Petrone Cabanas v. Hon. pineda/state , 246 Ariz. 12 ( 2018 )


Menu:
  •                                 IN THE
    ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
    DIVISION ONE
    FELIPE PETRONE CABANAS, Petitioner,
    v.
    THE HONORABLE SUSANNA PINEDA, Judge of the SUPERIOR
    COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA, in and for the County of
    MARICOPA, Respondent Judge,
    STATE OF ARIZONA, ex rel. WILLIAM MONTGOMERY, Maricopa
    County Attorney, Real Party in Interest.
    No. 1 CA-SA 18-0099
    No. 1 CA-SA 18-0119
    (Consolidated)
    FILED 11-29-2018
    Petition for Special Action from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
    No. CR1999-006656-A
    The Honorable Susanna C. Pineda, Judge
    JURISDICTION ACCEPTED; RELIEF GRANTED
    COUNSEL
    Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, Phoenix
    By Tennie B. Martin, Kevin D. Heade, Nicholaus Podsiadlik
    Co-Counsel for Petitioner
    Vikki M. Liles, Attorney at Law, Phoenix
    By Vikki M. Liles
    Co-Counsel for Petitioner
    Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Phoenix
    By Karen Kemper
    Counsel for Real Party in Interest
    OPINION
    Presiding Judge Maria Elena Cruz delivered the opinion of the Court, in
    which Judge Jennifer B. Campbell and Judge James P. Beene joined.
    C R U Z, Judge:
    ¶1           Felipe Petrone Cabanas seeks special action review of the
    superior court’s rulings granting reconstruction of his 2002 sentencing
    proceeding and ordering him to disclose his mental health and medical
    records to the State as part of his post-conviction relief proceedings. We
    hold that Cabanas’ defense of transient immaturity does not, by itself, place
    his mental health at issue such that the State is entitled to have access to his
    medical and mental health records over his objection.
    ¶2            We accept jurisdiction and grant relief, vacating the superior
    court’s disclosure order. We also separately hold that no reconstruction
    hearing is necessary because the court’s determination as to whether
    Cabanas’ offense was the result of transient immaturity or irreparable
    corruption must be made based on evidence admitted at an upcoming
    evidentiary hearing, and not based on consideration of the previous
    sentencing judge’s thought processes outside of his written orders.
    Accordingly, we vacate the order setting such hearing.
    FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
    ¶3             In 2001, Cabanas pled guilty to first-degree murder for the
    killing of a police officer. Cabanas was 17 years, 8 months old at the time
    of the murder. During sentencing, the court considered Cabanas’ age, level
    of intelligence, maturity, and other mitigating factors in a twenty-nine-page
    special verdict. The court specifically considered Cabanas’ “juvenile
    impulsivity.” Dr. Barillas, the psychologist that evaluated Cabanas prior to
    sentencing, presented mitigating evidence that Cabanas acted with
    “significant impulsivity.” Determining that mitigation compelled against
    imposition of the death penalty, the court imposed a term of natural life in
    prison without the possibility of release.
    2
    CABANAS v. HON. PINEDA/STATE
    Opinion of the Court
    ¶4              In 2013, Cabanas initiated post-conviction relief proceedings
    in light of Miller v. Alabama, 
    567 U.S. 460
     (2012). The superior court denied
    Cabanas’ request on the grounds that his natural-life sentence was not
    mandatory, “but instead was imposed after the sentencing court had
    considered [Cabanas’] age and other mitigating factors.” State v. Cabanas,
    
    2017 WL 3599595
    , at *1, ¶ 5 (Ariz. App. Aug. 22, 2017) (mem. decision). This
    court reversed, stating Cabanas was “sentenced when there was no
    requirement that a sentencing court distinguish between crimes that reflect
    ‘irreparable corruption’ as opposed to ‘transient immaturity of youth,’” and
    thus, “[a]lthough the sentencing court considered [his] age in deciding on a
    sentence of natural life, that is insufficient to deny relief . . . based on Miller.”
    Id. at *2, ¶ 8. As a result, we held Cabanas was “entitled to an evidentiary
    hearing to allow him the opportunity to establish that his crime reflected
    transient immaturity” and remanded for further proceedings consistent
    with our decision. Id. at ¶¶ 8-9.
    I.     Disclosure of Medical Records
    ¶5            At an October 2017 status conference, Cabanas stated his
    intention to call himself, Dr. Barillas, and Professor Steinberg as witnesses,
    and further stated that Steinberg would testify in general regarding the
    transient immaturity aspect of the juvenile brain.              Claiming the
    determination of transient immaturity requires analysis of the individual’s
    current mental state compared to their juvenile evaluation, Cabanas stated
    he would call Dr. Barillas to testify to Cabanas’ present-day maturity level
    to prove his crime reflected transient immaturity. Under this anticipated
    presentation of the defense’s case, Dr. Barillas was set to testify specifically
    about Cabanas, while Steinberg would testify about general characteristics
    associated with juvenile impulsivity.
    ¶6             In January 2018, the assigned judge recused herself, Cabanas’
    counsel withdrew, and the Public Defender’s Office was appointed. After
    Cabanas stated he would not call Dr. Barillas to testify but instead would
    perform a nationwide search to identify an appropriate mental health
    expert, the State requested the court order production of Cabanas’ medical
    and mental health records for the State’s expert to review. The court
    granted the State’s request for disclosure of all Arizona Department of
    Corrections and/or Corizon1 reports dated February 20, 2002 through
    March 1, 2018, and all Maricopa County Correctional Health Services
    records from March 27, 1999 through March 4, 2002; June 25, 2015 through
    July 7, 2015; and January 16, 2018 through March 1, 2018. Cabanas objected,
    1      Corizon is a correctional facility healthcare provider.
    3
    CABANAS v. HON. PINEDA/STATE
    Opinion of the Court
    arguing he had not noticed a mental health defense nor designated an
    expert; the court overruled the objection, but allowed Cabanas to submit
    redacted records to the court for review. The court did not establish any
    parameters for such redactions. Cabanas again challenged the order but
    submitted unredacted copies of the records for the court to review in camera.
    The court denied Cabanas’ challenge and ordered all the documents
    produced.
    ¶7           Cabanas now seeks special action review from the superior
    court’s order compelling disclosure of his medical and mental health
    records.
    II.   Reconstruction Hearing
    ¶8            Also discussed at the October 19 conference was the State’s
    request for a reconstruction hearing on remand from this court’s mandate
    in Cabanas, 
    2017 WL 3599595
    . In support of its request, the State stated that
    because it was unable to access the transcript of the 2002 sentencing, it
    wanted to call the sentencing judge to testify to reconstruct the record. The
    State argued that while the record contained the special verdict, there was
    no record of the original sentencing proceeding, and that if no transcript or
    court reporter notes were located, the court should reconstruct the original
    sentencing to complete the record. The State argued the record needed to
    be reconstructed because if Cabanas were to meet his burden under
    Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure (“Rule”) 32.8(c), the State would then
    have the burden of proving that the constitutional error was harmless
    beyond a reasonable doubt.
    ¶9            After argument on November 16, the court ordered a hearing
    to reconstruct portions of the record not included within the sentencing
    judge’s twenty-nine-page special verdict, which could not otherwise be
    recreated by way of affidavit or declaration. The State filed a motion re-
    urging its request to have the original sentencing judge testify as a witness
    during a reconstruction hearing and the evidentiary hearing.
    ¶10          At the hearing on the State’s motion, the State indicated it
    intended to call the sentencing judge to reconstruct the record as well as to
    rebut Cabanas’ purported constitutional violation during the evidentiary
    hearing. The State intended to inquire whether the sentencing judge
    considered Cabanas’ youth as a chronological fact or whether the judge
    considered the crime as being the product of youthful conduct. Previously-
    assigned counsel did not object and the court granted the State’s request to
    call the former sentencing judge as a witness for the purpose of
    4
    CABANAS v. HON. PINEDA/STATE
    Opinion of the Court
    reconstructing the sentencing record, as well as to provide testimony at the
    subsequent evidentiary hearing; however, before allowing the judge to
    testify, the court directed the parties to research whether the State could
    delve into the mental processes of the sentencing judge.
    ¶11          New defense counsel was appointed in January 2018 and
    moved to vacate the reconstruction hearing. Through April 2018, the State
    continued to argue that “[i]n order to address [transient immaturity], the
    trial court will need to look at what was considered at the original
    sentencing.” The court heard renewed argument on April 16, 2018, denied
    Cabanas’ motion to vacate the reconstruction hearing, and ordered a three-
    day evidentiary hearing set for the beginning of July 2018 to “absorb,
    evaluate, and determine whether or not there was transient immaturity,”
    and to reconstruct the evidence provided at the time of sentencing.
    Cabanas also seeks special action relief from this ruling.
    DISCUSSION
    I.     Special Action Jurisdiction
    ¶12           Special action jurisdiction is proper when a party has no
    “equally plain, speedy, and adequate remedy by appeal.” Ariz. R.P. Spec.
    Act. 1(a). We have discretion to accept special action jurisdiction in cases
    “involving a matter of first impression, statewide significance, or pure
    questions of law.” State ex rel. Pennartz v. Olcavage, 
    200 Ariz. 582
    , 585, ¶ 8
    (App. 2001).
    A.     Disclosure of Medical Records
    ¶13            Cabanas argues compelled disclosure of all mental health and
    medical records, before he has placed his mental state at issue, violates his
    Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and Arizona’s statutory
    psychologist-patient privilege. Ariz. Rev. Stat. (“A.R.S.”) § 32-2085(A). The
    State claims Cabanas necessarily placed his mental health at issue by
    challenging his sentence on the grounds that his actions reflected “transient
    immaturity” and not “irreparable corruption.” This case thus involves both
    a matter of first impression and a pure question of law. See Ulibarri v.
    Superior Court, 
    184 Ariz. 382
    , 384 (App. 1995) (“Existence of a privilege is a
    question of law, and a special action is the appropriate means of relief when
    the trial court orders disclosure of information that a party believes is
    privileged.”).
    ¶14         Further, Cabanas argues his case is one of more than thirty
    cases pending in the superior court where defendants have requested
    5
    CABANAS v. HON. PINEDA/STATE
    Opinion of the Court
    hearings to demonstrate their convictions were the result of “transient
    immaturity” and not “irreparable corruption,” and that it is thus an issue
    of statewide importance likely to arise again. Accordingly, we accept
    special action jurisdiction.
    B.     The Reconstruction Hearing
    ¶15           Special action jurisdiction is appropriate when the superior
    court has acted contrary to this court’s mandate. See Demand v. Gordon, 
    106 Ariz. 475
    , 477 (1970). Cabanas argues the superior court has ordered
    reconstruction of the record in nonconformance with this court’s mandate
    in Cabanas, 
    2017 WL 3599595
    , which required an evidentiary hearing. The
    State argues reconstruction is necessary to fully set forth a record for review
    of Cabanas’ sentence. See State v. Schackart, 
    175 Ariz. 494
    , 499 (1993).
    ¶16            Because the superior court granted the State’s request to
    reconstruct the original sentencing for use during the evidentiary hearing
    at issue, this case involves a challenge to the superior court’s compliance
    with a mandate of this court. Similarly, the petition raises multiple purely
    legal issues that are capable of repetition and are of statewide importance;
    therefore, we accept special action jurisdiction.
    II.    Disclosure of Mental Health and Medical Records
    ¶17           Cabanas argues his post-conviction petition did not place his
    mental state at issue and thus the court’s order that he disclose his mental
    health and medical records to the State was in error. We agree.
    ¶18          Arizona’s physician-patient privilege, A.R.S. § 13-4062(4),
    precludes a physician from testifying, absent the patient’s consent, to any
    information acquired in attending the patient and extends from statements
    to medical records. State v. Zeitner, 
    244 Ariz. 217
    , 221, ¶ 16 (App. 2018).2
    Section 32-2085(A) applies the same privilege to psychologist-patient
    communications and records; however, such privilege is waived when a
    party places the relevant medical or mental state at issue. See Bain v.
    Superior Court, 
    148 Ariz. 331
    , 334 (1986) (stating a defendant waives the
    psychologist-patient privilege when they either (1) offer themselves as a
    2       While not applicable to this post-decree proceeding, unless the
    defendant waives the privilege by asserting an insanity defense, Arizona’s
    rules and statutes governing mental health examinations preserve the
    defendant’s privilege against self-incrimination grounded in the Fifth
    Amendment prior to conviction. State v. Hegyi, 
    242 Ariz. 415
    , 417, ¶ 12
    (2017).
    6
    CABANAS v. HON. PINEDA/STATE
    Opinion of the Court
    witness and voluntarily testify with reference to privileged
    communications, or (2) place a particular condition at issue by means of a
    claim or affirmative defense).
    ¶19           In Miller, the U.S. Supreme Court held the Eighth
    Amendment prohibits imposition of mandatory life-without-parole
    sentences for juveniles without giving due consideration for the transient
    immaturity associated with their youth, because mandatory sentencing
    schemes that do not consider the characteristics of youth pose too great a
    risk that a defendant who acts with transient immaturity will be
    disproportionately punished. 
    567 U.S. at 479-80
    . In Montgomery v.
    Louisiana, the U.S. Supreme Court held Miller applied retroactively, and
    further held that even discretionary life-without-parole sentences were
    unconstitutional for defendants whose crimes reflect transient immaturity.
    
    136 S. Ct. 718
    , 734 (2016) (“Even if a court considers a child’s age before
    sentencing him . . . to a lifetime in prison, that sentence still violates the
    Eighth Amendment for a child whose crime reflects unfortunate yet
    transient immaturity.”) (internal quotations and citations omitted).
    ¶20            In light of Miller and Montgomery, our supreme court clarified
    in Valencia that in the Rule 32 context, after they present a colorable claim
    for relief, defendants sentenced as juveniles to natural life are entitled to a
    Rule 32.8(a) evidentiary hearing “to establish, by a preponderance of the
    evidence, that their crimes did not reflect irreparable corruption but instead
    transient immaturity.” State v. Valencia, 
    241 Ariz. 206
    , 210, ¶ 18 (2016).3 If
    defendants can meet their burden and establish that their crimes reflected
    transient immaturity, then they will have established that their natural-life
    sentences are unconstitutional, thus entitling them to parole-eligible
    resentencing. 
    Id.
    ¶21          Before imposing a natural-life sentence upon a juvenile, the
    court must consider: (1) evidence of juvenility’s hallmark characteristics—
    immaturity, impetuosity, and a failure to appreciate risks and
    consequences; (2) the juvenile’s family and home environment; (3) the
    3       At oral argument, Cabanas argued Rule 32.8(a) was inapplicable as
    the hearing is controlled by Rule 32.8(d) as a “further proceeding.” We
    disagree. Cabanas’ successful Rule 32.1(g) petition for post-conviction
    relief, Cabanas, 
    2017 WL 3599595
    , entitles him to an evidentiary hearing
    because he has made a colorable claim for relief based on Miller. See
    Valencia, 241 Ariz. at 210, ¶18 (relying on Rule 32.8(a) and State v. Amaral,
    
    239 Ariz. 217
    , 220, ¶¶ 11-12 (2016) (discussing when an evidentiary hearing
    is required)).
    7
    CABANAS v. HON. PINEDA/STATE
    Opinion of the Court
    circumstances of the offense, including the extent the juvenile’s
    participation in the conduct and the way that familial and peer pressures
    may have affected them, and whether substance abuse played a role;
    (4) evidence as to whether the incompetencies of youth prevent the juvenile
    from being charged with a lesser offense; and (5) evidence bearing on the
    possibility of rehabilitation. Miller, 567 U.S at 477-78.
    ¶22            But nothing in the line of cases from Miller through Valencia
    supports the proposition that a defendant who challenges his natural-life
    sentence with Miller necessarily places his or her mental state at issue.
    Miller implicates the sentencing court’s consideration of whether the
    juvenile’s crime reflects transient immaturity based on the diminished
    culpable state of juveniles, but not necessarily his mental state as reflected
    in mental health records or medical records.4 
    567 U.S. at 470-74
    . While the
    Miller Court noted its holding resulted from studies and psychological
    developments, the object of consideration is the juvenile’s “moral
    culpability,” 
    id. at 471-72
    , not mental status.
    ¶23           The State cites Kansas v. Cheever and State v. Schackart to argue
    that Cabanas has placed his mental state at issue. In Cheever, the U.S.
    Supreme Court upheld the admission of a court-ordered psychiatric
    evaluation on rebuttal, where the defendant presented a voluntary-
    intoxication defense and called an expert, whose own evaluation relied on
    the court-ordered psychiatric evaluation, to testify on his behalf. 
    571 U.S. 87
    , 91-97 (2013). The defendant’s “psychiatric evidence concerned his
    mental status because he used it to argue that he lacked the requisite mental
    capacity to premeditate,” and thus the Fifth Amendment did not bar the
    State from using the court-ordered psychiatric evaluation to rebut the
    defendant’s voluntary-intoxication defense. Id. at 96-97. Here, no
    affirmative defense was presented—only the claim that at the time of
    sentencing, Cabanas’ crime did not reflect irreparable corruption: an
    evaluation that does not turn on his mental ability to premeditate or other
    “mental status,” id., but on the aspects of the crime and his level of maturity
    at that time.
    ¶24         In State v. Druke, a special action case, the court of appeals
    reviewed whether the superior court could grant the State’s request to
    appoint a mental health expert to examine the accused where the defendant
    4     The State conceded at oral argument that Cabanas could challenge
    each of the Miller factors without relying on mental health or medical
    records. Though he may choose to rely upon such records, we agree he
    need not.
    8
    CABANAS v. HON. PINEDA/STATE
    Opinion of the Court
    did not raise an insanity defense, but instead intended to present expert
    testimony pertaining to his mental condition to negate the element of intent.
    
    143 Ariz. 314
    , 316 (App. 1984). The court of appeals held the State was
    entitled to a fair opportunity to present its evidence and rebut the evidence
    of the defendant, because the defendant had placed his mental state at issue.
    
    Id. at 318
    . On review, the Arizona Supreme Court then held that ordering
    the defendant to submit to a mental examination did not violate his
    privilege against self-incrimination because he had “opened the door” to an
    examination by the State’s expert. Schackart, 
    175 Ariz. at 500-01
    .
    ¶25            We find the above cases distinguishable, as each turned on
    the right to records or examination after mental state is first placed at issue
    by the defendant. Relying on juvenile characteristics and claiming transient
    immaturity does not ipso facto equate to a mental health defense, nor would
    it negate an element of the crime. The fair-opportunity rationale compelling
    the Cheever, Druke, and Schackart decisions is absent here. The reciprocal
    rights of discovery established by the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure
    were intended to further the concept that a defendant is not entitled to an
    unfair advantage in the presentation of his defense. Druke, 
    143 Ariz. at 318
    .5
    No such advantage would arise here by allowing Cabanas the opportunity
    to establish transient immaturity without the use of expert testimony or
    other clinical reference to his mental health. We hold that until Cabanas
    relies on such records or otherwise places his mental status at issue, the
    State is not entitled to disclosure of his mental health records or to a mental
    health evaluation. We vacate the court’s order as premature.
    III.   The Order Compelling Disclosure Is Overbroad
    ¶26             In light of State v. Valencia, this court held that Cabanas was
    entitled to an evidentiary hearing to allow him the opportunity to establish
    that his crime reflects transient immaturity. Cabanas, 
    2017 WL 3599595
    , at
    *2, ¶ 8. The State argues that because the original sentencing transcripts are
    lost, it is entitled to reconstruct the original hearing. The State further
    argues reconstruction is necessary to complete the record for reference
    5      While Rule 15 applies to the trial stage, not to post-conviction relief
    proceedings, Canion v. Cole, 
    210 Ariz. 598
    , 599, ¶ 9 (2005), we nevertheless
    find the reciprocal-right-of-discovery rationale applicable. The Valencia
    hearing (1) grants the petitioner the opportunity to have the court
    determine an issue of material fact, Rule 32.8(a); (2) is part of the original
    criminal action, Rule 32.3; (3) applies the Arizona Rules of Evidence, Rule
    32.8(b); and (4) requires the court to make specific findings of fact and state
    its conclusions of law, Rule 32.8(d)(1).
    9
    CABANAS v. HON. PINEDA/STATE
    Opinion of the Court
    during the evidentiary hearing.         Cabanas argues reconstruction is
    inappropriate, redundant to the purpose of the evidentiary hearing, and
    violates this court’s mandate. This court reviews whether the superior
    court has complied with the appellate court’s mandate de novo. In re
    Marriage of Molloy, 
    181 Ariz. 146
    , 149 (App. 1994).
    A.     Whether a Harmless Error Burden Applies
    ¶27           Intertwined in the State’s argument for reconstruction and
    questioning the sentencing judge during the evidentiary hearing is its belief
    that Rule 32.8 imposes a burden on the State to establish harmless error if
    the defendant meets his burden showing his sentence was unconstitutional.
    See Rule 32.8(c). The State’s belief is mistaken.
    ¶28            Miller and Montgomery hold that a natural-life sentence
    imposed on a juvenile for a crime reflecting transient immaturity is
    categorically unconstitutional. Valencia, 241 Ariz. at 209-10, ¶¶ 16-18. It is
    the imposition of a life sentence upon a youth whose crime reflects transient
    immaturity which violates the Eighth Amendment, not the sentencing
    court’s consideration of age-related factors. Id. at 210, ¶ 17 (citing
    Montgomery, 136 S. Ct. at 736) (“Montgomery noted that ‘Miller did not
    require trial courts to make a finding of fact regarding a child’s
    incorrigibility,’ but instead held that imposing a sentence of life without
    parole on a ‘child whose crime reflects transient immaturity’ violates the
    Eighth Amendment.”).
    ¶29            The Valencia hearing thus operates as an eligibility
    determination: if Cabanas meets his burden then he will have established
    that his natural-life sentence is unconstitutional, thus entitling him to
    resentencing. Valencia, 241 Ariz. at 210, ¶ 18; Montgomery, 136 S. Ct. at 734
    (stating Miller “rendered life without parole an unconstitutional penalty for
    a class of defendants because of their status—that is, juvenile offenders
    whose crimes reflect the transient immaturity of youth”) (internal
    quotations and citations omitted). Though the State typically carries the
    burden to rebut a constitutional violation by showing it was harmless per
    Rule 32.8(c), it cannot prove that the failure to consider the Miller-type
    factors was harmless here; if Cabanas is successful, then the
    unconstitutional life sentence cannot stand.
    ¶30          To the extent the State relies on harmless error to support the
    need for reconstruction, that argument fails. The superior court is limited
    by our mandate to decide the material issue presently before it: whether
    Cabanas’ crime reflected transient immaturity or irreparable corruption. It
    10
    CABANAS v. HON. PINEDA/STATE
    Opinion of the Court
    is not tasked with deciding whether the previous sentence should stand,
    nor may it base its decision on considerations by the previous sentencing
    judge. See Phillips v. Clancy, 
    152 Ariz. 415
    , 418-21 (App. 1986) (discussing
    the impropriety of a judge testifying how he would have ruled had a
    circumstance or factor been different); In re Aubuchon, 
    233 Ariz. 62
    , 69-70,
    ¶ 34 (2013) (discussing the impropriety of probing into the mental processes
    engaged in by a judge).6
    B.     Need for Reconstruction
    ¶31            The State argues Rule 31.8(f) allows reconstruction of a
    portion of the record on appeal because the original sentencing transcript is
    unavailable. See, e.g., Schackart, 
    175 Ariz. at 497-98
    . However, the current
    Rule 32.8 proceeding is a post-conviction relief petition and subsequent
    evidentiary hearing to determine whether Cabanas’ crime reflected
    transient immaturity, not a direct appeal—thus, Rule 31.8 is inapplicable.
    See Rule 32.3(a) (discussing the nature of a post-conviction relief proceeding
    and its relation to other remedies); see also State v. Gutierrez, 
    229 Ariz. 573
    ,
    579, ¶ 32 (2012) (“Rule 32.8(a) provide[s] for an evidentiary hearing only to
    determine issues of material fact.”). More to the point, the superior court is
    not tasked with reviewing a previous court decision for error and thus need
    not review the previous transcript. See Schackart, 
    175 Ariz. at 499, 503
    (vacating death sentence and ordering new sentencing hearing based on a
    finding that the sentencing transcript was inadequate given the broad scope
    of the court’s obligation to independently review defendant’s death
    sentence); State v. Hart, 
    110 Ariz. 55
    , 57 (1973) (remanding for a new trial
    where appellant could not make first appeal without transcripts which
    were unavailable by no fault of appellant).
    ¶32           The State claims “[r]econstruction will allow this Court to
    hear the facts and circumstances of [Cabanas’] crimes.” The State’s recited
    purpose of reconstruction is redundant to the evidentiary hearing. To the
    extent the superior court on remand seeks to “absorb, evaluate, and
    6      The State argues that calling the sentencing judge to testify is
    necessary to complete the record; but a judge may be called upon to give
    evidence, if at all, only in “instances in which there is no other reasonably
    available way to prove the facts sought.” In re Peasley, 
    208 Ariz. 27
    , 34-35,
    ¶ 30 n.14 (2004) (citation omitted). That is not the case here, as the State
    conceded during oral argument that it has all other records of the original
    sentencing, including the exhibits, list of witnesses, and the original
    sentencing judge’s detailed twenty-nine-page special verdict. The only
    missing portion is the transcript.
    11
    CABANAS v. HON. PINEDA/STATE
    Opinion of the Court
    determine whether . . . there was transient immaturity,” it must do so
    during the evidentiary hearing, within the parameters established in Miller,
    Montgomery, Valencia, and this decision. We therefore hold that the superior
    court erred when it ordered a reconstruction hearing.
    ¶33          The superior court retains discretion to admit relevant
    evidence during the evidentiary hearing tending to prove or disprove that
    Cabanas’ crime reflected transient immaturity, Ariz. R. Evid. 401-403, and
    make necessary factual findings and conclusions of law pursuant to Rule
    32.8.
    CONCLUSION
    ¶34           For the foregoing reasons, we accept special action
    jurisdiction and grant relief. The superior court’s order requiring disclosure
    of Cabanas’ medical and mental health records is vacated. The court’s order
    granting reconstruction and permitting the State to call the sentencing
    judge to testify is also vacated, and we remand for compliance with this
    court’s previous mandate and this decision.
    AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court
    FILED: AA
    12