decision and concluded there was sufficient evidence.

3 No. 42861 -0 -II

This case has important similarities to Jones. In Jones, the Supreme Court reversed the

trial court' s refusal to grant Jones a new trial after Division One of this court had reversed for a

discovery violation and remanded to the trial court. Jones, 148 Wn.2d at 720. Before trial, Jones

had sought discovery of an internal police investigation but the trial court denied his request.

Jones, 148 Wn.2d at 721. After a jury found him guilty, Jones appealed arguing that the police

investigation files were discoverable. Jones, 148 Wn.2d at 721. And Division One agreed,

explaining that the trial court should have at least performed an in- camera examination, and

remanded - or proceedings " consistent with f its opinion." Jones, 148 Wn.2d at 721. Division One

also noted that it need not reach Jones' s remaining arguments because it was reversing on the

discovery violation. Jones, 148 Wn.2d at 722.

On remand, the trial court held an in- camera hearing and decided the investigation files

were discoverable; but it ruled that the information would not have changed the trial' s outcome,

refused to conduct a new trial over Jones' s objection, and left the earlier convictions intact.

Jones, 148 Wn.2d at 721 -22. Jones appealed again and our Supreme Court reversed, holding

that on remand the trial court' s failure to hold a new trial was error. Jones, 148 Wn.2d at 722.

The Supreme Court explained that in the first appeal Division One was dealing with an appeal as

of right under both our court rules and article I, section 22 of the state constitution, and,

therefore, its declining to reach all of Jones' s arguments " plainly signaled the court' s intent that

the remand be for a new trial." Jones, 148 Wn.2d at 722. Otherwise, Division One would have

decided the remaining issues or explained why it was not obligated to do so. Jones, 148 Wn.2d

at 722. " Furthermore, [ Division One] gave specific instructions to the trial court on remand to

determine whether the information was privileged and to what extent, if any, discovery

0 No. 42861 -0 -II

limitations would be necessary.

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Related

State v. Clark
985 P.2d 377 (Washington Supreme Court, 1999)
Elliott v. Peterson
599 P.2d 1282 (Washington Supreme Court, 1979)
State v. Schwab
185 P.3d 1151 (Washington Supreme Court, 2008)
State v. Thomas
83 P.3d 970 (Washington Supreme Court, 2004)
State v. Schwab
141 P.3d 658 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2006)
State v. Clark
139 Wash. 2d 152 (Washington Supreme Court, 1999)
State v. Jones
62 P.3d 887 (Washington Supreme Court, 2003)
State v. Thomas
150 Wash. 2d 821 (Washington Supreme Court, 2004)
State v. Schwab
163 Wash. 2d 664 (Washington Supreme Court, 2008)

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