§ 4.11.5 Fundamental Error.

• Jurisdiction: Arizona

§ 4.11.5 Fundamental Error. Fundamental error review applies when a defendant fails to object to error in the trial court. Courts have described fundamental error in various terms over the years, but recent decisions often quote the supreme court’s statement in State v. Henderson, 210 Ariz. 561, 567, ¶ 19, 115 P.3d 601, 607 (2005), that fundamental error occurs in those “rare” cases involving “error going to the foundation of the case, error that takes from the defendant a right essential to his defense, and error of such magnitude that the defendant could not possibly have received a fair trial.” Id.; see also, e.g., State v. Trujillo, 227 Ariz. 314, 317, ¶ 9, 257 P.3d 1194, 1197 (App. 2011). Henderson also approved language in State v. Gendron, 168 Ariz. 153, 155, 812 P.2d 626, 628 (1991), which described fundamental error as “clear, egregious, and curable only via a new trial.” Henderson, 210 Ariz. at 567, ¶ 19, 115 P.3d at 607. Cf. State v. Hughes, 193 Ariz. 72, 79, ¶ 26, 969 P.2d 1184, 1191 (1998) (stating that defendant may prevail on prosecutorial misconduct claim only if offending statements “so infected the trial with unfairness as to make the resulting conviction a denial of due process.”) (quoting Donnelly v. DeChristoforo, 416 U.S. 637, 643 (1974)).

Until its repeal in 1995, A.R.S. § 13-4035 required appellate courts to search the record for fundamental error. State v. Kemp, 185 Ariz. 52, 67, 912 P.2d 1281, 1296 (1996). Thereafter, appellate courts retain their authority to reverse for fundamental error when they find it, State v. Mann, 188 Ariz. 220, 231, 934 P.2d 784, 795 (1997), and failure to argue fundamental error on appeal results in a waiver of the issue. State v. Brown, 233 Ariz. 153, 158, ¶ 11, 310 P.3d 29, 34 (App. 2013); State v. Moreno-Medrano, 218 Ariz. 349, 354, ¶ 17, 185 P.3d 135, 140 (App. 2008) (citing State v. Ramsey, 211 Ariz. 529, 539 n.6, 124 P.3d 756, 766 n.6 (App. 2005). See also Rule 31.13(c)(1)(vi). Notwithstanding the repeal of A.R.S. § 13-4035, the appellate court must review the record for fundamental error in cases where appointed appellate counsel has reviewed the record and concluded that it does not support a meritorious claim. See § 4.16.6 (discussing application of Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 741-44 (1967)).

Unlike occurrences of structural error, in which the reviewing court presumes prejudice, the defendant bears the burden of showing prejudice in order to establish fundamental error. Henderson, 210 Ariz. at 567, ¶ 19, 115 P.3d at 607; Gomez, 211 Ariz. at 500, ¶ 26, 123 P.3d at 1137; State v. Fimbres, 222 Ariz. 293, 303, ¶ 35, 213 P.3d 1020, 1030 (App. 2009). Consequently, an appellate court reviewing an issue for fundamental error must first decide if error occurred at all. State v. Lavers, 168 Ariz. 376, 385, 814 P.2d 333, 342 (1991). In rejecting claims of fundamental error at this first stage, appellate courts frequently state that they do not find error, much less fundamental error. See, e.g., State v. Forde, 233 Ariz. 543, 554, ¶ 17, 315 P.3d 1200, 1211 (2014); State v. Medina, 232 Ariz. 391, 408, ¶ 67, 306 P.3d 48, 65 (2013); State v. Young, 230 Ariz. 265, 268, ¶ 9, 282 P.3d 1285, 1288 (App. 2012). If no error occurred, the inquiry ends. State v. Freeland, 176 Ariz. 544, 549, 863 P.2d 263, 268 (App. 1993). If the court does find error, it then determines whether the error was fundamental and, if so, whether the defendant has shown prejudice. State v. Henderson, 210 Ariz. 561, 567, ¶ 20, 115 P.3d 601, 607 (2005); State v. Edmisten, 220 Ariz. 517, 522, ¶ 11, 207 P.3d 770, 775 (App. 2009).

Appellate courts have found fundamental error, upon a showing of prejudice, in the following circumstances, which is not intended as an exhaustive list:

1. When the sentencing court imposes a criminal restitution order under A.R.S. § 13-805(C) before the defendant’s probation or sentence expires. State v. Torres, 233 Ariz. 479, 482, ¶ 17, 314 P.3d 825, 828 (App. 2013); State v. Lopez, 231 Ariz. 561, 562, ¶ 2, 298 P.3d 909, 910 (App...