MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Judiciary

By: Senator(s) Tollison

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 99-15-18, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MANNER OF PAYMENT OF EXPENSES OF DEFENSE COUNSEL; TO AMEND SECTION 99-39-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE EXCEPTIONS TO THE THREE-YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR MOVING FOR RELIEF; TO AMEND SECTION 99-39-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL UPON ENTRY OF A SENTENCE OF DEATH; TO AMEND SECTION 99-39-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE NUMBER AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PERSONNEL OF THE OFFICE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 99-15-18, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

99-15-18. (1) Counsel employed by an office funded by the State of Mississippi or any county shall receive no compensation or expenses for representation of a party seeking post-conviction relief while under a sentence of death other than the compensation attendant to his office.

(2) Unless employed by such an office, counsel appointed to represent a party seeking post-conviction relief while under a sentence of death shall be paid at an hourly rate not to exceed eighty percent (80%) of the hourly rate allowed in the United States District Courts of the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi to attorneys appointed to represent defendants seeking habeas corpus relief. * * *

(3) Counsel shall submit to the trial court, once each month, an interim invoice. Compensation earned and reimbursable expenses incurred each month shall be claimed on an interim invoice submitted not later than the fifteenth day of the following month, or the first business day thereafter. All interim vouchers shall be supported by detailed and itemized time and expense statements. The trial court shall review the interim invoices when submitted and will authorize compensation to be paid for seventy-five percent (75%) of the approved number of hours. The court shall also authorize for payment all reimbursable expenses, including fees and expenses of experts and of investigators, reasonably incurred. At the conclusion of the state-paid post-conviction representation, counsel shall submit a final voucher seeking payment for representation provided during the final interim period. The final invoice shall also set forth in detail the time and expenses claimed for the entire case, including all documentation. Counsel shall reflect all compensation and reimbursement previously received on the appropriate line of the final invoice. Upon review and approval of the final invoice, the trial court shall authorize compensation to be paid for the approved number of hours provided during the final interim period, for all reasonable expenses reasonably incurred during the final interim period, and for the withheld twenty-five percent (25%) of hours approved in prior interim periods.

(4) All interim invoices will be maintained under seal during the pendency of state post-conviction proceedings. Upon submission by defendant's counsel of a final invoice, the trial court shall unseal the interim invoices unless the trial court determines that petitioner's interest requires a limited disclosure. In determining whether limited disclosure is appropriate, the trial court shall consider the need: (a) to protect the petitioner's Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination; (b) to protect the petitioner's Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel; (c) the petitioner's attorney-client privilege; (d) the work product privilege of the petitioner's counsel; (e) the safety of any person; (f) whether petitioner intends to seek federal habeas corpus relief; and (g) any other interest that justice may require.

(5) Prior to payment of any fees in a case in excess of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00) or expenses of investigation and experts in excess of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00), the application for such fees and expenses will be submitted to the Supreme Court for review of the award of the convicting court. If counsel believes that the court has failed to allow reasonable compensation, counsel may petition the Supreme Court for review. If counsel is appointed in successive post-conviction proceedings, such counsel shall receive reasonable compensation considering the services performed.

(6) The trial court shall also, upon petition by the party seeking post-conviction relief, authorize additional monies to pay for investigative and expert services that are reasonably necessary to adequately litigate the post-conviction claims. The initial petition for such expenses shall present a credible estimate of anticipated expenses, and such estimate shall be updated from time to time as needed to inform the court of the status of such expenses. Payment of such expenses shall be made from funds in the Special Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund.

SECTION 2. Section 99-39-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

99-39-5. (1) Any prisoner in custody under sentence of a court of record of the State of Mississippi who claims:

(a) That the conviction or the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution or laws of Mississippi;

(b) That the trial court was without jurisdiction to impose sentence;

(c) That the statute under which the conviction and/or sentence was obtained is unconstitutional;

(d) That the sentence exceeds the maximum authorized by law;

(e) That there exists evidence of material facts, not previously presented and heard, that requires vacation of the conviction or sentence in the interest of justice;

(f) That his plea was made involuntarily;

(g) That his sentence has expired; his probation, parole or conditional release unlawfully revoked; or he is otherwise unlawfully held in custody;

(h) That he is entitled to an out-of-time appeal; or

(i) That the conviction or sentence is otherwise subject to collateral attack upon any grounds of alleged error heretofore available under any common law, statutory or other writ, motion, petition, proceeding or remedy; may file a motion to vacate, set aside or correct the judgment or sentence, or for an out-of-time appeal.

(2) A motion for relief under this chapter shall be made within three (3) years after the time in which the prisoner's direct appeal is ruled upon by the Supreme Court of Mississippi or, in case no appeal is taken, within three (3) years after the time for taking an appeal from the judgment of conviction or sentence has expired, or in case of a guilty plea, within three (3) years after entry of the judgment of conviction. Excepted from this three-year statute of limitations are those cases in which the prisoner can demonstrate either that there has been an intervening decision of the Supreme Court of either the State of Mississippi or the United States which would have actually adversely affected the outcome of his conviction or sentence or that he has evidence, not reasonably discoverable at the time of trial, which is of such nature that it would be practically conclusive that had such been introduced at trial it would have caused a different result in the conviction or sentence. Likewise excepted are those cases in which the prisoner claims that his sentence has expired or his probation, parole or conditional release has been unlawfully revoked. Likewise excepted are filings for post-conviction relief in capital cases which shall be made within one (1) year upon judgment of death becoming final and a writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court having been denied or the time for filing such petition having expired.

(3) This motion is not a substitute for, nor does it affect, any remedy incident to the proceeding in the trial court, or direct review of the conviction or sentence.

(4) Proceedings under this chapter shall be subject to the provisions of Section 99-19-42.

SECTION 3. Section 99-39-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

99-39-23. (1) If an evidentiary hearing is required the judge may appoint counsel for a petitioner who qualifies for the appointment of counsel under Section 99-15-15, Mississippi Code of 1972.

(2) The hearing shall be conducted as promptly as practicable, having regard for the need of counsel for both parties for adequate time for investigation and preparation.

(3) The parties shall be entitled to subpoena witnesses and compel their attendance, including, but not being limited to, subpoenas duces tecum.

(4) The court may receive proof by affidavits, depositions, oral testimony or other evidence and may order the prisoner brought before it for the hearing.

(5) If the court finds in favor of the prisoner, it shall enter an appropriate order with respect to the conviction or sentence under attack, and any supplementary orders as to rearraignment, retrial, custody, bail, discharge, correction of sentence or other matters that may be necessary and proper. The court shall make specific findings of fact, and state expressly its conclusions of law, relating to each issue presented.

(6) The order as provided in subsection (5) of this section or any order dismissing the prisoner's motion or otherwise denying relief under this chapter is a final judgment and shall be conclusive until reversed. It shall be a bar to a second or successive motion under this chapter. Excepted from this prohibition is a motion filed pursuant to Section 99-19-57(2), Mississippi Code of 1972, raising the issue of the convict's supervening insanity prior to the execution of a sentence of death. A dismissal or denial of a motion relating to insanity under Section 99-19-57(2), Mississippi Code of 1972, shall be res judicata on the issue and shall likewise bar any second or successive motions on the issue. Likewise excepted from this prohibition are those cases in which the prisoner can demonstrate either that there has been an intervening decision of the Supreme Court of either the State of Mississippi or the United States which would have actually adversely affected the outcome of his conviction or sentence or that he has evidence, not reasonably discoverable at the time of trial, which is of such nature that it would be practically conclusive that had such been introduced at trial it would have caused a different result in the conviction or sentence. Likewise excepted are those cases in which the prisoner claims that his sentence has expired or his probation, parole or conditional release has been unlawfully revoked.

(7) No relief shall be granted under this chapter unless the prisoner proves by a preponderance of the evidence that he is entitled to such.

(8) Proceedings under this section shall be subject to the provisions of Section 99-19-42.

(9) In cases resulting in a sentence of death and upon a determination of indigence, appointment of post-conviction counsel shall be made by the Office of Capital Post-Conviction Counsel upon order entered by the Supreme Court promptly upon the judgment of death becoming final and a writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court having been denied or the time for filing such petition having expired. The order shall direct the trial court to immediately determine indigence and whether the inmate will accept counsel.

SECTION 4. Section 99-39-103, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

99-39-103. There is created the Mississippi Office of Capital Post-Conviction Counsel. This office shall consist of a minimum of three (3), not to exceed five (5), attorneys, a minimum of one (1), not to exceed three (3), investigators, one (1) fiscal officer and a minimum of one (1), not to exceed two (2), secretaries/paralegals. One of the attorneys shall serve as director of the office. The director shall be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court with the approval of a majority of the justices voting, for a term of four (4) years, or until a successor takes office. The remaining attorneys and other staff shall be appointed by the director of the office and shall serve at the will and pleasure of the director. The director and all other attorneys in the office shall either be active members of The Mississippi Bar, or, if a member in good standing of the bar of another jurisdiction, must apply to and secure admission to The Mississippi Bar within twelve (12) months of the commencement of the person's employment by the office. At least three (3) of the attorneys in the office shall meet all qualifications necessary to serve as post-conviction counsel for persons under a sentence of death. The director may be removed from office by the Chief Justice upon finding that the director is not qualified under law to serve as post-conviction counsel for persons under sentences of death, has failed to perform the duties of the office or has acted beyond the scope of the authority granted by law for the office.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2001.