State ex rel. Trevor Griffith v. Anne Precythe, Julie Kempker, and Kenny Jones

SUPREME COURT OF MISSOURI
en banc
STATE OF MISSOURI ex rel. ) Opinion issued May 21, 2019`
TREVOR GRIFFITH, )
)
Petitioner, )
)
v. ) No. SC97056
)
ANNE PRECYTHE, JULIE KEMPKER, )
AND KENNY JONES, )
)
Respondents. )
ORIGINAL PROCEEDING IN HABEAS CORPUS
Trevor Griffith (hereinafter, “Griffith”) filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus,
seeking an immediate release from custody and his return to the circuit court to be
discharged from probation. Griffith argues the circuit court exceeded its authority after
revoking and terminating his second term of probation and was without authority to
execute his sentence.
After this case was briefed, argued, and submitted, Griffith was released from his
incarceration and discharged from parole. This Court exercises its discretion to not
dismiss this appeal as moot. The circuit court erred in placing Griffith on a third term of
probation. When a circuit court places a defendant on an erroneous third term of
probation, the case should be remanded back to that point in time to determine the proper
course of the defendant’s sentence. However, since Griffith has been released and
discharged, he should not be returned to custody to make this determination.
Factual and Procedural Background
In December 2010, Griffith pleaded guilty to one count of felony distribution,
delivery, or sale of a controlled substance. The circuit court suspended imposition of
Griffith’s sentence and placed him on a five-year term of probation.
Griffith’s probation was revoked in October 2011, and the circuit court sentenced
him to five years in prison and placed him into a 120-day institutional treatment program.
Pursuant to section 559.115, RSMo Supp. 2005, the circuit court retained jurisdiction for
the 120-day period. Following Griffith’s completion of the treatment program, the circuit
court placed Griffith on a second five-year probationary term, beginning in February
2012.
In February 2013, the circuit court revoked Griffith’s probation. The circuit court
then placed Griffith on a third term of probation for five years.
Griffith’s probation was revoked again in November 2014. The circuit court
imposed and executed a five-year term of imprisonment.
In March 2017, Griffith filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus with the circuit
court asserting the court exceeded its authority 1 in imposing a third term of probation.
1
Griffith claimed the circuit court exceeded its jurisdiction to act in this case. However,
this Court determined in J.C.W. ex rel. Webb v. Wyciskalla, 275 S.W.3d 249, 252 (Mo.
banc 2009), there are only two types of jurisdiction—personal and subject matter. The
circuit court in this case had both. Griffith’s actual claim is the circuit court exceeded its
statutory authority to act. This Court reminds litigants to be mindful of this distinction.
2
The circuit court denied Griffith relief. Griffith petitioned and was denied relief by the
court of appeals.
Griffith then petitioned this Court for habeas corpus relief, requesting this Court
order his unconditional release from confinement and amend his conviction record to
reflect his discharge from probation. This Court issued a writ of habeas corpus.
Mootness
A threshold determination in any appellate review is whether the controversy is
moot. Grzybinski v. Dir. of Revenue, 479 S.W.3d 742, 745 (Mo. App. E.D. 2016).
“When an event occurs that makes a court’s decision unnecessary or makes granting
effectual relief by the court impossible, the case is moot and generally should be
dismissed.” Id. (quoting Kinsky v. Steiger, 109 S.W.3d 194, 195 (Mo. App. E.D. 2003)).
However, there are two exceptions to the mootness doctrine: (1) where the case
becomes moot after it has been argued and submitted, and (2) where the case presents an
unsettled legal issue of public interest and importance of a recurring nature that will
escape review unless the court exercises its discretionary jurisdiction. 2 State ex rel.
Peters-Baker v. Round, 561 S.W.3d 380, 384-85 (Mo. banc 2018). “If either of these
2
The second exception to the mootness doctrine is often referred to as the “public interest
exception.” The public interest exception “applies whenever a case presents an issue that
(1) is of general public interest and importance, (2) will recur and (3) will evade appellate
review in future live controversies.” State ex rel. Mo. Pub. Defender Comm’n v. Waters,
370 S.W.3d 592, 603 (Mo. banc 2012) (quoting Gurley v. Mo. Bd. of Private Investigator
Exam’rs, 361 S.W.3d 406 (Mo. banc 2012)). This case presents an important issue which
is capable of repetition but not capable of evading appellate review.
3
exceptions exist, an appellate court may choose to exercise its discretion to decide the
case, notwithstanding that it has become moot.” Id. at 385.
After this case was heard and submitted, this Court requested counsel of record to
file confirmation of Griffith’s incarceration and parole status. Griffith was released from
custody and discharged from parole at the end of February 2019. Griffith is no longer
incarcerated and has been discharged from parole. While the case appears to be moot
because Griffith is no longer restrained of his liberty and has completed his sentence,
counsel agree this Court should reach the underlying merits of this case, rather than issue
a dismissal, because the first exception to the mootness doctrine exists. 3 Accordingly,
this Court will exercise its discretion to review the appeal’s merits under the first
exception to the mootness doctrine.
Standard of Review
This Court has jurisdiction to issue original remedial writs. Mo. Const. art. V,
sec. 4. Rule 91.01(b) provides, “Any person restrained of liberty within this state may
petition for a writ of habeas corpus to inquire into the cause of such restraint.”
“‘[H]abeas corpus proceedings are limited to determining the facial validity of
confinement’ and are ‘properly invoked to challenge an improper probation revocation.’”
State ex rel. Fleming v. Mo. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, 515 S.W.3d 224, 229 (Mo. banc
2017) (quoting State ex rel. Nixon v. Jaynes, 73 S.W.3d 623, 624 (Mo. banc 2002)).
Habeas corpus relief is available when the petitioner proves he or she is “restrained of his
3
This Court applied the first exception in Peters-Baker, 561 S.W.3d at 385, and State ex
rel. Gardner v. Boyer, 561 S.W.3d 389, 395 (Mo. banc 2018).
4
[or her] liberty in violation of the constitution or laws of the state or federal government.”
State ex rel. Carr v. Wallace, 527 S.W.3d 55, 59 (Mo. banc 2017) (quoting State ex rel.
Clemons v. Larkins, 475 S.W.3d 60, 76 (Mo. banc 2015)).
Analysis
Griffith seeks an immediate release from custody and his return to the circuit court
to be discharged from his probation. Griffith asserts the circuit court was without
authority to act after it revoked and terminated his second term of probation in February
2013. Griffith argues the circuit court had no authority to execute his sentence in
November 2014.
The duration of a defendant’s probation and the circuit court’s power to revoke
probation is governed by statute. State ex rel. Strauser v. Martinez, 416 S.W.3d 798, 801
(Mo. banc 2014); section 559.036, RSMo Supp. 2005. 4 When a probation violation
occurs, the circuit court may continue the probationary term, extend the probationary
term by one additional year, or issue a second term of probation. Section 559.036, RSMo
Supp. 2005. 5 However, a circuit court has the authority to revoke a defendant’s term of
probation only one time if the probationary terms are violated. State ex rel. Weaver v.
Martinez, 481 S.W.3d 127, 128 (Mo. App. E.D. 2016).
4
Section 559.036, RSMo Supp. 2005, has been amended several times. However, the
core provisions governing the duration of probation and the circuit court’s power to
revoke remain the same.
5
Section 559.036, RSMo Supp. 2012, contains the same options for the circuit court, but
has additional language allowing the circuit court to place a defendant into a 120-day
institutional treatment program under certain circumstances.
5
In this case, pursuant to the applicable statutory guidelines, the circuit court had
authority to place Griffith in a 120-day institutional treatment program when it revoked
his first term of probation. Section 559.115.3, RSMo Supp. 2005. When Griffith
successfully completed the 120-day institutional treatment program, the circuit court
properly followed the statutory guidelines, and in February 2012, pursuant to section
559.115.3, RSMo Supp. 2005, placed Griffith on probation for a five-year term. This
constituted Griffith’s second term of probation.
When the circuit court revoked Griffith’s probation in February 2013, 6 the circuit
court placed him on a third term of probation. However, a circuit court may impose a
new term of probation only once. Weaver, 481 S.W.3d at 128; State ex rel. Moyer v.
Calhoun, 22 S.W.3d 250, 252 (Mo. App. E.D. 2000). If a circuit court revokes the
second term of probation, it has no authority to impose a third probationary term.
Weaver, 481 S.W.3d at 128; Moyer, 22 S.W.3d at, 252. Hence, placing Griffith on a
third term of probation was erroneous. The circuit court was authorized to pursue other
means of controlling Griffith’s behavior, including extending the probationary term by
one year, continuing the second term of probation, or executing Griffith’s sentence. 7
Section 559.036, RSMo Supp. 2012.
6
Contrary to Griffith’s suggestion, the circuit court’s authority extends for the entire
probationary period. Section 559.036.8, RSMo Supp. 2012. The circuit court did not
lose authority over his case in February 2013.
7
Had the circuit court extended Griffith’s second probationary term for an additional
year or had the circuit court imposed and executed Griffith’s five-year sentence, his
probation or sentence would have been completed in February 2018. Alternatively, had
Griffith continued to serve his second term of probation imposed in February 2012, it
would have expired statutorily in February 2017.
6
The circuit court’s imposition of a third term of probation was void. Accordingly,
this Court would have directed the circuit court to return to the point in time wherein it
erred, specifically to as the case existed in February 2013. Had Griffith not been released
from custody and discharged from parole, the circuit court would have been required to
determine the proper course of Griffith’s sentence. In reconsidering Griffith’s placement
as it should have been made in February 2013, the circuit court would have been
instructed to take into account Griffith’s additional time served on probation and time
incarcerated when crafting its judgment.
Conclusion
Griffith would have been entitled to a proper determination of his conduct and
disposition of his conduct from the time the circuit court erred. Further, the circuit
court’s reconsideration of its ruling based upon Griffith’s conduct in February 2013,
should have taken into consideration the intervening years of probation and incarceration.
However, since Griffith has been released and discharged, he should not be returned to
custody to make this determination. A defendant in similar circumstances may seek
relief in the circuit court without prejudice in conformity with this opinion. Pending the
circuit court’s decision, a defendant may be returned to custody.
___________________________
GEORGE W. DRAPER III, JUDGE
Wilson, Russell, Breckenridge, and Stith, JJ., concur; Fischer, C.J., dissents in separate
opinion filed; Powell, J., concurs in opinion of Fischer, C.J.
7
SUPREME COURT OF MISSOURI
en banc
STATE OF MISSOURI ex rel. )
TREVOR GRIFFITH, )
)
Petitioner, )
)
v. ) No. SC97056
)
ANNE PRECYTHE, JULIE KEMPKER, )
AND KENNY JONES, )
)
Respondents. )
DISSENTING OPINION
Griffith's release from incarceration and discharge from parole renders this case
moot. "A case is moot when the question presented for decision seeks a judgment upon
some matter which, if the judgment was rendered, would not have any practical effect upon
any then existing controversy." State ex rel. Hawley v. Heagney, 523 S.W.3d 447, 450
(Mo. banc 2017) (internal quotations omitted). When a case is moot, it should be
dismissed. Mo. Mun. League v. State, 465 S.W.3d 904, 906 (Mo. banc 2015).
There are two exceptions to the mootness doctrine: "(1) when a case becomes moot
after submission and argument; and (2) when the issue raised is one of general public
interest and importance, recurring in nature, and will otherwise evade appellate review."
State ex rel. Peters-Baker v. Round, 561 S.W.3d 380, 384-85 (Mo. banc 2018) (internal
citations omitted). If either exception exists, the Court "may choose to exercise its
discretion to decide the case[.]" Id. at 385. The principal opinion's justification is "counsel
agree this Court should reach the underlying merits of this case, rather than issue a
dismissal, because the first exception to the mootness doctrine exists." Slip op. at 4.
However, the mere existence of an exception does not, in itself, justify the exercise of this
Court's discretion, particularly when the opinion will serve no precedential purpose in light
of State ex rel. Sampson v. Hickle, _S.W.3d_ (Mo. banc 2019), issued contemporaneously.
In my view, the majority opinion abandons this Court's "long-established practice
of refusing to render advisory opinions 1 upon the request of party litigants." Int'l Tel. &
Tel. Corp. v. Smith, 687 S.W.2d 194, 195 (Mo. banc 1985). This case should be dismissed
as moot.
_______________________
Zel M. Fischer, Chief Justice
1
"An opinion is advisory if there is no justiciable controversy[.]" State ex rel. Heart of Am.
Council v. McKenzie, 484 S.W.3d 320, 324 n.3 (Mo. banc 2016).
2