United States v. Griffin

16 M.J. 836, 1983 CMR LEXIS 868
CourtUnited States Court of Military Appeals
DecidedJune 16, 1983
DocketNMCM 82 3156
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 16 M.J. 836 (United States v. Griffin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Military Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Griffin, 16 M.J. 836, 1983 CMR LEXIS 868 (cma 1983).

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Appellant was tried by a special court-martial on 2, 3, 4, and 5 February 1982, at Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on a charge alleging five violations of Article 92, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. § 892, and an additional charge alleging perjury in vio[837]*837lation of Article 131, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 931. The Charge was referred to trial on 17 December 1981 and the Additional Charge was referred on 5 January 1982. Contrary to his pleas, appellant was convicted of the offenses charged and sentenced by the military judge to confinement at hard labor for four months, forfeitures of $367 pay per month for four months, reduction to pay grade E-l, and a bad-conduct discharge. On 24 March 1982, the convening authority approved the findings and sentence as adjudged, as did the supervisory authority on 6 May 1982, with the exception of a modification to the findings pertaining to specification 5 of the Charge.

In advising appellant of his rights to counsel pursuant to Article 38(b), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 838(b), the military judge informed him that he was not entitled to representation by both detailed and individual military counsel. This counsel advice complied with Article 38(b), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 838(b), as amended by the Military Justice Amendments of 1981. The amended version of the statute, however, is applicable only to cases referred to trial on or after 20 January 1982. Since the instant offenses were referred prior to that date, appellant was entitled to retain detailed counsel even if he elected representation by individual military counsel, as provided by the pre-amended version of Article 38(b), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 838(b). Appellant was further apprised of the discretionary right to the appointment of assistant defense counsel,1 see Article 38(b)(6)(A), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 838(b)(6)(A), and indicated that he was satisfied with detailed counsel and that he did not desire representation by any other military lawyer.2

On 24 February 1983, we directed appellate counsel to submit briefs on the issue of whether the erroneous counsel advice was materially prejudicial to the sub[838]*838stantial rights of appellant. Considering the importance of the right to counsel and the precedent established in prior case law, we answer this question in the affirmative.

The Court of Military Appeals, in United States v. Donohew, 18 U.S.C.M.A. 149, 89 C.M.R. 149 (1969), unequivocally mandated that “the record should contain the accused’s personal response to direct questions incorporating each of the elements of Article 38(b), as well as his understanding thereunder.” Id. at 152, 39 C.M.R. at 152. The purpose of the Court’s decision is to insure that an accused is properly advised and adequately understands the representation rights afforded him under the provisions of Article 38(b), UCMJ. United States v. Copes, 1 M.J. 182 (C.M.A.1975); United States v. Bowman, 20 U.S.C.M.A. 119, 42 C.M.R. 311 (1970); United States v. Fortier, 19 U.S.C.M.A. 149, 41 C.M.R. 149 (1969). When an accused receives erroneous counsel advice prejudice is apparent because it is impossible for a reviewing court to determine from the record what choice the accused would have made had he been appropriately advised. United States v. Jorge, 1 M.J. 184 (C.M.A.1975); United States v. Moore, 7 M.J. 693 (N.C.M.R.1979).

It is evident that appellant was prejudiced by the error in the instant case for we have no way of determining whether appellant would have exercised his right to representation by both detailed and individual military counsel had he known that he was entitled thereto. See, e.g., United States v. Jorge, supra. Appellant’s expressed satisfaction with detailed counsel and his explicit statement that he did not desire representation by any other military lawyer failed to establish on the record what decision appellant would have made in this regard had he been properly advised. It is conceivable that appellant would have chosen individual military counsel had he not believed that such representation would jeopardize his right to the services of detailed counsel. Under such circumstances we will not presume waiver by appellant of his right to individual military counsel. Cf. Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 62 S.Ct. 457, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942); Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 58 S.Ct. 1019, 82 L.Ed. 1461 (1938); United States v. Johnson, 659 F.2d 415 (4th Cir.1981); United States v. Cohen, 419 F.2d 1124 (8th Cir.1969). “An accused cannot be found to have waived a right if he was not aware that he had it.” Irving v. Breazeale, 400 F.2d 231, 235 (5th Cir.1968).

From our examination of the record, we are not completely convinced that appellant understood the right — subject to the sole discretion of the convening authority— to the services of an assistant defense counsel. Nevertheless, we believe that the counsel advice, taken in its entirety, fully supports the conclusion that appellant affirma_ tively indicated his desire not to retain an assistant counsel. See footnote 1, supra. When the record reveals an affirmative acquiescence to the relinquishment of a counsel right, the burden is upon the accused to “show by a preponderance of the evidence that his acquiescence was not sufficiently understanding and intelligent to amount to a waiver.” Carnley v. Cochran, 369 U.S. 506, 516, 82 S.Ct. 884, 890, 8 L.Ed.2d 70 (1962).3 Accord, Moore v. Michigan, 355 U.S. 155, 78 S.Ct. 191, 2 L.Ed.2d 167 (1957). Appellant has failed to overcome this burden.

Our finding that appellant understood his right to the appointment of assistant defense counsel pursuant to Article 38(b)(6)(A), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 838(b)(6)(A), has only a partial curative effect upon the erroneous counsel advice given in the instant case for appellant’s right to individual military counsel was much more comprehensive than that to assistant counsel. It was mandatory that appellant be provided individual military counsel in addition to detailed counsel if he so desired and if such counsel was determined to be reasonably available, see, e.g., United States v. Matthews, 15 M.J.

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16 M.J. 836, 1983 CMR LEXIS 868, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-griffin-cma-1983.