State of Louisiana Versus Jules Robertson

STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 20-KH-440

VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT

JULES ROBERTSON COURT OF APPEAL

STATE OF LOUISIANA

March 15, 2021

Susan Buchholz
First Deputy Clerk

IN RE STATE OF LOUISIANA

APPLYING FOR SUPERVISORY WRIT FROM THE FORTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT,
PARISH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, STATE OF LOUISIANA, DIRECTED TO THE HONORABLE
KIRK A. VAUGHN, JUDGE PRO TEMPORE, DIVISION "B", NUMBER 09,91

Panel composed of Judges Fredericka Homberg Wicker,
Robert A. Chaisson, and Hans J. Liljeberg

WRIT GRANTED; JUDGMENT VACATED

Relator, the State of Louisiana, seeks review of the trial court’s judgment
granting defendant, Jules Robertson, a new trial in light of the United States
Supreme Court’s recent holding in Ramos v. Louisiana, 590 U.S. ___, 140 S.Ct.
1390, 206 L.Ed.2d 583 (2020). For the following reasons, we grant the writ.

On February 18, 2011, Defendant was convicted of second degree murder of
Nekeshia Joseph and attempted second degree murder of Ron James in violation of
La. R.S. 14:30.1 and 14:27:30.1 following a jury trial with a 10-2 verdict. On
April 18, 2011, defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment at hard labor without
benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence for his second degree
murder conviction and to twenty-five years imprisonment at hard labor without
benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence for his attempted second-
degree murder conviction. On May 31, 2012, this Court affirmed defendant’s
convictions and sentences. State v. Robertson, 11-1017 (La. App. 5 Cir. 5/31/12),
98 So. 3d 401, 403, writ denied, 12-1432 (La. 1/11/13), 106 So.3d 547.

On September 18, 2020, nearly eight years after his convictions and
sentences became final, defendant filed an application for post-conviction relief in
the trial court, claiming that his non-unanimous jury verdict was unconstitutional
and insufficient to sustain his convictions and sentences in light of the United
States Supreme Court’s Ramos decision. On November 5, 2020, the trial judge
granted defendant’s application for post-conviction relief, ordering that defendant
is entitled to a new trial pursuant to the United State Supreme Court’s
pronouncement in the Ramos decision.

20-KH-440

La. C.Cr.P. art. 930.8 (A)(2) permits a defendant to seek post-conviction
relief outside of the applicable time limitations if “the claim … is based upon a
final ruling of an appeal court establishing a theretofore unknown interpretation of
constitutional law and petitioner establishes that this interpretation is retroactively
applicable to his case[.]” (Emphasis added). Ramos, which held that a defendant
who is tried for a serious crime has a right to a unanimous jury verdict, applies
only to cases pending on direct appeal and to future cases. 140 S.Ct. at 1407. The
majority in Ramos specifically declined to decide whether the right to jury
unanimity applies to now-final convictions and sentences, believing that issue is
best left for another day. Id.1 Additionally, the Louisiana Supreme Court has given
no indication that it intends to apply Ramos retroactively. Should the United States
Supreme Court or the Louisiana Supreme Court determine in the future that the
right to a unanimous jury verdict applies to now-final judgments, defendant may be
able to satisfy the requirements of La. C.Cr.P. art. 930.8 (A)(2) necessary for filing
an application for out-of-time relief. However, at this time, defendant is not
entitled to a new trial. Accordingly, the state’s writ is granted and the November
5, 2020 trial court judgment is vacated.

Gretna, Louisiana, this 15th day of March, 2021.

FHW
RAC
HJL

1
On May 4, 2020, less than a month after issuing Ramos, the United States Supreme Court
granted a writ of certiorari in Edwards v. Vannoy, 140 S.Ct. 2737, 2738 (2020), limited to the
question: “Whether this Court’s decision in Ramos v. Louisiana, 590 U.S. ---- (2020), applies
retroactively to [a] case on federal collateral review.” The Edwards case was argued before the U.S. Supreme Court
on December 2, 2020 but a decision has not yet been rendered.
2

SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL

CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT

NANCY F. VEGA
FREDERICKA H. WICKER
CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK
JUDE G. GRAVOIS
MARC E. JOHNSON
ROBERT A. CHAISSON SUSAN BUCHHOLZ
STEPHEN J. WINDHORST
FIRST DEPUTY CLERK
HANS J. LILJEBERG
JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. FIFTH CIRCUIT
MELISSA C. LEDET
JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053)
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF
POST OFFICE BOX 489
GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400

(504) 376-1498 FAX
www.fifthcircuit.org

NOTICE OF DISPOSITION CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY
I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE DISPOSITION IN THE FOREGOING MATTER HAS BEEN
TRANSMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 4-6 THIS
DAY 03/15/2021 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, THE TRIAL COURT CLERK OF COURT, AND AT LEAST ONE OF
THE COUNSEL OF RECORD FOR EACH PARTY, AND TO EACH PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY
COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:

20-KH-440
E-NOTIFIED
40th District Court (Clerk)
Honorable Kirk A. Vaughn, Judge Pro Tempore (DISTRICT JUDGE)
Honorable Nghana Lewis (DISTRICT JUDGE)
Justin C. Harrell (Respondent) Honorable Bridget A. Dinvaut (Relator)
Orenthal J. Jasmin (Relator)
Grant L. Willis (Respondent)

MAILED
Honorable Jeffrey M. Landry (Respondent)
Attorney General
Louisiana Department of Justice
1885 North 3rd Street
6th Floor, Livingston Building
Baton Rouge, LA 70802