Montgomery v. Sheldon, s. CV-94-0008-P

• Court: Supreme Court of Arizona
• Citation: 893 P.2d 1281,182 Ariz. 118
• Docket Number: Nos. CV-94-0008-P,CV-94-0159-PR,s. CV-94-0008-P
• Parties: Jackie MONTGOMERY, Petitioner, v. Honorable Steven D. SHELDON, Judge, Maricopa County Superior Court, State of Arizona, Respondent Judge, STATE of Arizona, Real Party in Interest. Joe David CAMPBELL, Petitioner, v. Honorable Michael J. O'MELIA, Judge, Maricopa County Superior Court, State of Arizona, Respondent Judge, STATE of Arizona, Real Party in Interest.
• Decision Date: 04 April 1995

Page 1281

893 P.2d 1281

182 Ariz. 118

Jackie MONTGOMERY, Petitioner, v. Honorable Steven D. SHELDON, Judge, Maricopa County Superior Court, State of Arizona, Respondent Judge, STATE of Arizona, Real Party in Interest.

Joe David CAMPBELL, Petitioner, v. Honorable Michael J. O'MELIA, Judge, Maricopa County Superior Court, State of Arizona, Respondent Judge, STATE of Arizona, Real Party in Interest.

Nos. CV-94-0008-PR, CV-94-0159-PR.

Supreme Court of Arizona, In Banc.

April 4, 1995.

Dean W. Trebesch, Maricopa County Public Defender by James H. Kemper, Phoenix, for petitioner.

Richard M. Romley, Maricopa County Atty. by Gerald R. Grant, Arthur G. Hazelton, Diane E.W. Gunnels, Phoenix, for real party in interest.

Grant Woods, Atty. Gen. by Paul J. McMurdie, Randall H. Howe, Phoenix, for amicus curiae.

FELDMAN, Chief Justice.

The state has filed a Motion for Clarification. Ariz.R.Crim.P. 31.18(b). Because the motion and the responses indicate that the opinion may be misconstrued, we grant the motion and clarify the points raised.

First, the state questions requiring the court of appeals to search the record for fundamental error. This, the state alleges, conflicts with Ariz.R.Crim.P. 32.9(c)(1)(ii), which supposedly precludes analysis of issues not presented in the petition for review. Second, the state fears that if a search for fundamental error is required, the opinion could be read as holding that review of the petition is no longer discretionary under Ariz.R.Crim.P. 32.9(f).

A guilty plea cannot waive the right to appellate review. ¹ Ariz. Const. art. 2, § 24; Wilson v. Ellis, 176 Ariz. 121, 123, 859 P.2d 744, 746 (1993). Thus, as Wilson made clear, art. 2, § 24 requires that some form of appeal be available even when a defendant pleads guilty. Recent rule changes, however, do provide that a defendant pleading guilty waives any direct appeal. Ariz.R.Crim.P. 17.1. Presently then, appellate review for such a defendant is by Rule 32, a much narrower avenue. Id. Thus, because a Rule 32 proceeding is the appeal for a defendant pleading guilty, A.R.S. § 13-4035 requires the court of appeals to search for fundamental error.

This practice conforms with Rule 32.9(C)(1)(ii), which only directs a petitioner to specify those issues the appellate court is asked to review. Nothing in that or any other rule, however, precludes the court of appeals from examining the record before it for fundamental error. ² Indeed, a search for fundamental error logically applies solely to issues the defendant failed to raise but which appear in the record. Moreover, the court may still disregard any such error that does not meet the stringent standard of fundamental error. State v. Bible, 175 Ariz. 549, 573, 858 P.2d 1152, 1176 (1993), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 114 S.Ct. 1578, 128 L.Ed.2d 221 (1994). ³

Searching for fundamental error is not a burdensome requirement. The record in non-capital plea cases is typically short and uncomplicated. And Rule 32.9(e) already provides that when a petition for review is filed, the trial court record "shall be transmitted to the appellate court." Thus, no new procedures are necessary.

Nor does examining the record for fundamental error mean that review under Rule 32.9(f) is no longer discretionary. We do not require the court of appeals to grant a defendant's petition for review before searching the record for fundamental error. Although this procedure troubles the dissent, the court of appeals has embraced it. In State v. Whipple, the court stated that it can both summarily deny review of petitions that the trial court correctly denied and also look for fundamental error. 177 Ariz. 272, 273 n. 3, 866 P.2d 1358, 1359 n. 3 (App.1993). We agree. The court of appeals is well able to look for fundamental error at the same time that it considers whether to accept the petition for further analysis. The court must simply state in any order denying review that it has examined the record and found no fundamental error. The court need not perfunctorily grant review and deny relief to search for fundamental error. Nor must it file a memorandum decision.

Thus, we create no revolutionary process. Consistent with Ariz. Const. art. 2, § 24 and A.R.S. § 13-4035, the court of appeals must examine the record before it for fundamental error when a pleading defendant petitions for review from the denial of a Rule 32 petition. The court of appeals may still summarily reject claims in such petitions and may deny review by summary order. Such order need only state that the court has searched the record for fundamental error and found none. The court must file a written decision or opinion only if it finds fundamental error. This will eliminate most if not all questions about fundamental error and, we believe, foster more expeditious dispositions in plea cases, bringing earlier finality for victims and defendants alike. Ariz. Const. art. 2, § 2.1(A)(10).

The dissent continues to express a view that would compel us to hold the amended rule unconstitutional. This we refuse to do. It is in the interests of all--victims, defendants, and the public at large--to expedite post-conviction proceedings while at the same time preserving constitutional protections. See Wilson, 176 Ariz. at 124, 859 P.2d at 747. Hence, we interpret the rule to eliminate direct appeals by pleading defendants and thus end the ping pong of direct appeal to the court of appeals and petition for review to this court, then remand for Rule 32 proceedings, followed by petition for review to the court of appeals, followed by petition for review here. We preserve the constitutionally guaranteed right of appellate review but eliminate the first steps in the process and start with Rule 32 procedures, at which time defendants may produce any evidence they may have to establish the invalidity of the plea. We follow with one appellate proceeding to review whatever is provided by way of record. There is no mystery in this and should be no controversy.

MOELLER, V.C.J., and CORCORAN and ZLAKET, JJ., concur.

MARTONE, Justice, dissenting.

The supplemental opinion of the majority illustrates the unsuitability of a post-conviction relief rule for direct appellate review. I dissented from the court's conversion of review of the denial of a post-conviction petition to constitutionally required direct appellate review. Montgomery v. Sheldon, 181 Ariz. 256, 261, 889 P.2d 614, 619 (1995) (Martone, J., dissenting). I do not repeat that dissent here. But the supplemental opinion is no satisfactory answer to the dilemma raised by the motion for reconsideration. Review for fundamental error was not the issue raised in this case. It was first raised by this court in footnote 5 of the majority opinion. Because of unintended consequences, it is always risky to decide issues that are not presented by a case.

The majority says that the court of appeals can review for fundamental error in a case in which the record is incomplete, and even in one with no transcript. But is that...