Tasby v. U.S.

• Decision Date: 20 January 1975
• Docket Number: No. 74-1199,74-1199
• Citation: 504 F.2d 332
• Parties: Johnnie TASBY, Appellant, v. UNITED STATES of America, Appellee.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit

Page 332

504 F.2d 332

Johnnie TASBY, Appellant, v. UNITED STATES of America, Appellee.

No. 74-1199.

United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.

Submitted Sept. 10, 1974.

Decided Oct. 10, 1974, Certiorari Denied Jan. 20, 1975, See

95 S.Ct. 811.

John B. Hainen, DeQueen, ark., for appellant.

Robert E. Johnson, U.S. Atty., Fort Smith, ark., for appellee.

Before GIBSON, Chief Judge, BRIGHT, Circuit Judge, and SMITH, Senior District Judge. ^*

GIBSON, Chief Judge.

Johnnie Tasby appeals his jury conviction of making a false material declaration in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1623. ¹ He was sentenced to a term of three years imprisonment to run consecutively to the term he is now serving. This prosecution arises from Tasby's testimony given under oath during two previous court proceedings. In the first proceeding Tasby was convicted of interstate kidnapping. This was affirmed on appeal, Tasby v. United States, 451 F.2d 394 (8th Cir. 1971), cert. denied, 406 U.S. 922, 92 S.Ct. 1787, 32 L.Ed.2d 122 (1972). Subsequently, Tasby brought a petition for post-conviction relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2255 which was denied after a hearing in the district court. This denial was affirmed on appeal, Tasby v. United States, no. 74-1916 (8th Cir., filed March 14, 1974), cert. denied, 417 U.S. 971, 94 S.Ct. 3176, 41 L.Ed.2d 1142 (1974).

At his original kidnapping trial Tasby testified in his own behalf. This occurred only after a record was made establishing through Tasby's own testimony that his attorney, Mr. Peek, had advised him not to take the stand, had explained to him the possible consequences of taking the stand, and that Tasby still wished to testify. ²

In the later 2255 proceeding Tasby claimed the ineffective assistance of counsel. In support of this claim Tasby testified that he did not wish to take the stand at the original trial. Further he stated that Mr. Peek had never advised him not to take the stand, alleging that he was coerced into taking the stand by Mr. Peek's statements that he would get 25 years to life if he did not testify. Since Tasby's testimony in his 2255 proceeding is crucial to the perjury charge, it is set forth in considerable detail in the margin, as is Mr. Peek's testimony. ³

We turn to Tasby's assignments of error. He alleges that: (1) the indictment was insufficient; (2) the court improperly commented upon the evidence; (3) the prosecutor improperly commented upon his failure to testify; (4) that Mr. Peek was allowed to testify in violation of the attorney-client relationship; (5) the court erred in determining materiality; (6) the court imposed an excessive sentence; and (7) the cumulative effects of the prior errors denied him a fair trial.

The indictment in this case adequately sets forth the elements of the offense charged. That is all that is required by Fed.R.Crim.P. 7(c). As stated in United States v. Debrow, 346 U.S. 374, 378, 74 S.Ct. 113, 116, 98 L.Ed. 92 (1953):

The sufficiency of the indictment is not a question of whether it could have been made more definite and certain. If the defendants wanted more definite information * * * they could have obtained it by requesting a bill of particulars. Rule 7(f), F.R.Crim.Proc.

The date of the allegedly false testimony is explicitly set forth and reference is made therein to the original kidnapping trial, but the date of that trial is not stated. The fact that the indictment does not set forth the time and place of the original trial does not render the indictment defective. There was only one original kidnapping trial. Tasby was a major participant. He knew the date and further could confirm it if he so desired. This issue is patently frivolous. It relates only to court records and only concerns court proceedings in which the defendant was a party. This information, if really necessary to prepare a defense, could have been sought by a motion for bill of particulars.

We have reviewed the statements alleged by Tasby to be an improper comment by the court on the evidence and those of the prosecutor alleged to be improper comment on his failure to testify and do not find them objectionable. The judge's statement concerning a formal witness to prove an unassailed court record was not a comment on the credibility of the witness. The prosecutor's comment was to some extent invited, but was really collateral to the issue in this case and was not a comment on Tasby's failure to take the stand in the perjury trial. If either could be considered error, we are satisfied that this error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Irrefragably Tasby is nailed by his own testimony and the written record of judicial proceedings. There are no relevant disputed factual issues except Tasby's incredible contentions.

We find no violation of the attorney-client privilege in the facts of this case. It has long been the law that a client may waive protection of the privilege, either expressly or impliedly. Blackburn v. Crawfords, 70 U.S. (3 Wall.) 175, 194, 18 L.Ed. 186 (1865). One of the circumstances which may support a conclusion of a waiver is an attack by the client upon his attorney's conduct which calls into question the substance of their communications. A client has a privilege to keep his conversations with his attorney confidential, but that privilege is waived when a client attacks his attorney's competence in giving legal advice, puts in issue that advice and ascribes a course of action to his attorney that raises the specter of ineffectiveness or incompetence. Here, the confidentiality of the attorney-client relationship was breached by Tasby. Surely a client is not free to make various allegations of misconduct and incompetence while the attorney's lips are sealed by invocation of the attorney-client privilege. Such an incongruous result would be inconsistent with the object and purpose of the attorney-client privilege and a patent perversion of the rule. When a client calls into public question the competence of his attorney, the privilege is waived. Laughner v. United States, 373 F.2d 326 (5th Cir. 1967); Sherman v. United States,261 F.Supp. 522, 531 (D.Haw.), aff'd 383 F.2d 837 (9th Cir. 1966); see Pruitt v. Peyton, 243 F.Supp. 907 (E.D.Va.1965); United States v. Butler,167 F.Supp. 102 (E.D.Va. 1957), aff'd 260 F.2d 574 (4th Cir. 1958).

Tasby at the 2255 hearing attacked the representation of his attorney, thereby putting into question the substance of his communications with Tasby. We think this establishes Tasby's waiver of the privilege. In the present proceeding, Mr. Peek's testimony was relevant and material as to the truth or falsity of Tasby's prior declarations and the trial court was not in error in allowing Mr. Peek to testify.

The foundation of our adversary system is the search to elicit the truth from witnesses concerning factual occurrences. False testimony is anaethema to the system and is not to be consciously and knowingly countenanced. When incredibility and doubt attend the testimony of any witness it clouds the picture, but perjury prevents the ascertainment of the actual facts. We regard perjury, or the making of false material declarations, as a serious offense and as an assault upon the cornerstone of our judicial system.

While courts are created to decide controversies amongst contending parties with conflicting claims, their task is made immeasurably more difficult, considering the limited judicial resources available, when further burdened with knowingly perjured claims.

We are not unmindful that prosecution of petitioner for making false material declarations in his 2255 proceeding is a matter which could have ramifications upon the increasing flood of prisoner petitions. We would emphasize that this case is not concerned with cutting off the flow of bona fide claims respecting constitutional and legal rights. We are concerned only with the making of false and perjurious claims, and where such claims are knowingly made, appropriate action should be taken by the proper authorities. Our review of the record in this case convinces us that a false claim was made here and prosecution was properly instituted.

That the testimony Tasby gave at the 2255 hearing regarding his attorney's advice to testify was material requires no discussion. His petition alleged the ineffective assistance of counsel and his attorney's advice regarding whether he should testify or not was material to the resolution of that issue. It was not error for the court to instruct the jury as to its materiality. The materiality of a false declaration in a 1623 prosecution is a question of law for the trial court to determine. United States v. Koonce,485 F.2d 374 (8th Cir. 1973).

The sentence of three years imposed by the court was within the statutory limit and thus cannot be said to be excessive. The imposition of consecutive sentences is within the power of the sentencing judge. Thus, the argument that Tasby's three year sentence was excessive lacks merit. Having found no errors in the conduct of the trial, it is obvious that the claim regarding the cumulative effect of the alleged errors must fail.

Judgment of conviction affirmed.

* The Honorable Talbot Smith, United States Senior District Judge, Eastern District of Michigan, sitting by designation.

1 18...