3 M.J. 988 | U.S. Army Court of Military Review | 1977
Lead Opinion
OPINION OF THE COURT
The issue to be decided in this case is whether the appellant’s plea of guilty was provident when analyzed under the guidelines established by the United States Court of Military Appeals in United States v. Green.
In the Green case, the Court stated: “We will view a failure to conduct a plea bargain inquiry as a matter affecting the providence of the accused's plea . . .”2
We find that the military judge did conduct a plea bargain inquiry in our case. The inquiry, however, did not contain all of the specific areas of inquiry set out in Green. In Green the Court held:
“We, therefore, hold that as part of the Care inquiries . . . , the trial judge shall ascertain whether a plea bargain exists and, if so, shall conduct an inquiry into the pretrial agreement in accordance with the Elmore guidelines previously enunciated. Inquiry into the actual sentence limitations specified in the plea bargain should be delayed until after announcing sentence where the accused elects to be sentenced by the military judge rather than a court with members. »3
The Elmore
“[T]he trial judge must shoulder the primary responsibility for assuring on the record that an accused understands the meaning and effect of each condition as well as the sentence limitations imposed by any existing pretrial agreement. .
In addition to his inquiry with the accused, the trial judge should secure from counsel for the accused as well as the prosecutor their assurance that the written agreement encompasses all of the understandings of the parties and that the judge’s interpretation of the agreement comports with their understanding of the meaning and effect of the plea bargain. . . . ”
The United States Court of Military Appeals gave as its policy considerations in the Green case for requiring a plea bargain inquiry the following reasons:
“Judicial scrutiny of plea agreements at the trial level not only will enhance public confidence in the plea bargaining process, but also will provide invaluable assistance to appellate tribunals by exposing any secret understanding between the parties and by clarifying on the record any ambiguities which lurk within the agreements. More importantly, a plea bargain inquiry is essential to satisfy the statutory mandate that a guilty plea not be accepted unless the trial judge first determines that it has been voluntarily and providently made. Finally we believe trial judges must share the responsibility, which until now has been borne by the appellate tribunals, to police the terms of pretrial agreements to insure compliance with statutory and decisional law as well as adherence to basic notions of fundamental fairness.”5
“MJ: All right. Is there any pretrial agreement?
TC: There is, Your Honor. Let the record reflect that I am handing to the military judge what has been marked as Appellate Exhibit II, the Pretrial Agreement.
MJ: All right. I take it there is an appendix that goes along with Appellate Exhibit II?
TC: There is, and it has been marked as Appellate Exhibit III, pertaining to sentencing.
MJ: Would you give that to the reporter, please?
TC: Let the record reflect that I am handling Appellate Exhibit III, the sentencing portion of the Pretrial Agreement, to the court reporter.
MJ: Private, I am looking at what has been marked as Appellate Exhibit II, styled Pretrial Agreement, dated 5 October 1976. Did you sign the back page of Appellate Exhibit II?
ACC: Yes, Your Honor.
MJ: And did you read it over and discuss it with your defense counsel before you signed it?
ACC: I did, Your Honor.
MJ: And do you understand all of it?
ACC: Yes, Your Honor.
MJ: Now it says here that, ‘In offering the above agreement, I should like to state that I am satisfied with the defense counsel who has been appointed to defend me;’ is that correct?
ACC: Yes, Your Honor.
MJ: You are satisfied in all respects with Captain Desonier?
ACC: Yes, I am.
MJ: Do you feel that he is doing his best job by pleading you guilty of larceny?
ACC: Yes, Your Honor.
MJ: It goes on to say, ‘This offer to plead guilty originated with me and no person or persons have made any attempt to force or coerce me into making this offer or to plead guilty;’ is that correct?
ACC: Yes, sir.
MJ: And you understand all of that?
ACC: Yes, Your Honor.
MJ: And it says, ‘My defense counsel has advised me of the meaning and effect of my guilty plea, and I understand the meaning and effect thereof;’ is that right?
ACC: Yes, Your Honor.
MJ: It goes on to say, T understand that I may withdraw the plea of guilty at any time before findings are announced for any reason, and at any time before sentence is adjudged with permission of the military judge for good cause;’ do you understand that?
ACC: Yes, Your Honor?
MJ: Now, is there a stipulation of fact in this case?
TC: There is not, Your Honor.
MJ: All right. It goes on to say that, T further understand that this agreement will be automatically cancelled upon the happening of any of the following events: The withdrawal by either party from the agreement prior to trial;’ do you understand that?
ACC: Yes, Your Honor.
MJ: ‘The changing of my plea by anyone during trial from guilty to not guilty;’ do you understand that?
ACC: Yes, Your Honor.
MJ: And lastly, ‘The refusal of the court to accept my plea of guilty;’ do you understand that?
ACC: Yes, Your Honor.
MJ: Now, is it your understanding, Private, that you have a certain sentence agreement with the Convening Authority?
ACC: Yes, Your Honor.
*992 MJ: And do you understand what that certain sentencing agreement is that you have with the Convening Authority?
ACC: I do.
MJ: All right. Now, tell me, is there anything at all about your pretrial agreement that you have with the Convening Authority that you do not un-' derstand?
ACC: Captain Desonier went over with me and explained very clearly to me, Your Honor, and I think I understand • it okay.
MJ: You understand everything?
ACC: Yes, Your Honor.
MJ: If you have any questions now is the time to ask?
ACC: I don’t have any questions, Your Honor.
MJ: All right. Has there been any restraint in this case?
TC: No, Your Honor.”
In addition, the military judge, sitting alone in our case, properly waited until after announcing the sentence to inquire into the actual sentence limitations specified in the plea bargain. The inquiry after the sentence was conducted as follows:
“TC: Let the record reflect that I am handing Appellate Exhibit III to the military judge.
MJ: Appellate Exhibit III, Private Crowley, reads: ‘Provided the Convening Authority agrees to: number one, suspend any confinement adjudged which is in excess of two months confinement at hard labor; and, number two, suspend any forfeitures adjudged which are in excess of two-thirds pay per month for three months.’
Now, is that the entire agreement as to sentence?
TC: It is, Your Honor.
MJ: And was that sentence agreement the understanding that you had with the Convening Authority?
ACC: Yes, Your Honor.
M J: Do you have any questions about it?
ACC: No, Your Honor.
MJ: The court is adjourned.”
The appellant alleges that the above-stated inquiry failed in several areas to fully comply with the Green requirements. These alleged failures are as follows:
1. The military judge failed to explain the significance of not entering into a stipulation of fact after discovering that there was no stipulation. The military judge is also alleged to have failed to explain to
. appellant that the agreement was automatically cancelled upon appellant’s failure to agree with trial counsel on the contents of the stipulation.
2. The military judge failed to insure on the record that the appellant understood the sentence limitations imposed by the pretrial agreement.
3. The military judge failed to ascertain from counsel that his understanding of the terms and conditions of the pretrial agreement comported with their understanding of the pretrial agreement.
4. The military judge did not secure from counsel for the accused as well as the prosecutor their assurances that the written agreement encompasses all of the understandings of the parties.
Taking these allegations in order, we decide as follows:
1. The military judge had no purpose to serve in explaining the condition in the agreement to enter into a stipulation. Having discovered that there was no stipulation the condition became moot. Insistence upon a stipulation could have only enhanced the Government’s position, since the Government had absolute control of its contents by its ability to cancel the plea agreement if there was disagreement on the contents of the stipulation.
2. We hold that where the sentence limitations are simple and straight forward, as in this case, the judge’s inquiry with the accused did insure on the record that the accused understood the sentence limitations. The military judge read the brief sentence limitations aloud to the accused. The military judge had previously obtained
3. The military judge did fail to ascertain from counsel that his understanding of the terms and conditions of the pretrial agreement comported with their understanding of the pretrial agreement. The military judge did ascertain from trial counsel that the judge’s understanding of the sentence was the entire agreement as to sentence. The military judge also inquired in a detailed and thorough manner with the accused as to each condition of the agreement and his understanding of these terms. Both the defense counsel and the trial counsel were present and listened to this detailed explanation which was placed on the record by the military judge. The judge’s understanding was spread on the record in an unambiguous manner. Under these circumstances we do not find an error when the military judge fails to ask counsel if his understanding comports with their understanding. We find that under these circumstances we can safely infer that the judge’s understanding comports with counsels’, because they are under a duty to voice their disagreement on the record. The military judge did not hurry through the inquiry or attempt to brush any questions aside. Both counsel had a lengthy opportunity to correct the record if corrections were necessary. We do not suggest that this is the best procedure. We encourage military judges to ask the specific question of both counsel, but the failure to ask this question should not cause an improvident plea per se.
4. The appellant alleges, and we agree, that the military judge did not secure from the counsel for the accused as well as the prosecutor their assurance that the written agreement encompasses all of the understandings of the parties. As previously noted the judge asked the trial counsel if that was the entire agreement as to sentence but this falls short of compliance with this condition. In addition, we do not find that by silence of counsel, we can infer that there were no additional agreements. The stated policy reason for this condition is to expose any secret understandings. If there were secret understandings it is difficult to infer that counsel would volunteer to reveal them at trial even though they would be under a duty to volunteer such information. Having the question answered by counsel, however, does insure a direct responsibility in this procedure which should have a prophylactic effect in the prevention of any secret agreements. Having found that the answer to this inquiry can not be inferred from the silence of counsel, we are left with the question of whether we must find the plea improvident. We find that this Court can remedy this defect. We have by order of this Court, dated 18 May 1977, secured affidavits from the trial counsel and trial defense counsel. These affidavits have been included with the record and reflect that neither counsel had any secret understandings and the written agreement contained all the provisions surrounding the agreement. We find this to be a particularly salutary use of our unique appellate fact-finding authority. Such fact-finding authority was given to this Court by Article 66(c) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 866(c).
In addition, we do not disagree in principal with the judges of this Court who find that these kinds of facts must be established by a limited rehearing, where the accused, counsel and the military judge will all be present. A limited rehearing would also be another method to establish the fact that there were no secret agreements but it is much more costly and time consuming than the securing of affidavits from counsel.
We are aware that the Care decision itself deals with basic substantive requirements, and specific compliance with its guidelines is mandated in order to insure the providency of a plea of guilty. These guidelines include a detailed explanation of the offense, explicit advice as to what is given up by the accused’s waiver of a trial on the merits and other very basic items of information. All of these guidelines concern the basic substantive rights of the accused to insure a knowing, intelligent and conscious waiver. As previously noted, the Green decision makes its additional guidelines part of the Care inquiry. The Green case also states that a failure to conduct a plea bargain inquiry will be viewed as a matter affecting the providency of the plea. Therefore, if the specific guidelines of
In summary, we find the guilty plea in this case was provident. The Green decision does not require a perfect plea bargain inquiry. If the military judge has conducted an inquiry which is in substantial compliance with the Green guidelines, we hold that the plea can be considered provident. In order to have substantial compliance, we require a sufficiently high level of compliance so that we can assure ourselves from the record by direct responses or justifiable inferences that all the inquiries have been satisfactorily covered and answered. As noted, we do not feel that we can infer a proper response if the question concerning possible secret agreements is not asked. Such a defect requires further shared action on our part. We find that securing affidavits to answer this question is an appropriate use of our fact-finding power. The use of this procedure enhances the stature of this Court by enabling the Court to cut through unnecessary formalism and achieve a timely, less expensive result, which at the same time protects the rights of the accused. In this regard, if the affidavits would have indicated any possibility of a secret agreement, this Court would have taken immediate action to insure that the appellant’s rights were fully protected.
The findings of guilty and the sentence are affirmed.
. 1 M.J. 453 (1976).
. Id. 1 M.J. at 456.
. Id. 1 M.J. at 456.
. United States v. Elmore, 1 M.J. 262 (1976).
. Supra 1 M.J. at 456.
. United States v. Care, 18 U.S.C.M.A. 535, 40 C.M.R. 247 (1969).
. We are aware of military case law which does not allow this Court to consider evidence outside the record of trial to support or reverse a conviction on the merits. United States v. Lanford, 6 U.S.C.M.A. 371, 379, 20 C.M.R. 87, 95 (1955); United States v. Bethea, 22 U.S.C. M.A. 223, 46 C.M.R. 223 (1973). The issues before us are clearly distinguishable. Here, we are faced with a situation which requires a determination of whether a collateral procedural defect in the guilty plea inquiry may improvidence the appellant’s plea. It does not per se
We are charged with the responsibility of expediting the appeal process, and in also improving techniques for the preparation of records for appeal which will conserve public funds and time expended in the criminal process.* Affidavits can supply the Court with necessary valid information as to whether any secret agreements were made. By using affidavits we expedite the time necessary for the processing of such matters and conserve public funds as rehearings are not required absent some showing of their necessity. These procedures are in full accord with the noted Standards. We note that the United States Supreme Court in the recent case of Blackledge v. Allison, 431 U.S. 63, 97 S.Ct. 1621, 52 L.Ed.2d 136 (1977), in dealing with the providency of a guilty plea, has stated that district court judges, who have fact-finding powers similar to the powers that this Court was given by Congress in Article 66(c), can develop their own suitable procedures for discovery, concerning omissions in the providency inquiry. Therefore, we find a substantial basis for concluding that this Court may properly utilize affidavits as a means of avoiding the need for an evidentiary hearing.
* See paragraphs 3.3 and 3.4, Standards Relating to Criminal Appeals, American Bar Association Project on Standards for Criminal Justice, hereafter termed the Standards.
Concurrence Opinion
concurring in part:
I agree with the results and generally with the rationale of the majority opinion. My disagreement is with the necessity to obtain the affidavits in question in this case.
The additional requirements set forth in United States v. Green,
The due process requirement that there be some procedure for ascertaining whether an accused pleaded voluntarily and intelligently is well established and failure of the record to so indicate results in almost certain reversal. The later requirements have not, however, been considered to be constitutionally mandated. The results of a failure to comply fully with these later requirements are varied. However, the courts are most consistent in that substantial rather than ritualistic compliance is all that is required. As might be expected the definition of what constitutes “full” or “substantial” varies significantly. Generally, courts look to the nature of the deficiency and weigh its impact on the case before them. There is little support for an automatic reversal other than where the basic due process requirements of voluntariness are not met. Thus, I concur fully with the conclusion of the majority that substantial compliance with the Green requirements is all that should be required. Such an approach in no way diminishes the commendable purpose of Green. The inquiry required by our military practice is now one of the most comprehensive in existence. It not only assures the establishment of voluntariness, but achieves all the goals of the extended inquiry. We need not fear an intentional defiance of the letter and spirit of Green. I expect the failures to be few, especially now that the desire for strict technical compliance should be clear.
As previously noted, my disagreement with the majority opinion is with the requirement for affidavits as to the existence of any secret agreement. My objection is not so much to the use of affidavits in these limited circumstances, but rather to the need for affidavits or other fact-finding devices where there is no issue of harm to a party. Consequently, I would not order the production of further evidence unless the appellant alleges prejudice. There was no such allegation here and I would have affirmed this trial result as constituting substantial compliance with the procedural requirements of Green. I do not consider it an unreasonable burden to require an allegation of harm where there is a technical defect in the providency inquiry of less than fundamental dimensions. I find no statutory or due process requirement for a more stringent remedy for deficiencies of the type required by Green.
. 1 M.J. 453 (1976).
. See Bond, Plea Bargaining and Guilty Pleas, § 6.10[1]. This text contains an exhaustive review of the general area as well as citations to federal and state cases.
. 431 U.S. 63, 97 S.Ct. 1621, 52 L.Ed.2d 136, 1977.
Concurrence in Part
dissenting and concurring in result:
In United States v. Green, 1 M.J. 453 (1976), the Court of Military Appeals required trial judges to inquire into certain aspects of those agreements between convening authorities and accused persons which contain any of the terms of a negotiated plea of guilty. The trial judge in this case neglected two of the required inquiries, the “openness” and “unanimity” provisions of Green, and we must decide the consequences of his neglect.
Moving from the rules expressing the right itself to the rules protecting the right, a difference appears. Thus, the right to counsel was protected by the judicial rule in United States v. Donohew, 18 U.S.C.M.A. 149, 39 C.M.R. 149 (1969) wherein it was stated:
“We believe the seriousness of the situation dictates that the record should contain the accused’s personal response to direct questions incorporating each of the elements of Article 38(b) [10 U.S.C. § 838(b)], as well as his understanding of his entitlement thereunder.” (Emphasis supplied.)
Id., at 152. However, if a military judge neglected to make the record required by this rule reversal was not always found necessary. Where an omission from the judge’s inquiry was discovered before the convening authority’s action, proceedings in revision were appropriate to supply the needed record. Article 62(b), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 862(b), United States v. Barnes, 21 U.S.C.M.A. 169, 44 C.M.R. 223 (1972). See also United States v. Berkley, 47 C.M.R. 30 (N.C.M.R.1973).
Although the same theory has not been applied in those cases where the omission from the record is first raised at this level, there is no reason why it could not be used. We are dealing with simple trial error, of a quantum not per se amounting to any deprivation of due process. The rule for such cases is that: “Error in the course of a prosecution resulting in conviction calls for the correction of the error, not the release of the accused.” Pollard v. United States, 352 U.S. 354, 362, 77 S.Ct. 481, 486, 1 L.Ed.2d 393 (1957), citing Dowd v. Cook, 340 U.S. 206, 210, 71 S.Ct. 262, 95 L.Ed. 215 (1951); Article 59, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 859; Rule 52(a), Fed.Rules Crim.Proc.
In Federal practice such deficiencies in the record are the occasion for remand and appropriate action below. Thus, in Brown v. United States, 314 F.2d 293 (9th Cir. 1963), the appellant complained of a court reporter’s failure to record the closing arguments of counsel as then required by 28 U.S.C. § 753 and demanded a new trial. The Court of Appeals held that in the absence of an assertion that there was error in an unrecorded summation, reversal is precluded by Rule 52(a), Fed.Rules Crim.Proc., Harmless Error. The remedy to be provided in such cases is vacation and remand to hear evidence on the content of the summation and to decide whether prejudice resulted. United States v. Selva, 546 F.2d 1173, 1175, n. 3 (5th Cir. 1977); Brown, supra.
The evidentiary hearing has also been used to supplement the record in those guilty plea cases where appellant asserted that he undertook to withdraw his plea of guilty, though the pro forma record before the appellate court reflected the contrary. The hearing was granted upon an offer of
In all of these cases the initial effort was to bring the record for appellate review into conformity with requirements set for that review. The similarity between Green and Donohew in this regard permits viewing the requirements flowing from them as identical. Green requires that “. . .as part of all Care inquiries” certain questions shall be put to the accused in open court. Green, supra, at 1 M.J. at 456. Care was quite clear in its mandate that “. . . the record of trial . . must reflect .” the inquiries. Care, supra, 18 U.S.C.M.A. at 541, 40 C.M.R. 253. What is the “record” for purposes such as this? Our military practice is fragmented; we have three answers because of our powers over both findings and sentence, and because of our generous views on raising issues such as sanity and jurisdiction, not to mention the providence- of guilty pleas, at all levels.
The variation in answers just referred to is a product of the various purposes for which the question is put. Where the issue on appeal involves the conduct of a trial judge with respect to a substantial right, the phrase “facts of record” is narrowly construed. Thus, where the issue was the propriety of a trial judge’s remarks to a hung jury, the version of the trial record agreed upon by counsel was rejected by the Fifth Circuit which accepted only the version certified by the trial judge. Kesley v. United States, 47 F.2d 453 (5th Cir. 1931), citing Clune v. United States, 159 U.S. 590, 16 S.Ct. 125, 40 L.Ed. 269 (1895). Clune rejected a version of the trial judge’s instructions which had been filed with the clerk as “among the papers in the case”. The Court said that the trial record consists only in that which is “. . . authenticated by the signature of the judge.” Id., at 593, 16 S.Ct. at 126.
Similarly, where the issue involves conduct of the trial jury, a bare allegation that the jury separated before rendering its verdict is ineffectual, absent supporting evidence of record. Pounds v. United States, 171 U.S. 35, 18 S.Ct. 729, 43 L.Ed. 62 (1898); Bacon v. A.B.A. Independent Oil & Gasoline Co., 111 Neb. 830, 198 N.W. 143 (1924).
Although the strictness of these early rules has been ameliorated somewhat,
The defect in the present record is not to be overlooked, yet it does not require outright reversal of the case. The defect is the absence of a mandated trial level inquiry into certain factual conditions as to which testimony remains readily available. When dealing with guilty plea procedures, that sort of inquiry cannot be duplicated by an extrajudicial proceeding.
Thus, I dissent from the choice of procedures adopted in this case. However, I join in the result because appellant has made no offer or showing that inquiry will produce anything relevant. His attack on the trial procedure at this level can be taken only as a demand to withdraw his plea. That course is open in the post-trial context only to one who can establish the improvidence of his plea. United States v. Barfield, 25 U.S.C.M.A. 212, 54 C.M.R. 539, 2 M.J. 136 (1977). Absent such a showing his attack should be rejected and the proceedings below affirmed.
. There is evidence of record to support the conclusion that the other requirements of Green were met or mooted.
. The “right” protected by the Green inquiry is a compound of the privilege against self-incrimination, the right to confront witnesses and the right to a jury trial.
. Berkley approved proceedings in revision to supplement a Care inquiry. Contra United States v. Kaetzel, 48 C.M.R. 58 (A.F.C.M.R. 1973). Based on the Federal cases cited, infra, Berkley is better decided.
. See generally the Fed.R.App.Proc.
. Here we are not concerned with the parts of a military record engendered by the functions of the convening authority, nor do we make any rule for collateral proceedings.
. The affidavits accepted as determinative of appellate issues in United States v. Webster, 1 M.J. 216 (1975) and United States v. Maxfield, 20 U.S.C.M.A. 496, 43 C.M.R. 336 (1970) are no exception to this general rule. Those cases are to be distinguished on the grounds of a lack of opposition to the filings and to the fact that the issue did not involve something directed to be “on the record.”
. Article 39(b), 10 U.S.C. § 839(b), provides “. . . All other proceedings . . . shall be made a part of the record and shall be in the presence of the accused, the defense counsel, the trial counsel . . .
. There is a tendency toward use of a harmless error test manifest in United States v. Scharf, 551 F.2d 1124 (8th Cir. 1977).
Dissenting Opinion
with whom DRIB-BEN, Judge, joins, dissenting:
I dissent.
I
The genesis of my disagreement with the majority finds its source, I believe, in the penultimate sentence in Chief Judge Fletcher’s opinion in United States v. Green, 1 M.J. 453 (1976), which reads:
“We will view a failure to conduct a plea bargain inquiry as a matter affecting the providence of the accused’s plea after the implementation date of this opinion.”
The majority appears to me to be engaged in an attempt to answer the question of the providency of appellant’s guilty plea. Although I can understand how the quoted passage could be so interpreted, my reading of the Green opinion leads me to another conclusion. I believe the Court should be concerned solely with the question of whether the trial judge complied with the terms of that opinion before he decided the question of providency and accepted appellant’s plea.
In my view the requirements set out in the Green decision were simply intended as appendages to the already extant requirements laid down in United States v. Care, 18 U.S.C.M.A. 535, 40 C.M.R. 247 (1969). Now, in addition to the Care inquiries directed to the accused about his actual criminal culpability and his appreciation concerning his waiver of certain constitutional safeguards, the trial judge must also explore the terms, and the accused’s understanding, of any plea bargain before he can decide to accept the accused’s plea.
II
As I read the Green requirements, the trial judge, as part of the providency inquiry in a guilty plea case,
1. must assure on the record that the accused understands the meaning and effect of each condition in the pre-trial agreement, (emphasis from the Green decision),
2. must obtain the same assurance from the accused concerning the sentence limitations,
3. must secure from counsel for both sides their assurance that the written agreement incorporates all terms and conditions and,
4. must also secure counsel’s concurrence that his interpretation of the agreement comports with theirs.
In the case sub judice, which was conducted after the effective date of the Green rule, the trial judge, after meeting the providency inquiry requirements specified in the Care decision (now to be found in paragraph 70b(2), change 1, MCM, 1969 (Rev.)), went on to explore the terms and conditions of the pretrial agreement.
In order to meet the requirement that he assure on the record that the accused understands each condition of the agreement, the trial judge read each provision aloud to appellant
* * * * sfc *
3. Modification at any time of the agreed stipulation of facts without the consent of the trial counsel or myself.”
The sole inquiry the trial judge made concerning the matter of a stipulation was to inquire of the trial counsel, “Now, is there a stipulation of fact in this case?” To which the trial counsel replied, “There is not, your honor.”
Patently, such a colloquy fails to meet the requirement for the judge to ascertain the accused’s understanding of the terms of the agreement. More importantly, however, the judge failed to inquire about what appears, from the plain terms of the agreement, to be a critical provision. To merely determine that there isn’t any stipulation raises more questions than it answers, vis-avis the agreement; e. g., was the appellant relieved of his obligation to enter such a stipulation?; does the convening authority intend to live up to his portion of the agreement even though appellant has not been required to fulfill his part of the agreement?; does the appellant understand the status of the agreement since the demise of the stipulation?; etc. While it is obvious, by the repetitious references in the agreement to a stipulation of fact, that at one point in time it was thought to be an essential part of the agreement (and for this reason I cannot join those who find the judge’s omission in this regard as inconse
After passing sentence, the trial judge read the quantum portion of the agreement aloud and engaged in the following colloquy:
“Now is that the entire agreement as to the sentence?”
Trial counsel replied:
“It is your Honor.”
“MJ: And was that sentence agreement the understanding that you had with the Convening Authority?”
The appellant responded:
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“MJ: Do you have any questions about it?”
To which appellant replied:
“No, Your Honor.”
In my view, this exchange falls pathetically short of that necessary to establish on the record that appellant understood the meaning and effect, as opposed to his awareness of particular phraseology, of the sentence limitations. Representations that counsel has explained, and statements from appellant that he understands, are no substitutes for searching questions by the judge designed to establish the extent of appellant’s true comprehension. As the quantum portion of the agreement is its very essence, a cursory inquiry in this area is particularly unacceptable.
As there is not even the vaguest evidence in the record that the trial judge inquired of counsel as to whether their understanding of the terms of the pretrial agreement comported with his own understanding of that agreement, as contemplated by the requirement that I have numbered as four, supra, that condition, as it is described in the Green decision, was in my view undisputably not met. I might be willing to subscribe to the majority’s silence-is-concurrence approach to this omission were I able to find, as they do, a recital by the trial judge of his understanding of the agreement. But I find no such explanation in the record for anyone to concur in, by silence or otherwise.
The majority, however, as to these three areas of inquiry, searched the record and have thereby been able to glean enough facts to establish to their satisfaction that appellant did understand the agreement, to include the quantum portion of the sentence, and that counsel’s understanding of the agreement comported with the trial judge’s. I am at a loss to see how this is accomplished other than by engaging in wholesale speculation. The Green rule was imposed to obviate that necessity.
I cannot adopt the method employed by the majority in its efforts to overcome these three omissions by the trial judge. To do so would set the Green decision to nought and continue to sanction a discredited approach to the problem of establishing an adequate record for the purpose of determining providency in guilty plea cases.
Ill
The majority concedes that the trial judge failed to meet my third enumerated Green requirement, i. e., to secure counsel’s assurance that the written agreement incorporates all the terms and conditions. They also appear to admit, by the solution they have adopted, that there is nothing in the record from which they can conjure a plausible substitute. Consequently, they have obtained sworn affidavits from counsel concerning the matter. Counsel therein assert that the written agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties.
Consequently, I would set aside the findings and sentence and authorize a rehearing.
. See United States v. DeMinicis, 47 C.M.R. 574 (N.C.M.R.1973), a pre-Green case, wherein the Court specifically held that inquiries concerning the pretrial agreement were not mandated by the Care decision.
. After reading aloud each condition verbatim he would inquire of the appellant, “Do you understand that?” or “Is that correct?” or some other equally terse question. In my view such perfunctory interrogation is not designed to elicit appellant’s understanding of these terms. See United States v. Terry, 21 U.S.C.M.A. 442, 45 C.M.R. 216 (1972); United States v. Wilson, 19 U.S.C.M.A. 498, 499, 42 C.M.R. 100, 101 (1970); United States v. Care, supra at 541, 40 C.M.R. at 253; United States v. Taylor, 46 C.M.R. 461 (A.C.M.R.1972); United States v. Shacket, 44 C.M.R. 427 (A.C.M.R.1971).
. Irrespective of what the affidavits assert, the record reveals that there was an unwritten understanding contrary to the plain language contained in. the written agreement. As noted earlier in my opinion, appellant agreed in writing to enter into a stipulation of fact if his offer to plead guilty was accepted. As no stipulation was ever in fact entered into, it is obvious that this term of the written agreement was modified by some supplemental understanding, the scope of which was never explained in court. Consequently, if for no other reason I would
. In addition to the reasons I set out in the text for objecting in general to post-trial procedures to correct Green inquiry omissions, I believe the utilization of affidavits, which concern matters relevant to appellant’s guilty plea, that are prepared and submitted, as in this case, without evidence that such was done with the knowledge and concurrence of the appellant is especially abhorrent.
. Guilty pleas have historically been a source of concern to our Courts. See 4 W. Blackstone, Commentaries 329, where, speaking of guilty pleas, he states that the court “is usually very backward in receiving and recording such . and will generally advise the prisoner to retract it. . ” The United States Supreme Court has observed “that a guilty plea is a grave and solemn act to be accepted only with care and discernment” (Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742, 748, 90 S.Ct. 1463, 1468, 25 L.Ed.2d 747 (1970)) and with the “utmost solicitude” (Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 242, 89 S.Ct. 1709, 23 L.Ed. 274 (1969)). The military, too, has traditionally been wary of guilty pleas. In Winthrop’s Military Law and Precedents at page 277, we find “this plea is one which military courts, in common with civil, should not too readily receive. . . ” This reticence is bottomed on a fear that a guilty plea may be the product of “ignorance, incomprehension, coercion, terror, inducements, subtle or blatant threats” (Boykin v. Alabama, supra at 242, 89 S.Ct. at 1712). Our military Supreme Court has periodically expressed its anxiety specifically about pre-trial agreements in connection with guilty pleas. See United States v. Wood, 23 U.S.C.M.A. 57, 48 C.M.R. 528 (1974); United States v. Cummings, 17 U.S.C.M.A. 376, 38 C.M.R. 174 (1968); United States v. Welker, 8 U.S.C.M.A. 647, 25 C.M.R. 151 (1958). Undoubtedly, these cases set the stage for the Green decision. While to some this solicitous attitude may appear to be an overweening concern for the interests of an admitted criminal, the Care and Green procedural safeguards are in reality no more onerous or stringent than those required by Article 31, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 831, and United States v. Tempia, 16 U.S.C.M.A. 629, 37 C.M.R. 249 (1967), as predicates for the admission of an extrajudicial confession. Surely, if we demand strict compliance in the latter case it ill behooves us to indulge in a niggardly application of those protections afforded a defendant in connection with the acceptance of his judicial confession. Procedural safeguards are the backbone of our judicial system. As the author of the concurring opinion in Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee v. McGrath, 341 U.S. 123, 71 S.Ct. 624, 95 L.Ed. 817 (1951) stated at page 179, 71 S.Ct. at page 652, “It is not without significance that most of the provisions of the Bill of Rights are procedural. It is procedure that spells much of the difference between rule by law and rule by whim or caprice. Steadfast adherence to strict procedural safeguards is our main assurance that there will be equal justice under law.”
