State v. Webb

161 Wis. 2d 600 (1991)

468 N.W.2d 694

STATE of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent-Cross Petitioner, v. Richard L. WEBB, Defendant-Appellant-Petitioner.

No. 89-0593-CR.

Supreme Court of Wisconsin.

Filed May 10, 1991.

*601 PER CURIAM.

On the same date as publication of State v. Webb, 160 Wis. 2d 622, 467 N.W.2d 108 (1991), the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Arizona v. Fulminante, U.S. , 111 S Ct 1246 (1991). The Fulminante decision has no effect on our decision in Webb. In fact, it is not relevant to the Webb decision.

Fulminante involved the issue as to the use in trial for murder of a confession received in evidence that was found to be obtained in violation of the United States Constitution. The principal issue was whether the harmless error rule applied as decided in Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18 (1967).

Fulminante dealt with the use of a coerced confession at trial. The issue in Webb was a partially closed preliminary examination which is a statutory right similar in purpose to a grand jury proceeding. Nothing from the preliminary examination which was illegal or unconstitutional was used at trial in the Webb case. In Webb it was conceded the defendant had a fair trial.

In Fulminante, the United States Supreme Court cited Waller v. Georgia, 467 U.S. 39, 49 (1984), which we considered in our Webb decision. The United States Supreme Court stated the rule in Waller as recognizing "that violation of the guarantee of a public trial required reversal without any showing of prejudice and even though the values of a public trial may be intangible and unprovable in any particular case." Fulminante, 111 S Ct at 1257. (Emphasis added.)

Waller dealt with a closure of a suppression hearing. The hearing was conducted prior to the presentation of evidence to the jury. Upon denial of the suppression hearing, the evidence was given to the jury. As the Court recognizes, "suppression hearings often are as important as the trial itself." Waller, 467 U.S. at 46. Obviously, the *602 evidence allowed through the closed hearing may be the type necessary for conviction. The court stated, "a suppression hearing often resembles a bench trial. . . . The need for an open proceeding may be particularly strong with respect to suppression hearings." Id. at 47.

Webb involved the statutory preliminary examination where only probable cause had to be found to bind the defendant over for the fair and error-free trial he received. The defendant did not claim that the alleged error of the preliminary hearing had any impact on the trial itself which was errorless.

The only persons definitely excluded from the Webb preliminary examination were defendant's mother and niece out of concern that the victim-witness not be intimidated. The record does not show that the hearing was otherwise closed to the public. The record does not show a total closure to the public which was the fear in Waller. There was no closure at trial as in Waller.

Footnote 6 of Webb was not a holding and should not be interpreted to mean we found the error harmless since we stated we did not consider the issue because that was not necessary.

By the Court.The motion for reconsideration is denied.

SHIRLEY S. ABRAHAMSON, J. (dissenting).

I would grant the motion to reconsider. I conclude that the opinion must be modified.

I agree with the defendant that this court's opinion and decision conflict with Waller v. Georgia, 467 U.S. 39 (1984), and Arizona v. Fulminante, U.S. ,111 S Ct 1246 (1991). The court's addition to the opinion on the motion to reconsider does not address the problem the defendant raises.

*603 Waller held that the improper closure of a pre-trial suppression hearing violated the sixth amendment and that this error is not subject to a harmless error analysis or cured by a conviction after an error-free trial. The defendant's federal constitutional rights to a public hearing apply to a preliminary hearing. Stevens v. Manitowoc Cir. Ct., 141 Wis. 2d 239, 248-49, 414 N.W.2d 832 (1987). In Fulminante the United States Supreme Court cited Waller as standing for the rule that the right to a public trial is not subject to the harmless error rule.

For these reasons, I conclude that an improper closing of a preliminary hearing cannot constitute harmless federal constitutional error.[1]

Because I conclude that the opinion of the court has denied the defendant his right of appeal guaranteed by art. I, sec. 21(1), of the Wisconsin Constitution,[2] and his *604 sixth amendment constitutional rights, I would modify the opinion.

I am authorized to state that Chief Justice Nathan S. Heffernan and Justice William A. Bablitch join this dissent.

[1] The majority opinion, State v. Webb, 160 Wis.2d at 628, concluded that it "did not decide the question whether there was error at the preliminary hearing. . . because [it] hold[s] that a conviction resulting from a fair and errorless trial in effect cures any error at the preliminary hearing." The majority opinion further stated at 630, note 6, that its "holding is tantamount to a finding of harmless error. . . . Although we do not consider the issue directly, it is clear that any error at the preliminary hearing in the case at bar could be regarded as harmless error."

[2] "As a matter of Wisconsin constitutional law, the right to an appeal is absolute: 'Writs of error shall never be prohibited, and shall be issued by such courts as the legislature designates by law.' Wisconsin Const., art. I, sec. 21(1). Since the reorganization of the Wisconsin court system in 1977, the court so designated is the court of appeals which has initial appellate jurisdiction as set forth in Wis. Const., art VII, sec. 5(3). The legislature has specifically stated, `A writ of error may be sought in the court of appeals.' Section 808.02, Stats. Thus, the right of appeal to the court of appeals is constitutionally guaranteed in the State of Wisconsin." State v. Perry, 136 Wis. 2d 92, 98, 401 N.W.2d 748 (1987).