{ "id": 8525107, "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. DELMA JUNE EDWARDS", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Edwards", "decision_date": "1985-03-19", "docket_number": "No. 8428SC728", "first_page": "599", "last_page": "604", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "73 N.C. App. 599" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "319 S.E. 2d 275", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "counsel threatened with contempt before jury venire, no prejudicial error" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "311 N.C. 404", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4686439, 4683348, 4682297, 4684091, 4686270 ], "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "counsel threatened with contempt before jury venire, no prejudicial error" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/311/0404-03", "/nc/311/0404-02", "/nc/311/0404-01", "/nc/311/0404-04", "/nc/311/0404-05" ] }, { "cite": "308 S.E. 2d 742", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "65 N.C. App. 23", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8521720 ], "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/65/0023-01" ] }, { "cite": "64 S.E. 2d 568", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1951, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "witnesses arrested for perjury during trial" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "233 N.C. 438", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8610305 ], "year": 1951, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "witnesses arrested for perjury during trial" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/233/0438-01" ] }, { "cite": "442 F. 2d 72", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 769592 ], "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "repeated threats by judge, record revealed intimidation; new trial" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/442/0072-01" ] }, { "cite": "423 U.S. 1073", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6501988, 6502182, 6501705, 6501901, 6502479, 6502064, 6501810, 6501653, 6502296, 6502395 ], "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/423/1073-05", "/us/423/1073-07", "/us/423/1073-02", "/us/423/1073-04", "/us/423/1073-10", "/us/423/1073-06", "/us/423/1073-03", "/us/423/1073-01", "/us/423/1073-08", "/us/423/1073-09" ] }, { "cite": "217 S.E. 2d 673", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1975, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "288 N.C. 249", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8567214, 8567185, 8567252, 8567284, 8567322 ], "year": 1975, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/288/0249-02", "/nc/288/0249-01", "/nc/288/0249-03", "/nc/288/0249-04", "/nc/288/0249-05" ] }, { "cite": "215 S.E. 2d 875", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1975, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "26 N.C. App. 259", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8551222 ], "year": 1975, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/26/0259-01" ] }, { "cite": "365 U.S. 855", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6245823, 6247243, 6246382, 6246906, 6246111 ], "year": 1961, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/365/0855-01", "/us/365/0855-05", "/us/365/0855-03", "/us/365/0855-04", "/us/365/0855-02" ] }, { "cite": "116 S.E. 2d 365", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1960, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "253 N.C. 86", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8622612 ], "year": 1960, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/253/0086-01" ] }, { "cite": "223 S.E. 2d 767", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "289 N.C. 614", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8571622, 8571591, 8571662, 8571764, 8571798 ], "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/289/0614-02", "/nc/289/0614-01", "/nc/289/0614-03", "/nc/289/0614-04", "/nc/289/0614-05" ] }, { "cite": "222 S.E. 2d 479", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "28 N.C. 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App.", "case_ids": [ 8551354 ], "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/28/0610-01" ] }, { "cite": "264 S.E. 2d 66", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "299 N.C. 547", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8575616 ], "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/299/0547-01" ] }, { "cite": "299 S.E. 2d 217", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "307 N.C. 271", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8561831, 8561806, 8561788, 8561886, 8561854 ], "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/307/0271-03", "/nc/307/0271-02", "/nc/307/0271-01", "/nc/307/0271-05", "/nc/307/0271-04" ] }, { "cite": "296 S.E. 2d 825", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "59 N.C. App. 363", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8526536 ], "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/59/0363-01" ] }, { "cite": "324 S.E. 2d 241", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "312 N.C. 553", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4753359 ], "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/312/0553-01" ] }, { "cite": "104 S.Ct. 2052", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "S. Ct.", "case_ids": [ 6204802 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/466/0668-01" ] }, { "cite": "489 F. 2d 758", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "mem." } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "350 F. Supp. 894", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 3549427 ], "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "attorney served with disciplinary petition before trial; conviction affirmed" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/350/0894-01" ] }, { "cite": "542 F. 2d 377", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 1029097 ], "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/542/0377-01" ] }, { "cite": "404 F. Supp. 268", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 3837925 ], "year": 1975, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "simply irrelevant" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/404/0268-01" ] }, { "cite": "531 F. 2d 1260", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 1074262 ], "year": 1976, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "per curiam" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/531/1260-01" ] }, { "cite": "412 F. Supp. 198", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 3870215 ], "year": 1975, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "attorney had been convicted of felony, on appeal at time of trial; not incompetent" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/412/0198-01" ] }, { "cite": "330 F. 2d 159", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 127854 ], "year": 1964, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "no \"legal shadow\" cast by \"abstract fact\" of subsequent disbarment" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/330/0159-01" ] }, { "cite": "104 S.Ct. 2039", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "S. Ct.", "case_ids": [ 6204502 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/466/0648-01" ] }, { "cite": "295 S.E. 2d 375", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "306 N.C. 629", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8573306 ], "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/306/0629-01" ] }, { "cite": "305 S.E. 2d 189", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "309 N.C. 192", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4763169, 4764848, 4767347, 4762776, 4761567 ], "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/309/0192-05", "/nc/309/0192-02", "/nc/309/0192-04", "/nc/309/0192-03", "/nc/309/0192-01" ] }, { "cite": "303 S.E. 2d 175", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "62 N.C. App. 355", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8522496 ], "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/62/0355-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 644, "char_count": 10168, "ocr_confidence": 0.822, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.345434925059198e-08, "percentile": 0.2732475908827117 }, "sha256": "6ac12ded480994bd904f6b03c8c43ab8f9de0d7090b74b0ca34b275a4eed5091", "simhash": "1:41ad29eace1f0c1f", "word_count": 1630 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:55:13.639601+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges WHICHARD and BECTON concur." ], "parties": [ "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. DELMA JUNE EDWARDS" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "WELLS, Judge.\nDefendant does not challenge the introduction of or the sufficiency of the evidence. Instead, her assignments of error relate to the effectiveness of counsel, and the trial court\u2019s admonition to defense counsel following an incident during the trial.\nDefendant first contends that the pending and ultimate disbarment of her trial counsel, Wesley F. Taiman, Jr., see N.C. State Bar v. Talman, 62 N.C. App. 355, 303 S.E. 2d 175, disc. rev. denied, 309 N.C. 192, 305 S.E. 2d 189 (1983), raises a reasonable doubt as to the effectiveness of his assistance at trial. We note first that defendant bears a heavy burden of proof on this issue. State v. Weaver, 306 N.C. 629, 295 S.E. 2d 375 (1982). The record clearly shows that actual proceedings against Taiman did not commence until after defendant\u2019s trial had ended. (Taiman had received inquiries from the State Bar eight months before trial.) Only rarely will such surrounding circumstances justify a presumption of ineffectiveness independent of counsel\u2019s actual trial performance. United States v. Cronic, \u2014 U.S. \u2014, 104 S.Ct. 2039 (1984). Subsequent disbarment of counsel does not appear to be such a circumstance. Id. To the contrary, the limited authority we have found leads us to conclude that subsequent disbarment proceedings generally are irrelevant in considering Sixth Amendment claims. See Ruffin v. United States, 330 F. 2d 159 (8th Cir. 1964) (no \u201clegal shadow\u201d cast by \u201cabstract fact\u201d of subsequent disbarment); Curry v. Estelle, 412 F. Supp. 198 (S.D. Tex. 1975) (attorney had been convicted of felony, on appeal at time of trial; not incompetent), aff'd, 531 F. 2d 1260 (5th Cir. 1976) (per curiam); United States ex rel. Ortiz v. Sielaff, 404 F. Supp. 268 (N.D. Ill. 1975) (simply irrelevant), aff'd, 542 F. 2d 377 (7th Cir. 1976); Escobedo v. United States, 350 F. Supp. 894 (N.D. Ill. 1972) (attorney served with disciplinary petition before trial; conviction affirmed), aff'd, 489 F. 2d 758 (7th Cir. 1973) (mem.). Based on the foregoing authorities, we also conclude that the State Bar\u2019s inquiries do not raise any question of ineffectiveness.\nIn order to show ineffective assistance at trial, defendant bears the burden of showing a reasonable probability that, but for counsel\u2019s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Strickland v. Washington, \u2014 U.S. ---, 104 S.Ct. 2052 (1984); State v. Braswell, 312 N.C. 553, 324 S.E. 2d 241 (1985). The reviewing court must consider the totality of the circumstances and the evidence adduced. Strickland v. Washington, supra.\nDefendant alleges only two errors as constituting ineffective assistance. The first is that Taiman never filed any pretrial motions. Such failure does not constitute ineffective assistance per se, but must be viewed in light of the entire transcript. State v. Ginn, 59 N.C. App. 363, 296 S.E. 2d 825, disc. rev. denied and appeal dismissed, 307 N.C. 271, 299 S.E. 2d 217 (1982). The record clearly reflects that Taiman was prepared to defend and did indeed capably conduct the defense. He examined the state\u2019s witnesses vigorously, using information apparently discovered in the preliminary proceedings. Taiman timely requested voir dire hearings and obtained suppression of highly incriminating evidence on Fourth Amendment grounds. He presented evidence in defendant\u2019s behalf. In the face of powerful evidence of guilt, we conclude that Talman\u2019s trial preparation and presentation of defendant\u2019s case were more than constitutionally adequate.\nDefendant\u2019s second instance of allegedly ineffective assistance, on which her remaining assignments of error are also based, involved an outburst by Taiman. Taiman had completed direct examination of an alibi witness. While the state was cross-examining her, Taiman raised up a group of papers and slammed them to the table in front of him, then stood up and addressed the court, interrupting the district attorney. While this conduct was unusual and unprofessional, nothing in the record suggests that this isolated incident affected the quality of the defense, which continued thereafter as before. No similar outbursts occurred. We do not believe that there is a reasonable probability, as opposed to mere speculation, that this attorney error affected the result. Strickland v. Washington, supra.\nFollowing Talman\u2019s outburst, the following exchange took place:\nCOURT: Mr. Taiman, if you do that again \u2014\nMr. TALMAN: I\u2019m sorry, Your Honor. I\u2019m sorry.\nCOURT: Just wait until I finish. If you do that again, I\u2019m telling you in open Court and in the presence of everybody assembled that it will be adjudged by me to be a contemptuous act and you will be punished accordingly. Now, did you wish to address the Court?\nMr. TALMAN: Yes, Your Honor. I am somewhat upset, Your Honor, about this continuous implication that there is something wrong about this witness talking to me, or of his implication that I am doing something wrong.\nCOURT: If you have a remark to make or objection to make, make it and I will rule on it. I don\u2019t want any more of that conduct, Now, you may have a seat.\nMr. TALMAN: All right, sir. I move for a mistrial.\nCOURT: Motion denied.\nDefendant contends that the admonition, without corrective instructions, prejudicially discredited her cause in the eyes of the jury. Such a contention must be evaluated in light of all the circumstances. State v. Brady, 299 N.C. 547, 264 S.E. 2d 66 (1980). It is clear that the court had power, including contempt sanctions, to control the proceedings and maintain the dignity of the court in the face of disruptive conduct. In re Paul, 28 N.C. App. 610, 222 S.E. 2d 479, disc. rev. denied and appeal dismissed, 289 N.C. 614, 223 S.E. 2d 767 (1976). The court made no comment as to the evidence in the case. See State v. Davis, 253 N.C. 86, 116 S.E. 2d 365 (1960), cert. denied, 365 U.S. 855 (1961). The record reveals only this one admonition; it is apparent from subsequent events in the trial that Taiman was not intimidated thereby. See State v. Norris, 26 N.C. App. 259, 215 S.E. 2d 875, cert. denied and appeal dismissed, 288 N.C. 249, 217 S.E. 2d 673 (1975), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1073 (1976). Compare United States v. Davis, 442 F. 2d 72 (10th Cir. 1971) (repeated threats by judge, record revealed intimidation; new trial). No disciplinary action took place before the jury. See State v. Simpson, 233 N.C. 438, 64 S.E. 2d 568 (1951) (witnesses arrested for perjury during trial). While an explanatory instruction might have been desirable, none was requested and none appears to be required by these circumstances. In short, we do not believe defendant has shown that this one isolated incident affected the result of the trial. Accord State v. Coleman, 65 N.C. App. 23, 308 S.E. 2d 742 (1983), cert. denied, 311 N.C. 404, 319 S.E. 2d 275 (1984) (counsel threatened with contempt before jury venire, no prejudicial error). Defendant\u2019s accompanying motion for mistrial was therefore properly denied.\nDefendant finally urges that her motion for a new trial, based on the foregoing alleged errors, was incorrectly denied. Our disposition of those questions resolves this assignment against defendant. Defendant received a fair trial, free of prejudicial error.\nNo error.\nJudges WHICHARD and BECTON concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "WELLS, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Attorney General Rufus L. Edmisten, by Assistant Attorney General Wilson Hayman, for the State.", "Assistant Public Defender Lawrence C. Stoker for defendant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. DELMA JUNE EDWARDS\nNo. 8428SC728\n(Filed 19 March 1985)\n1. Constitutional Law \u00a7 48\u2014 inquiries from State Bar \u2014 subsequent disbarment-no presumption of ineffective assistance of counsel\nInquiries from the State Bar to defendant\u2019s counsel before her trial and the disbarment of defendant\u2019s attorney subsequent to her trial did not create a presumption of ineffectiveness of counsel at her trial.\n2. Constitutional Law \u00a7 48\u2014 effective assistance of counsel \u2014 failure to file pretrial motions\nDefendant was not denied the effective assistance of counsel because her attorney failed to file any pretrial motions where the record shows that the attorney was prepared to defend the case against defendant and that he capably conducted such defense.\n3. Constitutional Law \u00a7 48\u2014 disruptive conduct by counsel \u2014 no ineffective assistance of counsel\nDefendant was not denied the effective assistance of counsel because her attorney, during the prosecutor\u2019s cross-examination of an alibi witness, slammed a group of papers to the table in front of him and then stood up and interrupted the prosecutor by addressing the court, and the court then admonished defense counsel that he would be held in contempt if he repeated such conduct.\n4. Criminal Law \u00a7 99.5\u2014 no expression of opinion\nDefendant\u2019s cause was not prejudicially discredited when the trial court admonished defense counsel that he would be held in contempt if he repeated certain disruptive conduct, although the court failed to give corrective instructions, where the record shows that counsel was not intimidated thereby.\nOn writ of certiorari to review judgment entered by Thorn-burg, Judge. Judgment entered 22 January 1981 in BUNCOMBE County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 15 February 1985.\nDefendant was indicted for the second degree murder of Frank Waldroup. The evidence for the state tended to show that defendant lived with Waldroup. The two had been drinking and arguing at their home in a trailer park. Waldroup went to the manager\u2019s trailer to ask if he could spend the night in an empty trailer. He was shot on the manager\u2019s front steps. There were no eyewitnesses to the actual shooting, but witnesses observed defendant walking back to her trailer from the scene after the shooting and overheard her making incriminating statements. She was arrested at home shortly afterward. Defendant presented evidence of alibi and of intoxication. Upon a verdict of guilty, defendant received a sentence of thirty to thirty-five years imprisonment. She appealed, but her appeal was never perfected, apparently because of disbarment proceedings against her attorney. Writ of certiorari was granted 16 March 1984.\nAttorney General Rufus L. Edmisten, by Assistant Attorney General Wilson Hayman, for the State.\nAssistant Public Defender Lawrence C. Stoker for defendant." }, "file_name": "0599-01", "first_page_order": 631, "last_page_order": 636 }