RICHMOND E. ROYAL, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Fla. 4th DCA | 1977-06-17
No. 76-588
MAGER, C. J., and ANSTEAD, J., concur.
347 So. 2d 742 Florida District Court of Appeal, Fourth District (1977) Positive Treatment
Cited by 14 cases

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Holding

The court held that the prosecution's use of the defendant's statement, which included a reference to his desire to speak with an attorney before discussing his actions, constituted a comment on his Fifth Amendment privilege and was fundamental error.


Headnotes

[1] The prosecution's use of a defendant's statement that they wish to speak with an attorney before answering questions constitutes a comment on the defendant's exercise of…

[2] A prosecutor's reference to a defendant's invocation of the right to counsel during closing arguments can constitute fundamental error, even if not objected to at trial.

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Facts & Procedural History

During a trial for second-degree murder, the arresting officer testified that the defendant, after being read his Miranda rights, stated he had a reas…

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Opinion of the Court
LETTS, Judge.

LETTS, Judge.

This is an appeal from a conviction for second degree murder. We reverse.

During direct examination before the jury, counsel for the State engaged in the following dialogue with the arresting officer, without objection:

Q. How did you advise the Defendant of his constitutional rights?

A. I advised him that prior to making any statement or answering any questions, either oral or written, that he had a right to be represented by a legal counsel. If he was unable to afford an attorney, the State of Florida would furnish him with an attorney, without any cost to him. Anything that he said, any statement, either oral or written, must be free and voluntary, without threat of punishment or promise of reward. Anything that he did say could and would be used against him in a court • of law. I asked him if he understood, and if he wanted to talk to an attorney before he talked to me.

Q. What was his response?

A. His response was that, “I had a reason for doing what I did, BUT I WANT TO DISCUSS IT WITH AN ATTORNEY FIRST.” (Emphasis supplied).

We are somewhat reluctantly of the opinion that the ten words emphasized above constituted a use by the prosecution, at trial, of the fact that the defendant had claimed his Fifth Amendment privilege in the face of an accusation. See Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed. 694 (1966).

The case now before us is analogous to our own recent decision in Carter v. State, 335 So. 2d 875 (Fla. 4th DCA 1976). In Carter, the defendant was asked why he was hiding near the scene of a robbery, to which question he replied by saying that he had a good reason for being there BUT PREFERRED NOT TO DISCUSS IT WITH THE POLICE. This dialogue was reported to the jury by the arresting officer, without objection, but we held it fundamental error, nonetheless. Jones v. State, 200 So. 2d 574 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1967). We do not see sufficient distinction between the facts in Carter and the case now before us, to justify a contrary conclusion in this cause.

The State cites an exhaustive and well written opinion by Judge Grimes in Clark v. State, 336 So. 2d 468 (Fla. 2nd DCA 1976), wherein the policeman testified before the jury, without objection, as follows:

HE REFUSED TO MAKE ANY STATEMENTS TO ME, SIR, other than he knew nothing about the incident that had occurred at the tavern.” (Emphasis supplied).

Pursuant to that reported conversation, the court, in Clark, held that the reference to the defendant’s refusal to make a statement was “clearly improper;” however, the court concluded that it was not fundamental error and was therefore waived by the failure to object. The holding in Clark is persuasive to us, but it would appear there is an important distinction, namely in Clark, the court noted that as soon as the admittedly tainted evidence came in, the prosecutor abandoned the dialogue and made no reference to it during final argument. By contrast, in the case sub judice, the prosecutor recalled the defendant’s statement to the arresting officer by arguing to the jury that:

In New Orleans, when he is arrested there and taken into custody by Agent Schmader, what was his only statement there, and that was after Agent Schmader informed him of his rights. After he knew he was charged with the murder of George Bragg. His only statement was, “I had a reason for doing what I did. I AM NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING UNTIL I SEE A LAWYER.” (Emphasis supplied).

While a portion of the defendant’s statement might be held to be voluntary after a full reading of his Miranda rights, and therefore admissible, the inclusion of the phrase about not saying anything until the appellant saw a lawyer, was a clear reference to his right of silence.1

We made reference above to some reluctance in reaching our conclusion. This arises because the offensive words were uttered after a full Miranda warning at the conclusion of which the officer warned appellant that “anything that he did say could, and would, be used against him in a court of law.” It is our belief that had the response merely been “I had a reason for doing what I did”, then such would have been admissible; however, the inclusion in the same sentence of the additional words “but I want to discuss it with an attorney first”, makes it fundamental error. In so holding, we agree with Judge Grimes in Clark, supra, when he noted that each decision must be reached on a case by case basis, the polestar being whether or not the defendant has been afforded a fair trial, which we do not believe he was in this case; however, we presently do not address ourselves, for example, to the problem of a lengthy voluntary confession, after the administration of complete Miranda warnings, at the conclusion of which the accused says “despite the foregoing confession, get me an attorney first.” We will have to cross such a bridge if, and when, we come to it, but regardless, we suggest that prosecutors and their police witnesses refrain, absolutely, from making unsolicited enquiries or remarks before a jury about a defendant exercising his fundamental right to remain silent when arrested.

Reversed and remanded.

MAGER, C. J., and ANSTEAD, J., concur. . The appellee’s brief, on page 16 thereof, states that the prosecutor’s closing argument made reference only to the remark that defendant had a reason for doing what he did and that “no mention in closing argument was made to any silence whatsoever.” We would refer the Attorney General’s office to page 159 of the transcript, lines 23 and 24 whereat the prosecutor quoted the defendant as saying, “I am not going to say anything until I see a lawyer,” We are persuaded that this inaccuracy was but an oversight, but would point out that said oversight was important to the consideration of this case.


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Citator

Cited By

  • Flynn v. State, 351 So. 2d 377 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977)
    …ecutor’s questions and comments about a defendant’s not having told “officially” (other than his lawyer) of his entrapment. A possible oblique reference to a prior invocation of the privilege to refuse to vocally incriminate oneself. Royal v. State, 347 So. 2d 742 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977). Prosecutors cannot do this and courts cannot allow it to be done. The next point involves various alleged improper conduct by the prosecutor including laughing and alleged improper remarks. No trial is sterile and no lawyer can…
  • Porter v. State, 356 So. 2d 1268 (Fla. 3d DCA 1978)
    …to weigh the conflicting testimony of these men, and the effect of the prosecutor’s question was to prejudice defendant’s interest so significantly as to call into question his right to a fair trial. Therefore, reversal is required. Royal v. State, 347 So. 2d 742 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977).…
    1 / 2
  • Davis v. State, 356 So. 2d 1252 (Fla. 4th DCA 1978)
    …main silent, it is clear that such error no longer requires automatic reversal of an adjudica [*1254] tion of guilt. See Clark v. State, 336 So. 2d 468 (Fla. 2d DCA 1976); Wythers v. State, 348 So. 2d 390 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977). See also Royal v. State, 347 So. 2d 742 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977). After carefully reviewing the record, including the numerous inculpatory statements made by appellant after he was given the Miranda warnings, I am convinced .that the reference to the accused’s refusal to answer any further que…

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