650 F. 2d 595 - United States v. Burroughs

Robert Gilbert Burroughs appeals from the denial of his motion to vacate his sentence filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (1971) on June 13, 1980. The district judge denied the motion without hearing and without requiring a response from the United States, because the files and records of the court conclusively established that Burroughs was not entitled to relief.

Burroughs and two other persons, Kim Rogers and Robert Lee Trammell, were charged in a one-count indictment with bank robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a), (d) (1970). The bill did not include a conspiracy count. At arraignment, an attorney was appointed to represent both Burroughs and Rogers.1 The United States magistrate at that time cautioned the appointed counsel to disclose any conflict of interest so that a separate attorney could be appointed if necessary.

Prior to the trial, defense counsel filed a motion to sever, alleging prejudicial misjoinder because Rogers had no prior record and would be unfairly affected by association with Burroughs who had an extensive criminal record. Attorney conflict of interest was not cited as a ground for severance. (Record Vol. II at 6). The motion was denied. Midway through the trial, the appointed attorney renewed his motion to sever, contending that the joint trial was burdensome to him as well as prejudicial to the defendants. He refused to categorize his difficulty as a "conflict of interest", however. Once again, the trial judge refused to grant the motion. Thereafter, Melva Surels, owner of the automobile used during the robbery testified that Rogers told her "Luke (McAdory, deceased at the time of prosecution) and them (Burroughs and Trammell) robbed a bank in your car and left me in the car " (Record Vol. II at 135). Defense counsel voiced no objection to the admission of this evidence.2 Neither Rogers nor Burroughs testified at the trial.

At the close of the government's case, the defendants' attorney again moved for a severance. The trial court informed him that the motion would be granted if it was based on a conflict of interest. The motion was denied when the appointed attorney reiterated that there was no conflict of interest. (Record Vol. II at 219-20).

On direct appeal, Burroughs contended that the failure to sever and the admission of hearsay testimony were reversible errors. In its unpublished per curiam opinion affirming the conviction, a panel of this court reasoned that the statement by Rogers to Surels was admissible as a conspirator's statement even though Burroughs and Rogers were not indicted for conspiracy in addition to the substantive count. United States v. Mendoza, 473 F.2d 692, 695 (5th Cir. 1972).3 Because it found the admission of this and other evidence to be proper, this court held that the failure to sever was not an abuse of discretion. Petition for writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court was denied. (Record Vol. I at 20).

The motion to vacate sentence filed by Burroughs in the district court enumerated nine grounds in support of his claim that he had been denied effective assistance of counsel at the trial and on appeal. Four of the allegations were not expressly argued on this appeal and are deemed by us to be abandoned. See Mayberry v. Davis, 608 F.2d 1070 (5th Cir. 1979); Pate v. Wainwright, 607 F.2d 669 (5th Cir. 1979); Lucas v. Wainwright, 604 F.2d 373 (5th Cir. 1979).

We turn our attention to the remaining five substantive grounds which allegedly buttress Burroughs' basic position that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. Specifically, the appellant urges that (1) counsel's representation of both defendants at trial adversely affected the adequacy of his representation, (2) the attorney failed to indicate his burden to the trial court until midway through trial, (3) counsel's multiple representation on appeal involved a conflict of interest adversely affecting his effectiveness, (4) he failed on appeal to assign as error the denial of the motion for severance when there was a Bruton problem and (5) his attorney failed on appeal to complain of the trial court's admission of the hearsay statements under the conspirator's exception when there was no conspiracy charged in the indictment. Burroughs also contends that the trial court's dismissal of his motion to vacate sentence without an evidentiary hearing was improper.

Generally, a defendant in a federal criminal trial has the right to "counsel reasonably likely to render and rendering reasonably effective assistance". United States v. Alvarez, 580 F.2d 1251, 1254 (5th Cir. 1978) citing MacKenna v. Ellis, 280 F.2d 592, 599 (5th Cir. 1960) modified 289 F.2d 928, cert. denied 368 U.S. 877, 82 S.Ct. 121, 7 L.Ed.2d 78 (1961) (emphasis omitted). His attorney's performance need not be error-free. Similarly, not all conflicting interests during representation offend the Sixth Amendment. Joint representation of codefendants is not per se unconstitutional. If the defendant has not objected to the adequacy of counsel at the trial, only the demonstration of actual conflict will be proof of the denial of effective assistance of counsel. United States v. Freeman, 619 F.2d 1112, 1122 (5th Cir. 1980) cert. denied, -- U.S. --, 101 S.Ct. 1348, 67 L.Ed.2d 334; United States v. Fox, 613 F.2d 99, 102 (5th Cir. 1980); United States v. Alvarez, 580 F.2d 1251, 1255 (5th Cir. 1978).

In the instant case, two factors contribute to Burroughs' inability to prove an actual conflict of interest adversely affecting the performance of his counsel. First, the attorney representing both defendants is in the best position, professionally and ethically, to evaluate when a conflict exists or is likely to develop during the trial. Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 348, 100 S.Ct. 1708, 1718, 64 L.Ed.2d 333, 346 (1980). Here the defense lawyer's repeated declarations that he was laboring under no conflict are not impeached by the appellant's allegations that the defendants, as joined, did not have the benefit of effective assistance of counsel.4

Second, the severance and evidentiary rulings were upheld by this court on appeal. When an issue has been determined on direct appeal, the court need not reconsider it in a subsequent habeas corpus action. United States v. Johnson, 615 F.2d 1125, 1128 (5th Cir. 1980). Accordingly, we can but conclude that Burroughs' counsel made all reasonable efforts to challenge the trial court actions which were later recognized on appeal to be correct.5 The appellant has failed to prove any actual conflict of interests which might have impaired his attorney's performance.

All evidence necessary to analyze the merit of the appellant's case was included in his brief and in the record. A review of this court's previous opinion and the testimony at the trial "conclusively show(s) that the prisoner is entitled to no relief". 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (1971). In circumstances such as this, when the petitioner's allegations are affirmatively contradicted by the record, an evidentiary hearing is not required. United States v. Guerra, 588 F.2d 519, 520 (5th Cir. 1979); Holland v. United States, 406 F.2d 213, 216 (5th Cir. 1969). As a result, notice and an opportunity to respond need not be given to the United States attorney. Rush v. United States, 559 F.2d 455, 459 (7th Cir. 1977); Tremarco v. United States, 412 F.Supp. 550, 551 (D.N.J.1976). The district court did not err in refusing to hold an evidentiary hearing on the appellant's motion to vacate his sentence.

For the foregoing reasons, the order of the district court is AFFIRMED.