State of Tennesee v. Gregory Robinson - Concurring and Dissenting ( 2004 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
June 2, 2004 Session
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. GREGORY ROBINSON
Appeal by permission from the Court of Criminal Appeals
Criminal Court for Shelby County
No. 97-13179-80 James C. Beasley, Jr., Judge
No. W2001-01299-SC-R11-DD - Filed September 28, 2004
ADOLPHO A. BIRCH , JR., J., concurring and dissenting.
I concur in the conclusion of the majority that Robinson’s convictions should be affirmed.
As to the sentence of death, however, I continue to adhere to my views, previously expressed in a
long line of dissents, that the comparative proportionality review protocol currently embraced by the
majority is inadequate to shield defendants from the arbitrary and disproportionate imposition of the
death penalty. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-206(c)(1)(D) (1995 Supp.). I have repeatedly
expressed my displeasure with the current protocol since the time of its adoption in State v. Bland,
958 S.W.2d 651 (Tenn. 1997). See State v. Davis, ___ S.W.3d ___, ___ (Tenn. 2004) (Birch, J.,
concurring and dissenting); State v. Berry, ___ S.W.3d ___, ___ (Tenn. 2004) (Birch, J., concurring
and dissenting); State v. Holton, 126 S.W.3d 845, 872 (Tenn. 2004) (Birch, J., concurring and
dissenting); State v. Davidson, 121 S.W.3d 600, 629-36 (Tenn. 2003) (Birch, J., dissenting); State
v. Carter, 114 S.W.3d 895, 910-11 (Tenn. 2003) (Birch, J., dissenting); State v. Reid, 91 S.W.3d
247, 288-89 (Tenn. 2002) (Birch, J., concurring and dissenting); State v. Austin, 87 S.W.3d 447,
467-68 (Tenn. 2002) (Birch, J., dissenting); State v. Stevens, 78 S.W.3d 817, 852 (Tenn. 2002)
(Birch, J., concurring and dissenting); State v. McKinney, 74 S.W.3d 291, 320-22 (Tenn. 2002)
(Birch, J., concurring and dissenting); State v. Bane, 57 S.W.3d 411, 431-32 (Tenn. 2001) (Birch,
J., concurring and dissenting); State v. Stout, 46 S.W.3d 689, 720 (Tenn. 2001) (Birch, J., concurring
and dissenting); Terry v. State, 46 S.W.3d 147, 167 (Tenn. 2001) (Birch, J., dissenting); State v.
Sims, 45 S.W.3d 1, 23-24 (Tenn. 2001) (Birch, J., concurring and dissenting); State v. Keen, 31
S.W.3d 196, 233-34 (Tenn. 2000) (Birch, J., dissenting). As previously discussed, I believe that the
three basic problems with the current proportionality analysis are that: (1) the proportionality test
is overbroad,1 (2) the pool of cases used for comparison is inadequate,2 and (3) review is too
1
I have urged adopting a protocol in which each case would be compared to factually similar cases in which
either a life sentence or capital punishment was imposed to determine whether the case is more consistent with “life”
cases or “death” cases. See State v. M cKinney, 74 S.W .3d at 321 (Birch, J., concurring and dissenting). The current
(continued...)
subjective.3 I have previously discussed, in depth, my perception that these flaws undermine the
reliability of the current proportionality protocol. See State v. Godsey, 60 S.W.3d at 793-800 (Birch,
J., concurring and dissenting). I continue to adhere to my view that the current comparative
proportionality protocol is woefully inadequate to protect defendants from the arbitrary or
disproportionate imposition of the death penalty.4
But beyond the foregoing, which addresses proportionality review in general, the number of
participants in this offense and the wide disparity in the sentences imposed in this case invite a yet
more specific scrutiny. Of the four others prosecuted for this offense, only Robinson received the
death penalty. Prentiss Phillips was convicted of first-degree murder and especially aggravated
kidnapping and received sentences of life without parole for the murder, plus twenty-five years,
respectively.5 See State v. Phillps, 76 S.W.3d 1 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001), perm. app. denied (Tenn.
2001). Antonio Jackson was convicted of facilitation of first-degree murder and especially
aggravated kidnapping and received sentences of twenty-five years on each of those offenses, to be
served consecutively. See State v. Jackson, 52 S.W.3d 661 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001), perm. app.
denied (Tenn. 2001). Kevin Wilkins’ conviction for first-degree murder (and life without parole
sentence) was reversed on appeal for insufficient evidence, leaving him with a single conviction for
especially aggravated kidnapping, although it is evident from the testimony in this record that he was
the person who actually fired the fatal shots into Vernon Green’s body. See State v. Kevin Wilkins,
1
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protocol allows a finding proportionality if the case is similar to existing death penalty cases. In other words, a case is
disproportionate only if the case under review “is plainly lacking in circumstances consistent with those in similar cases
in which the death penalty has been imposed.” Bland, 958 S.W .2d at 665 (emphasis added).
2
In my view, excluding from comparison that group of cases in which the State did not seek the death penalty,
or in which no capital sentencing hearing was held, frustrates any meaningful comparison for proportionality purposes.
See Bland, 958 S.W .2d at 679 (Birch, J., dissenting). This case, in particular, is a prime example of the arbitrariness of
this protocol.
3
As I stated in my concurring/dissenting opinion in State v. Godsey, “[t]he scope of the analysis employed by
the majority appears to be rather amorphous and undefined–expanding, contracting, and shifting as the analysis moves
from case to case.” 60 S.W.3d 759, 797 (Tenn. 2001)(Birch, J., concurring and dissenting).
4
I also note that in a recent study on the costs and the consequences of the death penalty conducted by the State
Comptroller, one of the conclusions was that prosecutors across the state are inconsistent in their pursuit of the death
penalty, a fact that also contributes to arbitrariness in the imposition of the death penalty. See John G. Morgan,
Comptroller of the Treasury, Tennessee’s D eath Penalty: Costs and Consequences 13 (July 2004), available at
www.comptroller.state.tn.us/orea/reports.
5
As noted by the Court of Criminal Appeals in its unredacted opinion, the State also sought the death penalty
against Phillips, making it a prime case for comparison, even under the standards of Bland. State v. Gregory Robinson,
No. W 2001-01299-CCA-R3-DD at pp. 52-53 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Jackson, Aug. 13, 2003).
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No. W1999-01462-CCA-MR3-CD (Tenn. Crim. App. at Jackson, Aug. 18, 2000), perm. app. denied
(Tenn. 2001).6
Of course, a death sentence for one defendant is not rendered arbitrary, excessive or
disproportionate merely because another defendant in the same case has received a sentence less than
death.7 But here, the arbitrary nature of the sentencing process becomes strikingly manifest. Thus,
I am constrained to wholeheartedly agree with the conclusion reached by the Court of Criminal
Appeals–that no rational basis exists to distinguish Robinson’s sentence of death from the lesser
sentences imposed upon the other defendants. Accordingly, I deem Robinson’s sentence to be
arbitrary, excessive, and disproportionate.
In light of the foregoing, I respectfully dissent from that portion of the majority opinion that
affirms the imposition of the death penalty upon Gregory Robinson and concur in the affirmance of
his convictions.
___________________________________
ADOLPHO A. BIRCH, JR.
6
The disposition of Jarvis Shipp’s case is unknown, although there is evidence in the record that he was
testifying against this defendant in the hope of receiving a favorable plea bargain, presumably for something more
favorable than the death penalty. See Majority Opinion, slip op. at 19-20.
7
See, e.g., State v. Burns, 979 S.W .2d 276, 285 (Tenn. 1998); State v. Cauthern, 967 S.W .2d 726, 741 (Tenn.
1998).
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