Israel Naranjo v. Hon. sukenic/state of Arizona ( 2023 )

IN THE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA
ISRAEL JOSEPH NARANJO,
Petitioner
v.
THE HONORABLE HOWARD SUKENIC, JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
THE STATE OF ARIZONA, IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF MARICOPA,
Respondent Judge,
STATE OF ARIZONA, EX REL., KRISTIN K. MAYES, ATTORNEY GENERAL,
Real Party in Interest.
No. CR-22-0076-PR
Filed February 28, 2023
Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
The Honorable Howard Sukenic
No. CR2007-119504-001
AFFIRMED AND REMANDED
Order of the Court of Appeals, Division One
No. 1 CA-SA 22-0017
Filed February 22, 2022
COUNSEL:
Stephen Whelihan (argued), Adrian Little, Office of the Legal Advocate,
Phoenix, Attorneys for Israel Joseph Naranjo
Kristin K. Mayes, Arizona Attorney General, Jeffrey Sparks, Deputy
Solicitor General/Section Chief of Capital Litigation, Sarah E. Heckathorne
(argued), Assistant Attorney General, Capital Litigation Section, Gregory
Hazard, Senior Litigation Counsel, Capital Litigation Section, Phoenix,
Attorneys for State of Arizona
ISRAEL NARANJO V. HON. SUKENIC/STATE
Opinion of the Court
David J. Euchner, Pima County Public Defender’s Office, Tucson; Emily
Skinner, Arizona Capital Representation Project, Phoenix, Attorneys for
Amici Curiae Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice and Arizona Capital
Representation Project
JUSTICE KING authored the Opinion of the Court, in which CHIEF
JUSTICE BRUTINEL, VICE CHIEF JUSTICE TIMMER, and JUSTICES
BOLICK and BEENE joined. *
JUSTICE KING, Opinion of the Court:
¶1 In a post-conviction relief (“PCR”) proceeding, the superior
court determined that Israel Joseph Naranjo raised a colorable claim for
ineffective assistance of trial counsel. We must now determine whether
the PCR court erred in ordering Naranjo to disclose materials associated
with trial counsel’s interviews of three of Naranjo’s family members who
did not testify during the penalty phase of trial. We conclude the PCR
court did not err in ordering the disclosure of such records.
I. BACKGROUND
A. Naranjo’s Petition for Post-Conviction Relief
¶2 “A jury found [Naranjo] guilty of two counts of first degree
murder and sentenced him to death.” State v. Naranjo, 234 Ariz. 233, 238
¶ 1 (2014). This Court affirmed Naranjo’s convictions and sentences on
direct appeal. Id. at 250 ¶ 90. Subsequently, Naranjo filed a petition for
post-conviction relief (“PCR petition”) alleging multiple grounds for relief.
One of Naranjo’s PCR claims is that he “received ineffective assistance of
* Justice John R. Lopez IV and Justice William G. Montgomery have recused
themselves from this case.
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ISRAEL NARANJO V. HON. SUKENIC/STATE
Opinion of the Court
counsel in the penalty phase” (“Claim III”). His PCR petition introduces
Claim III as follows:
Trial counsel’s deficient performance in the penalty phase
consisted of numerous errors and omissions, beginning with
the failure to adequately investigate mitigating factors.
Without an adequate investigation of [intellectual disability],
counsel made it the focus of the penalty phase, making their
case for it determinative of the question of life or death,
instead of presenting a case for life based on multiple factors.
Then, the execution of the chosen strategy was riddled with
error throughout.
The PCR petition further breaks down Claim III into five subparts that are
relevant here, which contain the following allegations, among others:
¶3 Claim III(A): Naranjo asserts his trial counsel’s “performance
was deficient in the investigation and presentation of the case for
[intellectual disability],” citing Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304, 321 (2002)
(holding Eighth Amendment prohibited execution of intellectually disabled
criminal) and A.R.S. § 13-753(K)(3) (defining “intellectual disability”).
¶4 Claim III(B): Naranjo alleges trial counsel’s “performance was
deficient in its reliance on Dr. Thompson’s testing to prove significantly
subaverage intellectual functioning.” Without this and “other deficiencies
in the investigation and presentation of evidence of [intellectual disability],
there is a reasonable likelihood the outcome of the penalty phase would
have been different. The likelihood of a finding of [intellectual disability]
is demonstrated by the report of Dr. Reschly.”
¶5 Claim III(C): Naranjo argues trial counsel’s “performance was
deficient by failing to prepare Dr. Switzky to address the IQ scores of Dr.
Babich and Dr. Bayless, and to provide notice of the intent to do so.”
¶6 Claim III(D): Naranjo alleges trial counsel’s “deficient
performance in the preparation of the testimony of Dr. Switzky was
manifested in several other ways,” and this “damaged the credibility of the
defense.” Naranjo claims, for example, there was a “lack of preparation
with the pertinent records” and “Dr. Switzky was under the impression
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ISRAEL NARANJO V. HON. SUKENIC/STATE
Opinion of the Court
that Naranjo started school when he was 5 years old, but the records
showed that he was 3, going on 4.”
¶7 Claim III(E): Naranjo argues trial counsel’s “performance was
deficient in preparing for the testimony of Dr. Babich about low intellectual
functioning.”
¶8 The PCR court determined Naranjo’s ineffective assistance of
counsel claim in III(A)–III(E) of the PCR petition is “colorable and an
evidentiary hearing is necessary.” See State v. Runningeagle, 176 Ariz. 59,
63 (1993) (“The defendant is entitled to an evidentiary hearing only when
he presents a colorable claim—one that, if the allegations are true, might
have changed the outcome.”). The PCR court ordered a hearing on the
“alleged multiple errors during the investigation, preparation, and
presentation of defendant’s alleged intellectual disability, both pre-trial and
in the penalty phase.”
¶9 In the same order, the PCR court also determined that two claims
in Naranjo’s PCR petition are “inextricably intertwined with the one (1)
claim . . . found colorable.” The first “inextricably intertwined” claim is
“whether defendant has or can establish by clear and convincing evidence
that he is intellectually disabled.” On this claim, Naranjo’s PCR petition
alleges in part: “There is clear and convincing evidence Naranjo has
Intellectual Disability, sufficient to establish that the death penalty would
not have been imposed” (Claim XI). Naranjo claims such evidence
includes his “full-scale IQ score,” his “adaptive behavior deficits by
witnesses,” and “the prevalence of low intellectual functioning among
members of Naranjo’s relatives.”
¶10 The second “inextricably intertwined” claim is “whether
Defendant’s trial counsel provided ineffective assistance of counsel in the
investigation, development, and presentation of mitigation evidence.” On
this claim, Naranjo’s PCR petition alleges in part that counsel was deficient
in (1) “preparing, presenting, and explaining the testimony of Dr. Babich
about other mitigating circumstances” (Claim III(F)); (2) “failing to present
the favorable testimony of Dr. Bayless” (Claim III(I)); and (3) “failing to
investigate, present, and explain evidence of mitigating circumstances”
(Claim III(M)).
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ISRAEL NARANJO V. HON. SUKENIC/STATE
Opinion of the Court
¶11 The PCR court ordered an evidentiary hearing on the colorable
claim and noted that its ruling on the merits of the two “inextricably
intertwined” claims would be taken “under advisement pending the
conclusion of the evidentiary hearing.” The PCR court dismissed all other
claims in Naranjo’s PCR petition.
B. The State’s Motion to Compel Disclosure of Trial Materials
¶12 Before the evidentiary hearing, the State filed a motion to compel
disclosure of “the complete, unredacted trial files of . . . trial counsel, trial
mitigation specialists, and trial investigators; any unredacted statements
from Naranjo’s disclosed evidentiary hearing witnesses; and all materials
his post-conviction expert witnesses relied upon when preparing their
reports or testimony for post-conviction proceedings.” The State sought
“all billing records, outlines, notes, research, and witness statements” that
“show what counsel knew and investigated when [counsel] pursued their
trial strategy in the guilt, aggravation and penalty phases of the trial.” The
State also requested disclosure of statements regarding Naranjo’s lay
witnesses, arguing he “waived the attorney-client privilege . . . when he
filed his [PCR petition] alleging he received ineffective assistance of
counsel.” The State claimed the requested information was related to the
issue of whether trial counsel’s performance was deficient or constituted a
reasonable strategy under Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984).
¶13 In ruling on the motion to compel, the PCR court noted it “holds
inherent authority” to order the disclosure of records in post-conviction
proceedings “for good cause shown.” The PCR court ordered that
[Naranjo’s] trial file is discoverable to the State but only as it
pertains to defendant’s claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel as to the issues previously identified by the Court.
That being, whether defense trial counsels’ performance was
deficient and prejudicial in the investigation, preparation and
presentation of defendant’s alleged intellectual disability,
both pre-trial and in the penalty phase. In addition as the
Court took under advisement whether defendant has or can
establish by clear and convincing evidence that he is
intellectually disabled, as well as whether trial counsel
provided ineffective assistance of counsel in the investigation,
5
ISRAEL NARANJO V. HON. SUKENIC/STATE
Opinion of the Court
development and presentation of mitigation evidence, that
portion of defendant’s file is discoverable as well. This also
extends to all other material relied upon by defendant’s
experts.
The order also explained, “[a]s an intermediate step, defendant must
disclose all material provided to or utilized by defendant’s expert(s).”
Further, if Naranjo claims privilege over certain items, he must note those
items in a privilege log that is produced to the State.
¶14 Through the disclosure of billing records, the State became
aware that trial counsel interviewed—but did not call as witnesses—three
of Naranjo’s family members. The State sought disclosure of trial
counsel’s records regarding these three family-member interviews.
Naranjo objected, claiming the materials are not relevant and should
remain confidential. At a hearing, the PCR court ordered Naranjo to
disclose “any documents related to these three particular witnesses,” but
allowed Naranjo to redact information “particularly harmful to the
defendant or embarrassing” and explain such redactions in a privilege log.1
In a subsequent written order, the PCR court ordered the disclosure of “all
notes, Emails and any related documents associated with the three [family-
member] interviews” and “Defense Counsel may make redactions with
clear explanations for those redactions.”
¶15 Naranjo filed a motion for reconsideration. The PCR court
denied the motion, explaining the information will assist in showing what
trial counsel “knew, the reasonableness of their strategy, and whether their
performance was constitutionally deficient and whether Defendant
suffered prejudice as a result of the employed strategy.” The PCR court
determined the information from these family-member interviews is
“either admissible or may lead to admissible, relevant testimony” and “the
State must have at its disposal all information the trial defense team knew
and all actions performed in an effort to provide a full and fair picture for
this Court to make a ruling.” The PCR court indicated Naranjo was trying
1 The State had interviewed trial counsel who claimed no independent
recollection of most questions discussed during the three family-member
interviews.
6
ISRAEL NARANJO V. HON. SUKENIC/STATE
Opinion of the Court
to overly restrict the scope of discovery and that he had waived the
privilege by filing his PCR petition.
¶16 Naranjo filed a petition for special action in the court of appeals,
but the court declined to accept jurisdiction. We granted review because
the proper scope of disclosure of trial counsel’s materials when a defendant
has raised a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is a recurring issue of
statewide importance. We have jurisdiction under article 6, section 5(3) of
the Arizona Constitution.
II. DISCUSSION
¶17 “In discovery matters, . . . the trial judge has broad discretion
that we review only for abuse.” State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. v. Lee, 199 Ariz.
52, 57 ¶ 12 (2000). When “a judge commits an ‘error of law . . . in the
process of reaching [a] discretionary conclusion,’ he may be regarded as
having abused his discretion.” Twin City Fire Ins. v. Burke, 204 Ariz. 251,
254 ¶ 10 (2003) (alteration in original) (quoting Grant v. Ariz. Pub. Serv. Co.,
133 Ariz. 434, 456 (1982)). We apply de novo review to the interpretation
of the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure, State v. Gutierrez, 229 Ariz. 573,
576 ¶ 19 (2012), and whether a party has waived a privilege, Twin City Fire
Ins., 204 Ariz. at 254 ¶ 10.
A. “Good Cause” for Discovery under Rule 32.6(b)(2)
¶18 In Canion v. Cole, 210 Ariz. 598, 600 ¶ 10 (2005), we stated PCR
courts have “inherent authority to grant discovery requests in PCR
proceedings upon a showing of good cause.” Later, we promulgated
Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.6(b)(2) (effective Jan. 1, 2020) to
codify Canion’s holding. The rule also elaborates on the requisite showing
of “good cause” for discovery after a PCR petition is filed:
After Filing a Petition. After the filing of a petition, the court
may allow discovery for good cause. To show good cause, the
moving party must identify the claim to which the discovery
relates and reasonable grounds to believe that the request, if
granted, would lead to the discovery of evidence material to
the claim.
7
ISRAEL NARANJO V. HON. SUKENIC/STATE
Opinion of the Court
¶19 Emphasizing the interests of confidentiality in capital cases,
Naranjo requests that this Court require the State to demonstrate a
“substantial need” for information before a court may order disclosure in a
capital case, citing the “substantial need” standard in Rule 15.1(g). But the
relevant rule here (Rule 32.6(b)(2)) allows discovery “[a]fter the filing of a
petition” with a showing of “good cause.” Tellingly, Rule 32.6(b)(1)—
which allows discovery “[a]fter the filing of a notice but before the filing of a
petition”—contains a “substantial need” standard. (Emphasis added.)
Also, the “substantial need” language in Rule 15.1(g) applies to the “State’s
Disclosures” in “Pretrial Procedures,” which are not at issue here.
Therefore, we decline to adopt a “substantial need” standard for discovery
requests after a PCR petition is filed and instead apply the “good cause”
requirement enunciated in Rule 32.6(b)(2).
¶20 We must now decide whether the PCR court correctly
determined there was good cause for the disclosure of materials associated
with trial counsel’s interviews of the three family members. 2
¶21 To establish an ineffective assistance of counsel claim under
Strickland, a defendant must first “show that counsel’s performance was
deficient. This requires showing that counsel made errors so serious that
counsel was not functioning as the ’counsel’ guaranteed the defendant by
the Sixth Amendment.” 466 U.S. at 687; see also id. at 690 (requiring a
defendant to “identify the acts or omissions of counsel that are alleged not
to have been the result of reasonable professional judgment”). Second, the
defendant must “show that the deficient performance prejudiced the
defense.” Id. at 687.
¶22 Naranjo claims he should not have to disclose the three family-
member interview materials because he did not allege trial counsel engaged
2 Here, the PCR court did not rely on Rule 32.6(b)(2), but instead relied on
the court’s “inherent authority” under Canion, 210 Ariz. at 600 ¶ 10, finding
“good cause” to order discovery to the same effect. Thus, although the
court should have proceeded under Rule 32.6(b)(2), the analytical approach
is the same.
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ISRAEL NARANJO V. HON. SUKENIC/STATE
Opinion of the Court
in “acts or omissions” with respect to the three family members or failed to
adequately interview them. But the “good cause” standard in
Rule 32.6(b)(2) is not so narrow. Rule 32.6(b)(2) permits discovery where
there are “reasonable grounds to believe that the request, if granted, would
lead to the discovery of evidence material to the claim.”
¶23 Further, we reject Naranjo’s contention that “evidence material
to the claim” in Rule 32.6(b)(2) means something more than relevant, or of
especially high probative value. Under Arizona Rule of Evidence 401,
“[e]vidence is relevant if: (a) it has any tendency to make a fact more or less
probable than it would be without the evidence; and (b) the fact is of
consequence in determining the action.” “Materiality is captured in
Rule 401”—in subsection (b)—“by requiring, in order to [show] relevance,
that the fact sought to be proved be ‘of consequence to the determination of
the action.’” See Shirley J. McAuliffe, Arizona Practice Law of Evidence
§ 401:2 (4th ed. 2022); see also Evidence, Black’s Law Dictionary (11th ed.
2019) (defining “material evidence” as “[e]vidence having some logical
connection with the facts of the case or the legal issues presented”).
Accordingly, “materiality” is not a stricter principle than relevancy, nor
does it mean something of especially high probative value.
¶24 In our application of Rule 32.6(b)(2), we observe that one of
Naranjo’s “inextricably intertwined” claims alleges: “Competent counsel
would have been guided . . . by the ABA Guidelines” which state “[i]t is
necessary to locate and interview the client’s family members” and a
“multi-generational investigation frequently discloses significant patterns
of family dysfunction,” but “[c]ounsel evidently was not guided by these
provisions in this case.” Further, the “standard of practice for mitigation
investigation is contained in a declaration of Mary Duran[d]” but “[t]he
investigation of mitigation in this case fell far below the standard.”
Durand’s declaration states “the mitigation investigator conducting the
social history must complete in-depth interviews with . . . as many
individuals as can be located who have known the defendant throughout
his life.” It further states those interviews should include immediate and
extended biological family members.
¶25 Under Rule 32.6(b)(2), we conclude there are reasonable
grounds to believe that materials associated with the three family-member
interviews would reveal information about Naranjo’s background and
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ISRAEL NARANJO V. HON. SUKENIC/STATE
Opinion of the Court
whether, based on their statements, trial counsel took additional
investigative steps that were “the result of reasonable professional
judgment.” See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690. Such information is
discoverable to determine, for example: What did trial counsel ask the three
family members and was it the type of information identified in Durand’s
declaration? Did the information provided in those three interviews lead
trial counsel to make a reasonable decision to discontinue developing or
investigating certain types of mitigation evidence because such evidence
conflicted with Naranjo’s position in the case? See id. at 691 (stating, in the
context of investigations, “counsel has a duty to make reasonable
investigations or to make a reasonable decision that makes particular
investigations unnecessary”). Did the information provided lead trial
counsel to make a reasonable decision to cease the investigation into one
area and focus on another area instead? Id. Thus, there are reasonable
grounds to believe that materials associated with the three family-member
interviews would lead to the discovery of evidence material to whether trial
counsel was ineffective in the development of mitigation evidence. See
Rule 32.6(b)(2).
¶26 In addition, we observe that Naranjo’s “inextricably
intertwined” claim alleges:
• Naranjo “was raised in a family and neighborhood where gangs
were prevalent” and presenting this information would have limited
the aggravating impact of the prosecution’s emphasis on anti-social
personality disorder.
• His “fatherless upbringing may have been a factor in [certain]
aspects of his personality. This would have helped establish a
nexus between Naranjo’s disadvantaged background and the
murder.”
• “Dr. Bayless had testimony to offer about mitigating factors
including Naranjo’s . . . cognitive and behavioral impairments” that
stem from his “substance abuse,” and the “failure to discover and
present the information was deficient performance.”
• “Counsel’s performance was also deficient for failing to investigate
the effect of sexual abuse on [Naranjo’s] development.”
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ISRAEL NARANJO V. HON. SUKENIC/STATE
Opinion of the Court
• An adequate investigation would have revealed “a disadvantaged
background in a family and a community where poverty, physical
abuse, substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, gang
activity and criminal conduct were the norm” and “that Naranjo’s
childhood was marked by early exposure to alcohol and illegal
drugs, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and criminal activity.”
These circumstances “contributed to Naranjo’s mental and
emotional dysfunctional development, which led directly to Naranjo
killing” the victim. Presenting such evidence likely “would have
led to a different outcome, based on diminished moral culpability.”
• Counsel failed to elicit testimony that could have connected
“Naranjo’s crimes and his disadvantaged background, emotional
problems, and mental illness.”
There are reasonable grounds to believe the interviews of Naranjo’s three
family members would lead to the discovery of evidence material to these
allegations about his background, childhood, and upbringing. See
Rule 32.6(b)(2).
¶27 Further, Naranjo’s claim of intellectual disability is at the heart
of his claim and the “inextricably intertwined” issues. There are
reasonable grounds to believe the interviews of Naranjo’s three family
members would lead to the discovery of evidence material to Naranjo’s
claim of intellectual disability, see Rule 32.6(b)(2)—specifically with respect
to the “adaptive behavior” element of “intellectual disability.” See
§ 13-753(K)(3) (defining “[i]ntellectual disability” as “a condition based on
a mental deficit that involves significantly subaverage general intellectual
functioning, existing concurrently with significant impairment in adaptive
behavior, where the onset of the foregoing conditions occurred before the
defendant reached the age of eighteen”); see also § 13-753(K)(1) (defining
“[a]daptive behavior” as “the effectiveness or degree to which the
defendant meets the standards of personal independence and social
responsibility expected of the defendant’s age and cultural group”).
Accordingly, we conclude there is good cause for the disclosure of materials
associated with the three family-member interviews under Rule 32.6(b)(2).
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ISRAEL NARANJO V. HON. SUKENIC/STATE
Opinion of the Court
B. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel and Waiver of Privilege
¶28 We now address the issue of privilege in the context of Naranjo’s
claims. When a defendant raises an ineffective assistance of counsel claim,
“[i]t is not only the integrity of the attorney which is at stake but that of the
entire fact-finding process,” and “the court must have before it all relevant
facts relating to the claim.” State v. Moreno, 128 Ariz. 257, 260 (1981); see
also State v. Cuffle, 171 Ariz. 49, 52 (1992) (holding the trial court must have
all relevant facts relating to a claim questioning the competency of an
attorney).
¶29 We have held “[t]he claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is
a direct attack on the competence of an attorney and constitutes a waiver of
the attorney-client privilege.” Moreno, 128 Ariz. at 260; see also A.R.S.
§ 13-4062(2) (establishing attorney-client privilege “as to any
communication made by the client to the attorney, or the attorney’s advice
given in the course of professional employment”). To that end,
Rule 32.6(f) states that a defendant who raises a claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel “waives the attorney-client privilege as to any
information necessary to allow the State to rebut the claim, as provided by
Ariz. R. Sup. Ct. 42, Ethical Rule (“ER”) 1.6(d)(4).” 3 Likewise, our
precedent provides that a party who asserts an ineffective assistance of
counsel claim has waived the attorney-client privilege as “to the particular
contentions asserted.” Cuffle, 171 Ariz. at 51–52 (holding “an attorney
should be allowed to defend himself, at least with regard to the particular
contentions asserted, by revealing ‘at least that much of what was
previously privileged as is necessary’” (quoting Moreno, 128 Ariz. at 260));
State v. Zuck, 134 Ariz. 509, 515–16 (1982) (stating an “attack on counsel’s
competency[] has waived the attorney-client privilege as to the contentions
asserted”); see also State v. Lawonn, 113 Ariz. 113, 114 (1976) (“By raising on
appeal the issue of lack of knowledge of a right waived by a guilty plea, we
3 ER 1.6(a) provides that “[a] lawyer shall not reveal information relating
to the representation of a client,” but one exception is in ER 1.6(d)(4): “A
lawyer may reveal such information relating to the representation of a client
to the extent the lawyer reasonably believes necessary . . . to establish a
claim or defense on behalf of the lawyer in a controversy between the
lawyer and the client . . . or to respond to allegations in any proceeding
concerning the lawyer’s representation of the client.”
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ISRAEL NARANJO V. HON. SUKENIC/STATE
Opinion of the Court
hold that defendant has waived the attorney-client privilege as to this
issue.”). Accordingly, by asserting an ineffective assistance of counsel
claim, Naranjo has “waive[d] the attorney-client privilege as to any
information necessary to allow the State to rebut the claim.” See
Rule 32.6(f).
¶30 To the extent the documents at issue contain attorney work
product, we note the parties did not address whether Naranjo may assert
the work-product privilege or whether that privilege is instead held by trial
counsel. The parties also did not address whether trial counsel waived the
work-product privilege by disclosing documents to Naranjo and his new
counsel. See Ariz. Indep. Redistricting Comm’n v. Fields, 206 Ariz. 130, 142
¶ 39 (App. 2003) (“[T]he work-product privilege is designed to protect
mental impressions and theories of attorneys or other client representatives
concerning actual or prospective litigation involving the client.” (citing
State ex rel. Corbin v. Weaver, 140 Ariz. 123, 129 (App. 1984))). Thus, we do
not resolve these issues. But even if Naranjo could assert the attorney
work-product privilege, he has waived the privilege to the same extent he
has waived the attorney-client privilege. See supra ¶ 29; Bittaker v. Woodford,
331 F.3d 715, 722 n.6 (9th Cir. 2003) (addressing habeas petitioner’s waiver
of attorney-client privilege by raising ineffective assistance of counsel claim
and noting court’s decision “applies equally to the work product
privilege”).
C. Other Issues Related to the Disclosure of Materials
¶31 In ordering the disclosure of the three family-member interview
materials, the PCR court permitted defense counsel to redact certain
information and provide the State a log describing the basis for such
redactions. 4 We now provide guidance about appropriate redactions in
this context.
4 The PCR court permitted defendant to redact information that was
“particularly harmful to the defendant or embarrassing.” However,
Naranjo may not redact non-privileged information that falls within the
scope of discovery under Rule 32.6(b)(2) merely on the basis that it is
“harmful” or “embarrassing.” See Rule 32.6(b), (f). If Naranjo believes
13
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Opinion of the Court
¶32 Naranjo acknowledges “the statements of the three witnesses
are not covered by attorney-client privilege.” But to the extent materials
to be disclosed contain privileged information for which the privilege has
not been waived, Naranjo may redact such privileged information in his
disclosures to the State. In that case, Naranjo must then produce a log that
establishes the privilege for the redacted information. See State ex rel. Adel
v. Adleman, 252 Ariz. 356, 360–61 ¶¶ 13–14 (2022).
¶33 In addition, to the extent materials containing information
within the scope of Rule 32.6(b)(2) also contain other information outside
the scope of Rule 32.6(b)(2), Naranjo may redact the information that does
not meet the Rule 32.6(b)(2) standard. Specifically, he may redact
information for which there are no reasonable grounds to believe the
information would lead to the discovery of evidence material to his
colorable and inextricably intertwined PCR claims. See Rule 32.6(b)(2).
Such redactions would also require a log that establishes the basis for such
redactions.
¶34 In the event of any redactions, Naranjo’s log will allow the State
to determine whether to pursue an in camera review of any redacted
materials. If this occurs, the PCR court should follow the process set forth
in Adleman, 252 Ariz. at 360–61 ¶¶ 11–15, and expand it to include
redactions made under Rule 32.6(b)(2). “In a dispute over the existence or
scope of [a] privilege, the party claiming the privilege must make a prima
facie showing that it applies to each contested” item. Adleman, 252 Ariz.
at 360 ¶ 13 (citing Clements v. Bernini ex rel. Pima, 249 Ariz. 434, 439–40 ¶ 8
(2020)). “Upon a prima facie showing of privilege, the party contesting the
privilege must demonstrate a good faith basis that an in camera
review . . . would reveal waiver of the privilege or establish an applicable
exception.” Id. at 361 ¶ 15 (citing Clements, 249 Ariz. at 438 ¶ 1); see also
United States v. Zolin, 491 U.S. 554, 572 (1989) (“Before engaging in in
camera review to determine the applicability of the crime-fraud exception,
‘the judge should require a showing of a factual basis adequate to support
a good faith belief by a reasonable person,’ that in camera review of the
materials may reveal evidence to establish the claim that the crime-fraud
exception applies.” (internal citation omitted)).
any such information is “harmful” or “embarrassing,” he may request the
trial court consider other measures (e.g., specific protective order terms).
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Opinion of the Court
¶35 Naranjo has emphasized the interest in confidentiality “in the
context of the investigation of the case for mitigation in a capital murder
trial,” including to “promot[e] frank disclosure by a defendant to his
counsel” and “enabl[e] [a] thorough investigation of mitigation” that is
fully documented. We conclude the obligations on a party seeking
discovery, in combination with the various protective mechanisms in place
here, will sufficiently address those concerns. First, a party seeking
discovery after a PCR petition is filed must demonstrate “good cause”
under Rule 32.6(b)(2) before a court orders disclosure. Second, the
defendant may redact information in the materials that is either privileged
or falls outside the scope of Rule 32.6(b)(2). See supra ¶¶ 32–33. Third,
there is a process for the court to conduct an in camera review of any
disputed redactions. See supra ¶ 34. Fourth, the PCR court here entered
a protective order that “prohibit[s] the State from using, in any retrial or
resentencing proceeding, any confidential or privileged information
disclosed by Defendant to the State pursuant to any Court Order in post-
conviction proceedings.” This order also “prohibit[s] the Office of the
Attorney General from sharing any such information with any other agency
of the State including any State law enforcement Agency.” These
combined measures properly guard against the disclosure of information
that is privileged or falls outside the scope of discovery under
Rule 32.6(b)(2) and sufficiently address confidentiality in the context of
capital case investigations.
¶36 Amici argue a protective order is insufficient to protect the
confidentiality of the defense investigation, citing Lambright v. Ryan,
698 F.3d 808 (9th Cir. 2012). But the procedural process in Lambright did
not include other protective measures that are in place here, including
permissible redactions, a log that establishes the basis for such redactions,
and a process for conducting in camera review of disputed redactions. See
id. Also, Lambright did not hold that a protective order is insufficient in all
instances. Id.¶37 Finally, Naranjo argues the State failed to show the materiality
of the documents in question during a hearing pursuant to Waitkus v. Mauet,
157 Ariz. 339 (App. 1988). In Waitkus, the court of appeals vacated an
order requiring the production of trial counsel’s file to the prosecution for
inspection and copying. Id. at 340–41. The court explained, “[t]he trial
court may set an evidentiary hearing for the purpose of taking testimony
15
ISRAEL NARANJO V. HON. SUKENIC/STATE
Opinion of the Court
from trial counsel about the specific contentions raised by petitioner.” Id.Then, “documents specifically relating to the ineffectiveness claim which
are the subject of testimony at the hearing could be produced, and the trial
court can insure that irrelevant and still privileged material is protected.”
Id. at 341.
¶38 Waitkus, however, arose in the context of a motion for new trial
before sentencing under Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure 24.1 (“Motion
for New Trial”). Id. at 339–40. This is vastly different from the
proceeding before us—where the sentence was imposed and the appeal
completed, and the PCR proceeding occurs years after the underlying trial.
Rule 32.6(b)(2), which became effective after Waitkus, does not mandate a
Waitkus hearing before discovery is ordered. While a PCR court may
conduct such a hearing if necessary to determine whether “good cause”
exists to grant a discovery request, such a hearing is not required. Thus,
the trial court did not err in failing to order a Waitkus hearing.
III. CONCLUSION
¶39 We affirm the trial court’s order requiring Naranjo to disclose
materials associated with trial counsel’s interviews of Naranjo’s three
family members consistent with the procedures set forth in this opinion.
We remand to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this
opinion. We also vacate the stay of proceedings previously entered by this
Court.
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