DENNIS MANAFORD WHITNEY, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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Dennis Whitney, convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death, sought collateral relief arguing denial of due process on multiple grounds including pretrial publicity, prosecutorial misconduct, and ineffective assistance of counsel. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's dismissal, holding that previously litigated issues were barred by res judicata and that new issues were not appropriately subject to collateral attack.
The court affirmed the trial judge's dismissal order, holding that issues previously raised in habeas corpus proceedings (prosecutorial argument and guilty plea procedure) were barred by res judicata, and that the newly raised issues (pretrial publicity, failure to call witnesses, and confession admissibility) were not appropriately subject to collateral attack under Criminal Procedure Rule No. 1.
“Proceedings under Criminal Procedure Rule No. 1 have been held to be civil... Principles of res adjudicata applicable to civil matters would prevent the same issues being raised in a subsequent proceeding if they actually were, should have or could have been raised in a prior proceeding.”
Establishes that res judicata applies to Rule No. 1 proceedings, barring previously litigated issues
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceWhitney was convicted of first-degree murder without a recommendation of mercy and received a capital sentence. His conviction had been reviewed multi…
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The appellant in this cause was convicted of first degree murder without a recommendation of mercy, and received a capital sentence in accordance therewith. The propriety of this judgment of conviction has been before the courts of this State on several occasions [see: Whitney v. State, Fla.1961, 132 So.2d 599; Whitney v. Cochran, Fla.1963, 152 So.2d 727], and was before the Federal court [see: Whitney v. Wainwright, 5th Cir.1964, 339 F.2d 275].
Subsequent to the last proceeding in the Federal court, a petition for relief, pursuant to Criminal Procedure Rule No. 1, F.S.A. ch. 924 Appendix, was filed in the trial court. Following a response by the State, the trial judge entered an order finding that all matters raised in the petition were res adjudicata because of prior appellate or habeas corpus proceedings. An appeal from this order was taken to the Supreme Court of Florida, pursuant to the provisions of the Florida Constitution lodging jurisdiction in that court to review capital sentences. See: § 4, Art. V, Florida Constitution, F.S.A. Thereafter, following a motion to transfer by the State, the cause was transferred to this court for determination by order of the Supreme Court of Florida.
By his brief, the appellant contends that the court committed error in holding that the prior appellate or habeas corpus proceedings were res adjudicata, this being a criminal matter, and his judgment of con*209viction is subject to collateral attack for the following reasons: 1. The appellant was denied due process of law on the issue of mercy because of excessive and prejudicial pre-trial publicity. 2. The closing argument of the State Attorney that a verdict with a recommendation of mercy would allow the appellant to be paroled was a denial of due process on the question of mercy. 3. The court cannot accept a guilty plea without first ascertaining from the defendant that he is aware of the consequences of his plea and his constitutional guarantees. 4. The appellant was deprived of a fair trial on the question of mercy, because the jury did not hear defense psychiatric witnesses. 5. Extra-judicial confessions made by the defendant without counsel are inadmissible evidence.
Proceedings under Criminal Procedure Rule No. 1 have been held to be civil. See: State v. Weeks, Fla.1964, 166 So.2d 892; Barton v. State, Fla.App.1965, 176 So.2d 597. Principles of res adjudicata applicable to civil matters would prevent the same issues being raised in a subsequent proceeding if they actually were, should have or could have been raised in a prior proceeding. See: Hay v. Salisbury, 92 Fla. 446, 109 So. 617; Tilton v. Horton, 103 Fla. 497, 137 So. 801, 139 So. 142; 19 Fla. Jur., Judgments and Decrees, § 120. However, res adjudicata in a Criminal Procedure Rule No. 1 matter should be applicable only to those items actually raised in the prior proceedings, and not to new grounds. In this connection, see: Johnson v. Lindsey, 89 Fla. 143, 103 So. 419; Washington v. Mayo, Fla.1955, 77 So.2d 620; Piehl v. State, Fla.App.1965, 173 So.2d 723; Weeks v. State, Fla.App.1966, 181 So.2d 746 [opinion filed January 18, 1966]; Sanders v. United States, 373 U.S. 1, 83 S.Ct. 1068, 10 L.Ed.2d 148; Burgess v. United States, 9th Cir.1963, 319 F.2d 345; Hayes v. United States, 5th Cir.1963, 323 F.2d 954.
It appears that reasons numbers 2 and 3, raised in the appellant’s brief, were before the Supreme Court of Florida in the prior habeas corpus proceedings. See: Whitney v. Cochran, supra. Therefore, so much of the trial judge’s order which denied relief on these grounds, upon the doctrine of res adjudicata, is hereby affirmed. As to the other reasons [numbers 1, 4 and 5], even though the trial judge may have denied relief upon the wrong principle,' it appears that his decision was correct, as will be hereinafter discussed, and therefore, under the doctrine that even if the wrong reasons were given the right result is obtained, the order here under review should be affirmed. See: Savage v. State, Fla.App.1963, 156 So.2d 566; Gaines v. State, Fla.App.1965, 172 So.2d 887.
Turning to reasons 1, 4 and 5, which were first raised in the petition, these are not appropriately the subject matter of a collateral attack.
As to the first reason, lack of due process of law because of excessive publicity, see: Simpson v. State, Fla.App.1964, 165 So.2d 195; Sheppard v. Maxwell, 6th Cir.1965, 346 F.2d 707. No motion for change of venue was made, nor were the peremptory challenges exhausted in the case sub judice. Therefore, the cases relied upon by the appellant [see: Irving v. Dowd, 366 U.S. 717, 81 S.Ct. 1639, 6 L.Ed. 2d 751; Rideau v. State of Louisiana, 373 U.S. 723, 83 S.Ct. 1417, 10 L.Ed.2d 663] are not applicable.
As to the fourth reason, failure of counsel to call witnesses, see: Simpson v. State, supra; also Brookins v. State, Fla. App.1965, 174 So.2d 578. Certainly this matter was the subject of attention by the Supreme Court of Florida in the habeas corpus proceeding, because although not specifically raised the court said the following at 152 So.2d at page 730 of that opinion [Whitney v. Cochran, supra] :
* * * * * *
“ * * * The record is devoid of any evidence that petitioner’s counsel failed to act in good faith or that they acted in collusion with the state or *210from any unfaithful motive. Even an obvious tactical blunder, and we do not hold that one was demonstrated here, will seldom support a post conviction assault on a judgment of guilt. Unless such an error makes of the trial and the administration of justice a farce or a mockery a conviction will not be disturbed. The record here is devoid of any sufficient showing in this regard. United States v. Malfetti, D.C., 125 F.Supp. 27, affirmed [3 Cir.] 213 F.2d 728; United States v. Sobell, D.C., 142 F.Supp. 515, affirmed [2 Cir.] 244 F.2d 520, cert. den. 355 U.S. 873, 78 S.Ct. 120, 2 L.Ed.2d 77; Alexander v. United States, 5 Cir., 290 F.2d 252; Snell v. State, 158 Fla. 431, 28 So.2d 863, cert. den. 331 U.S. 830, 67 S.Ct. 1352, 91 L.Ed. 1844; McCall v. State, 136 Fla. 317, 186 So. 510.”
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As to the fifth reason, the admissibility of the extra-judicial confession, the appellant relies on the United States Supreme Court decision in Escobedo v. State of Illinois, 378 U.S. 478, 84 S.Ct. 1758, 12 L.Ed.2d 977. It has been held that this opinion is not to be given retroactive effect. See: Bell v. State, Fla.App.1965, 175 So.2d 80, cert. den. Fla.1965, 183 So.2d 209 [opinion filed November 2, 1965]; Thompson v. State, Fla.App.1965, 176 So.2d 564; Linkletter v. Walker, 381 U.S. 618, 85 S.Ct. 1731, 14 L.Ed.2d 601; United States ex rel. Walden v. Pate, 7th Cir.1965, 350 F.2d 240; Hayes v. United States, E.D.Mo.1964, 236 F.Supp. 225; United States ex rel. Conroy v. Pate, N.D.Ill.1965, 240 F.Supp. 237; In re Lopez, 62 Cal.2d 368, 42 Cal.Rptr. 188, 398 P.2d 380; Ruark v. People, Colo., 1965, 405 P.2d 751; State v. Johnson, 1965, 43 N.J. 572, 206 A.2d 737; State v. Davis, 1965, 88 N.J.Super. 528, 212 A.2d 859; People v. Hovnanian, 1964, 22 A.D.2d 686, 253 N.Y.S.2d 241; Levy, Realist Jurisprudence and Prospective Overruling, 109 U.Pa.L.Rev. 1.
The appellant was duly called before the bar of justice of this State, legally tried and convicted of a capital offense, which original trial has received more than adequate judicial review. It is never a pleasant task when the State must be called upon to carry out the penalty for the commission of a capital crime. However, in the orderly process of the administration of justice, all causes must ultimately come to an end. It appears from this record, and from the prior opinions of the Supreme Court of Florida, that the appellant has at all times been adequately represented by capable members of the Florida bar; and the people of this State have a right to expect the mandates of the law to be carried out and judicial process brought to an end.
Therefore, the order of the trial judge here under review is hereby affirmed, and the appellant shall stand subject to the original judgment and sentence.
Affirmed as ordered.
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State v. Meneses, 392 So. 2d 905 (Fla. 1981)…ither party may appeal an unfavorable ruling by the trial court on the motion to vacate, and (b) successive motions to vacate may be filed and appeals taken from rulings thereon so long as new grounds are raised in each motion. See Whitney v. State, 184 So. 2d 207, 209 (Fla. 3d DCA 1966); 9A Fla.Jur. “Criminal Law” § 540 (1972). By requiring the trial court to entertain such motions and the appellate courts to review rulings thereon regardless of the status of other appellate remedies being simultaneously pur…
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Nova v. State, 439 So. 2d 255 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983)…est of raising a new ground and is otherwise appropriate under that rule, the fact that such ground was known to the defendant and could have been but was not made the subject of a prior 3.850 motion is no basis for denying relief. Whitney v. State, 184 So. 2d 207 (Fla. 3d DCA 1966), and cases collected therein; Lawson v. State, 231 So. 2d 205; Richardson v. State, 202 So. 2d 137; Weeks v. State, 201 So. 2d 764; Hall v. State, 183 So. 2d 277. No matter how many prior applications for collateral relief a priso…
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Amos A. Sistrunk v. City OF Dunedin & Gallagher Bassett Ins. Servs., 513 So. 2d 200 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987)…$5.00 an hour. Cf. Howard v. State, 462 So. 2d 31 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984), pet. for rev. denied, 475 So. 2d 694 (Fla.1985) (even though trial judge denied relief on wrong principle, order should be affirmed, if correct result reached); Whitney v. State, 184 So. 2d 207 (Fla. 3d DCA), cert. denied, 192 So. 2d 490 (Fla.1966) (order on review should be affirmed under doctrine that even if wrong reasons were given the right result was obtained). For the above reasons, the order is reversed and remanded. On remand, th…
Previewing 3 of 28 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited (37 total)
- Escobedo v. Illinois, 378 U.S. 478 (U.S. 1964)
- Sanders v. United States, 373 U.S. 1 (U.S. 1963)
- Linkletter v. Walker, 381 U.S. 618 (U.S. 1965)
- Irvin v. Dowd, 366 U.S. 717 (U.S. 1961)
- Rideau v. Louisiana, 373 U.S. 723 (U.S. 1963)
- State v. Weeks, 166 So. 2d 892 (Fla. 1964)
- Hay v. Lyman A. Salisbury and Ruth Salisbury, 92 Fla. 446 (Fla. 1926)
- Crute v. State, 109 So. 617 (Ala. Ct. App. 1926)
- Savage v. State, 156 So. 2d 566 (Fla. 1st DCA 1963)
- Tilton v. Horton, 103 Fla. 497 (Fla. 1931)