Nevada Supreme Court, 2020

Reed (Lee) Vs. State

Reed (Lee) Vs. State
Nevada Supreme Court · Decided September 18, 2020
472 P.3d 192 (Pacific Reporter, Third Series)

Reed (Lee) Vs. State

Opinion

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEVADA

LEE REED, No. 79553 Appellant, V S.

THE STATE OF NEVADA, FILED Respondent.

ELIDN3ETH CLE 6U BY DEPUTY CLERK

ORDER OF AFFIRMANCE This is an appeal frorn a district court order denying a postconviction petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County; Cristina D. Silva, Judge. The district court denied appellant Lee Reed's postconviction habeas petition without an evidentiary hearing. We affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded, concluding that the district court should have held an evidentiary hearing on Reed's claim that trial counsel should have objected to the district court's failure to swear the jury venire. After holding an evidentiary hearing, the district court again denied relief on remand. We affirm.

To demonstrate ineffective assistance of trial counsel, a petitioner rnust show that counsel's performance was deficient in that it fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that prejudice resulted in that there was a reasonable probability of a different outcome absent counsel's errors. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-88 (1984); Wa.rclen v. Lyons, 100 Nev. 430, 432-33, 683 P.2d 504, 505 (1984) (adopting the test in Strickla.nd). The petitioner must demonstrate the underlying facts by a preponderance of the evidence, Means v. State, 120 Nev. 1001, 1012, 103 P.3d 25, 33 (2004), and both components of the inquiry must be

- 314 6r shown, Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697. We defer to the district coures factual findings that are supported by substantial evidence and not clearly wrong, but review its application of the law to those facts de novo. Lader v. Warden, 121 Nev. 682, 686, 120 P.3d 1164, 1166 (2005).

Reed argues that trial counsel should have objected when the trial court failed to administer the jury oath required by NRS 16.030(5), which constitutes structural error pursuant 63 Barral v. State, 131 Nev. 520, 525, 353 P.3d 1197, 1200 (2015). While structural errors generally warrant automatic reversal when the issue was preserved at trial and raised on direct appeal, a petitioner raising an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim based on trial counsel's failure to preserve a structural error must demonstrate prejudice. Weaver v. Massachusetts, 137 S. Ct. 1899, 1910 (2017); see also id. at 1911 (analyzing whether prejudice was established by showing either a reasonable probability of a different outcome or fundamental unfairness). Substantial evidence supports the district court's findings that there were no abnormalities in the juror selection process; that both parties thoroughly examined the prospective jurors, who were repeatedly asked if they could be fair and impartial; and that trial counsel testified that, had the oath been administered, he would have questioned the prospective jurors the same way and selected the same jurors. Further, Reed does not allege any evidence of bias or partiality regarding any juror who was empaneled. Cf. Wesley v. State, 112 Nev. 503, 511, 916 P.2d 793, 799 (1996) (concluding that defendant is not entitled to relief from limitation of voir dire if impaneled jury is impartial). Accordingly, Reed has shown neither a reasonable probability of a different outcome based on counsel's omission nor fundamental unfairness. See Weaver, 137 S. Ct. at 1913 (finding no fundamental unfairness where there was "no suggestion

that any juror lied during voir dire; no suggestion of misbehavior by the prosecutor, judge, or any other party; and no suggestion that any of the participants failed to approach their duties with the neutrality and serious purpose that our system demande). The district court therefore did not err in denying this claim.

Reed next argues that appellate counsel should have challenged the trial court's otnission of the jury oath. We remanded to the district court solely for an evidentiary hearing on Reed's claim that trial counsel should have objected. Reed u. State, Docket No. 69894 (Order Affirming in Part, Reversing in Part and Remanding, November 15, 2017). Reed's underlying petition did not include a challenge to appellate counsel's effectiveness on this issue, and our remand thus cannot be interpreted to open the door to this new claim. Where an appellate court remands for consideration of a specific issue, the district court may not consider new issues raised for the first time on remand. 5 Am. Jur. 2d Appellate Review § 687; see Stacy v. Colvin, 825 F.3d 563, 568 (9th Cir. 2016) (providing that a district court may not vary from the appellate court's mandate on remand); State Eng'r u.

Eureka Cnty., 133 Nev. 557, 559, 402 P.3d 1249, 1251 (2017) (citing Stacy and providing that a district court must comply with the appellate court's mandate on remand). Deviation from the remand's rnandate is error. Stacy, 825 F.3d at 568. Reed's challenge to appellate counsel's representation on this issue was outside the scope of the remand. The district court therefore reached the correct outcome when it denied Reed's claim as untimely and procedurally barred. Cf. Wyatt v. State, 86 Nev. 294, 298, 468 P.2d 338, 341

1 Weaver further observed that the trial court was deprived of the opportunity to cure its error when a petitioner first challenges a courtroom closure in an ineffective-assistance claim. 137 S. Ct. at 1912.

(1970) ("If a judgment or order of a trial court reaches the right result, although it is based on an incorrect ground, the judgment or order will be affirmed on appeal.").

Having considered Reed's contentions and concluded that they do not warrant relief, we ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.

Parraguirre

, J.

Hardesty

Cadish

cc: Hon. Cristina D. Silva, District Judge Gaffney Law Attorney General/Carson City Clark County District Attorney Eighth District Court Clerk

SUPREME COURT OP NEVADA ,O) 047A cgiDa.

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