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AOÔ&Æ#' 0Dé' D/-( B\(˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 <@ˆÐ9Z &Courier RegularX(è)U$¡¡Ò°ÒÒX°ÒÑ  ÑÔ€X»wXXXÔÑ` ÑÑÜÜÑÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÔ€THQTXX»wÔÓlÓ,c½¬AZ‹"Arial RegularÔ¡¨ 3|xž  ‹ Œ D Ž  + D‘ Õ’ ” D• Ó€(ÉÞÍ$¡¡Ñ  ÑÔ€XíèXXXÔÑ` ` ÑÑÜÜÑÒ4°ÒÒX°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÓÓ((3bÁ$¤¤Ý ƒ)U!ÝÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÑ  ÑÔ€X­œXXXÔÑ` °ÑÑܰÑÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ€Tý¯TXX­œÔÓlÓÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô d2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Courier New'ÿÿdxd< Œ 9p`(Arial% Line 7 d("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò,,,,7Border 1dd€-.Cþÿ << Gÿÿ «Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€)ÔÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÑ  ÑÔ€+ÔÑ ` ÑÑ Ü ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓlÓÝ  ÝÔ€+ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€+XÔÌÌNovemberÏ8,Ï1996ÌÌCecilÏW.ÏCrowsonÌAppellateÏCourtÏClerkÔ  Ôó ó üÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€)ÔÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÑ  ÑÔ€+ÔÑ ` ÑÑ Ü ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓlÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÓÓÔ€+ôÔThe€petitioner€was€represented€by€two€partners€in€a€Knoxville€law€firm.€€References€will€be€to€theÏlead€attorney€or€counsel€and€to€cocounsel.Ì Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€)ÔÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÑ  ÑÔ€+ÔÑ ` ÑÑ Ü ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓlÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€+ôÔÓÓ€For€post„conviction€cases€filed€as€of€May€10,€1995,€petitioners€have€the€burden€of€provingÏfactual€allegations€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.€€T.C.A.€ðð€40„30„210(f).Ì ¯Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€)ÔÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÑ  ÑÔ€+ÔÑ ` ÑÑ Ü ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓlÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý€Ô€+ôÔThe€record€on€appeal€includes€a€video€tape€record€of€the€evidentiary€hearing.Ì Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€)ÔÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÑ  ÑÔ€+ÔÑ ` ÑÑ Ü ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓlÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€+ôÔFor€post„conviction€cases€filed€as€ofÓÓ€May€10,€1995,€T.C.A.€ðð€40„30„112€has€been€replaced€byÏT.C.A.€ðð€40„30„206(g),€(h).€€1995€Tenn.€Pub.€Acts€ch.€207,€ðð€3.ÌPtPt HHð@ÿìÿîRd(ühh° @d'ÿœÿ¦ šStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Geneva ÒÒ  BA Op Geneva Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€)ÔÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÑ  ÑÔ€+ÔÑ ` ÑÑ Ü ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓlÓÝ  ÝÑ  ÑÑ ° ÑÔT€ ÔÑ7€å)TXdÈdÈ7ÑÓ ` Fܽ”—X ÓÑ  ÑÙ€€ÙßL€/0.;+'h|` à. `€€Lß›à8 àà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINALÏAPPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEà@ à€€€€€€€€€Ìà àà à€€€€€€€€€JUNE€1994€SESSIONÌÌÓÓJAMES€J.€BENSON,à àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà à)Ìà àAppellant,à àà à)à àNo.€01C01„9401„CC„00026Ìà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà à)à à€WilliamsonÏCountyÌv.à àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà à)à àHon.€DonaldÏHarris,€JudgeÌà àà àà àà à)ÌSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,à àà à)à à(Post„Conviction)Ìà àà àà àà à)Ìà àAppellee.à àà àà à)ÌÌÌÌòòFor€the€Appellantóó:à àà àà àòòà àFor€theÏAppelleeóó:ÌÌWilliam€M.€Leech,€Jr.à àà àà àà àCharles€W.ÏBursonÌWilliam€H.€Farmer€€€à àà àà àà àAttorneyÏGeneral€of€TennesseeÌ511€Union€Street€à àà àà àà àà àandÌNashville,€TN€37219„1760€€€€€€à àà àAmy€L.€TarkingtonÌà àà àà àà àà àAssistantÏAttorney€General€of€TennesseeÌà àà àà àà àà à450€JamesÏRobertson€ParkwayÌà àà àà àà àà àNashville,€TNÏ37243„0493ÌÌà àà àà àà àà àJoseph€D.€Baugh,€Jr.Ìà àà àà àà àà àDistrict€Attorney€Generalà àÌà àà àà àà àà àWilliamson€County€CourthouseÌà àà àà àà àà àP.O.€Box€937€€€€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àFranklin,€TN€37065„0937€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌOPINION€FILED:_________________Ì€€€€€€ÌÌAFFIRMEDÌ€€€€€€ÌJoseph€M.€TiptonÌJudgeÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àòòò òO€P€I€N€I€O€NÌóóó óÌÌÓÓà àThe€petitioner,€James€J.€Benson,€appeals€as€of€right€from€the€WilliamsonÏCounty€Circuit€Court's€denial€of€post„conviction€relief.€€He€is€presently€in€the€custody€ofÏthe€Department€of€Correction,€serving€as€a€Range€II,€multiple€offender,€an€effectiveÏsentence€of€one€hundred€and€twenty„eight€years€for€convictions€of€two€counts€ofÏaggravated€kidnaping€and€one€count€each€of€armed€robbery,€conspiracy,€andÏaccessory€before€the€fact€to€armed€robbery,€receiving€a€sentence€of€sixty€years€forÏeach€of€the€crimes€except€the€conspiracy,€for€which€he€received€a€sentence€of€eightÍyears.€€The€convictions€and€sentences€were€affirmed€on€direct€appeal€on€SeptemberÏ7,€1987,€and€reaffirmed€on€a€petition€to€rehear€on€February€16,€1990.€€òòState€v.€BobbyÏMitchell,€Richard€Cook,€and€James€Bensonóó,€Williamson€County,€No.€87„185„III€(Tenn.ÏCrim.€App.€Sept.€27,€1989),€òòappóó.€òòdeniedóó,€(Tenn.€April€2,€1990).€€€ÌÌà àThe€petitioner€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€its€denial€€because€heÏwas€denied€his€right€to€a€fair€trial€before€an€impartial€judge.€€He€asserts€that€he€isÏentitled€to€his€convictions€being€vacated€because:ÌÓ  ÓÓÓà8 àà à(1)€€The€trial€court€erred€in€finding€that€theÏpetitioner€did€not€carry€his€burden€of€proving€that€the€trialÏjudge€in€his€original€trial€solicited€a€bribe€from€him€duringÏthe€pendency€of€his€prosecution.ÌÌà8 àà à(2)€€The€trial€court€erred€in€finding€that€theÏpetitioner€knowingly€and€voluntarily€waived€the€claim€ofÏsolicitation€of€a€bribe€by€not€raising€it€prior€to€his€trial.ÌÌà8 àà à(3)€€The€trial€court€erred€in€applying€the€harmlessÏerror€standard€to€the€bribe€solicitation€in€this€case.ÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓÓò òà@ àBACKGROUNDÌÓlÓó óà àThe€petitioner's€convictions€arose€out€of€an€October€22,€1985,€incident€inÏwhich€two€armed€masked€men€entered€the€home€of€George€Khoury,€a€well„knownÏDavidson€County€jeweler€who€resided€in€Williamson€County,€and€held€the€KhouryÏfamily€at€gunpoint.€€While€one€of€the€men€remained€with€the€Khoury€family,€the€otherÏdrove€Mr.€Khoury€to€his€jewelry€store€in€the€Green€Hills€area€of€Davidson€County€andÍtook€$350,000.00€worth€of€jewelry€from€the€store's€inventory.€€Upon€returning€to€theÏKhoury€home,€the€two€armed€men€bound€the€family€with€duct€tape€and€took€anotherÏ$35,000.00€worth€of€jewelry€from€Ms.€Khoury,€$40.00€from€the€home€safe,€and€$70.00Ïfrom€Mr.€Khoury's€billfold.ÌÌà àAn€informant,€to€whom€one€of€the€petitioner's€codefendants€had€given€aÏwatch€from€the€Khoury€jewelry€store,€informed€investigators€of€the€identity€of€the€threeÏmen€who€were€involved€in€this€crime.€€On€November€1,€1985,€after€seeing€Mr.€BensonÏapparently€loading€something€into€the€car€at€his€home,€Davidson€County€officers€madeÏa€warrantless€stop€of€his€car.€€From€the€car€the€officers€seized€a€pair€of€sunglasses,€aÏpistol€and€four€motel€receipts€from€motels€located€in€Knoxville€and€Chattanooga,ÏTennessee,€Chamblee,€Georgia,€and€Ft.€Lauderdale,€Florida.€€A€search€warrant€wasÏobtained€for€the€petitioner's€residence.€€€Officers€found€no€jewelry,€but€confiscated€aÏGray€sweatshirt€and€brown€cotton€work€gloves€which€were€later€identified€as€beingÏworn€by€one€of€the€men€involved€in€the€robbery.€€ÌÌà àà àAll€three€codefendants€were€charged€in€both€Davidson€andÏWilliamson€Counties€with€offenses€growing€out€of€this€robbery.€€By€consent,€all€threeÏwere€tried€jointly€before€Judge€Sterling€Gray,€Jr.,€who€sat€by€interchange€in€WilliamsonÏCounty.€€On€June€6,€1985,€petitioner's€counsel€filed€motions€to€suppress€the€physicalÏevidence€taken€from€his€automobile.€€Hearings€were€held€on€these€motions€on€July€11,ÍJuly€31,€and€August€4,€1986.€€On€December€8,€1986,€some€four€months€later,€JudgeÏGray€denied€all€of€the€petitioner's€motions.€The€petitioner's€case€went€to€trial,€the€juryÏfound€him€guilty€of€the€aforementioned€offenses,€and€Judge€Gray€sentenced€theÏpetitioner€to€an€effective€sentence€of€128€years.ÌÌà àIn€October€of€1985,€the€T.B.I.€initiated€an€investigation€concerningÏallegations€of€bribery€and€corruption€on€the€part€of€Judge€Gray€and€his€court€officer,ÏIrvin€Oten.€€The€investigation€resulted€in€indictments€being€returned€against€JudgeÏGray€and€Oten,€and€on€November€17,€1987,€Judge€Gray€offered€his€resignation.€€OnÏMay€19,€1988,€Oten€pled€guilty€to€one€count€of€aiding€and€abetting€bribery€of€a€judicialÏofficer.€€He€received€a€three„year€prison€sentence€which€was€suspended,€and€he€wasÏplaced€on€probation€for€three€years.€€On€January€19,€1988,€Judge€Gray€fatallyÏwounded€his€wife€and€committed€suicide.€€The€case€was€officially€closed€on€JuneÏ27,1989.ÌÌÓ  Óò òPOST„CONVICTION€HEARINGó óÌÓ  ÓÌà àAt€the€post„conviction€evidentiary€hearing,€the€petitioner€testified€that€onÏAugust€4,€1985,€Court€Officer€Irvin€Oten€met€him€in€the€restroom€of€the€WilliamsonÏCounty€Courthouse€and€initiated€a€conversation€by€telling€him€that€he€looked€like€heÏneeded€a€little€help.€€The€petitioner€told€him€that€yes,€he€guessed€he€did,€and€OtenÍreplied€that€"everything€has€a€price."€€When€the€petitioner€questioned€him€further,€OtenÏresponded,€"$30,000.00€in€jewelry."ÌÌÓÓà àThe€petitioner€testified€that€his€lead€attorney× ƒ1 ××  ×€had€noticed€him€talking€withÏOten€and€had€become€extremely€upset,€warning€the€petitioner€to€stay€away€from€Oten.€ÏThe€petitioner€admitted€that€he€had€not€told€his€attorneys€what€Oten€had€said€to€him.€ÏHe€then€testified€that€later€that€day,€Oten€had€again€followed€him€into€the€bathroom€andÏhad€given€him€a€piece€of€paper€with€the€phone€number€of€a€grocery€store€where€heÏcould€be€reached€after€hours.€€Counsel€again€noticed€the€interaction,€and,€according€toÏthe€petitioner,€"blew€his€stack,"€informing€the€petitioner€that€he€would€"get€off"€the€caseÏif€the€petitioner€had€any€other€contact€with€Oten.€€ÌÌà àThe€petitioner€testified€that€some€two€weeks€later,€out€of€curiosity,€he€hadÏcalled€the€number€given€to€him€by€Oten€but€that€Oten€had€not€been€there€and€theÏpetitioner€had€not€left€a€name€or€number.€€He€then€testified€that€on€November€19,€1986,Ïhe€had€received€a€message€while€at€the€Dayton€Golf€and€Country€Club€that€JudgeÏGray€had€called€for€him€and€had€asked€that€the€petitioner€return€his€call€at€8:00€thatÏevening.€€The€petitioner€stated€that€he€had€called€Judge€Gray€from€a€ChineseÏrestaurant€in€Chattanooga€that€evening€and€that€Gray€had€asked€him€if€he€would€"beÏable€to€handle€the€business€informed€by€Oten."€€According€to€the€petitioner,€he€toldÍGray€that€he€did€not€have€the€money€and€Gray€responded€that€he€should€think€about€itÏbecause€the€charges€against€him€were€serious€and€he€had€not€yet€ruled€on€theÏpetitioner's€motions.€€The€petitioner€testified€that€he€had€previously€known€GrayÏbecause€his€ex„wife€had€been€a€court€reporter€for€Judge€Gray€and€that€he€had€spokenÏwith€Gray€over€the€phone€on€several€occasions€when€Gray€had€called€for€his€ex„wife.ÌÌà àThe€petitioner€said€that€Gray€had€called€the€petitioner's€mother's€homeÏon€the€morning€of€December€19,€1986,€and€had€asked€that€the€petitioner€call€him.€€TheÏpetitioner€returned€the€call€from€his€aunt's€home,€and€an€exhibit€of€the€aunt's€phoneÏrecords€was€introduced€into€evidence€to€substantiate€the€call.€€The€petitioner€statedÏthat€Gray€had€reminded€him€that€he€would€be€going€to€court€the€following€month€andÏthat€help€could€still€be€had.€€Gray€asked€if€the€petitioner€had€any€jewelry€because€heÏwould€like€to€give€his€wife€some€jewelry€for€Christmas.€€The€petitioner€denied€havingÏany€jewelry,€and€Gray€then€asked€for€half€of€the€money€that€he€supposed€the€petitionerÏhad€gotten€for€the€jewelry.€€Again€the€petitioner€told€Gray€that€he€had€no€money.€ÌÌà àThe€petitioner€testified€that€he€had€no€other€contact€with€Gray€or€OtenÏuntil€the€trial€began€on€January€12,€1986.€€When€questioned€as€to€why€he€had€not€toldÏhis€attorneys€about€the€bribe€solicitation,€he€stated€that€he€had€been€scared€that€hisÏattorneys€would€not€believe€him€and€might€withdraw€from€his€case,€as€one€of€theÏattorneys€had€earlier€threatened.€€He€then€testified€that€on€November€7,€1987,€after€hisÏappeal€had€been€briefed€and€argued€but€not€decided,€he€had€spoken€with€another€ofÍhis€attorneys€and€had€told€him€that€he€had€indeed€been€solicited€for€a€bribe€by€OtenÏand€Gray.€€He€stated€that€the€attorney€had€told€him€that€he€would€discuss€the€case€withÏhis€other€attorney.ÌÌà àOn€cross„examination,€the€state€questioned€the€petitioner€about€the€callÏmade€from€the€petitioner's€aunt's€house€on€December€19,€1986.€€After€denying€that€heÏhad€talked€to€Judge€Gray€about€anything€besides€Gray€wanting€jewelry€or€money,€theÏpetitioner€admitted€that€he€did€not€really€remember€if€he€had€talked€to€Gray€about€notÏbeing€able€to€appear€in€court€that€day€on€counsel's€motion€to€withdraw.€€The€petitionerÏacknowledged€that€a€motion€was€heard€in€Judge€Gray's€court€on€the€morning€ofÏDecember€19,€1986,€concerning€counsel's€motion€to€be€relieved€of€counsel€becauseÏthe€petitioner€had€not€paid€all€of€counsel's€fees.€€He€then€stated€that€he€had€driven€toÏWilliamson€County,€arriving€between€12:00€and€12:30€p.m.,€only€to€learn€that€theÏmotion€had€already€been€heard€and€denied.ÌÌà àThe€petitioner€again€stated€that€he€had€not€told€his€counsel€about€theÏbribe€solicitation€for€fear€that€they€would€withdraw€from€the€case.€€When€he€had€told€hisÏattorney€about€the€solicitation,€he€stated€that€his€attorney€told€him€that€he€believed€thatÏthe€appeal€would€be€successful€and€that€the€solicitation€of€a€bribe€complaint€wouldÏhave€to€be€brought€up€at€a€later€date.€€The€petitioner€admitted€that€he€had€neverÏobjected€to€the€trial€being€held€in€Judge€Gray's€court€and€that€he€had€not€told€anyoneÏabout€the€bribe€solicitation.€€He€further€admitted€that€at€the€time€he€had€informedÍcounsel€of€the€solicitation,€there€had€been€lots€of€publicity€in€the€news€surrounding€anÏalleged€bribe€scandal€involving€Judge€Gray€and€"Bonehead"€Scales,€a€defendant€inÏanother€case.ÌÌà àWade€Lee€Phelps,€owner€of€Wadeððs€Drive„In€Market,€then€testified€thatÏthe€number€the€petitioner€had€said€Irvin€Oten€had€given€him€had€been€the€number€ofÏhis€market€at€which€Oten€had€worked€during€1986,€the€time€of€the€alleged€bribeÏsolicitation.€€Jerry€Sue€Ward,€a€former€waitress€at€the€Dayton€Golf€and€Country€Club,Ïtestified€that€while€working€at€the€club,€she€had€answered€the€phone€and€had€taken€aÏmessage€for€the€petitioner€from€Judge€Gray€in€which€Gray€had€asked€that€the€petitionerÏreturn€his€call.€€She€testified€that€she€had€written€down€the€number€Gray€had€given€herÏon€a€piece€of€paper€and€had€given€the€petitioner€the€message€later€that€afternoon.€€ÏLarry€Travis,€a€member€of€the€Dayton€Golf€and€Country€Club,€testified€that€he€hadÏheard€Ms.€Ward€repeat€Judge€Gray's€number€and€message€when€the€call€had€comeÏin.€€He€distinctly€remembered€that€it€had€been€in€the€late€fall€of€1986€about€mid„afternoon€when€the€call€had€come€in€and€that€many€of€the€men€sitting€around€the€clubÏhad€teased€the€petitioner€about€receiving€a€call€from€a€judge.ÌÌà àPetitionerððs€former€attorneys€then€testified€in€the€petitionerððs€behalf.€€BothÏcounsel€testified€that€they€had€filed€a€motion€to€suppress€evidence€seized€in€search€ofÏthe€petitionerððs€car,€his€person,€and€his€residence.€€His€counsel€detailed€the€factsÏsurrounding€the€three„day€suppression€hearing€in€which€the€arresting€officers€statedÍthat€they€had€gotten€all€of€their€information€to€justify€the€search€of€the€petitioner's€carÏand€home€through€three€unnamed€informants€ten€days€after€the€crime€had€taken€place.€ÏThe€counsel€stated€that€in€his€opinion,€the€information€was€stale€and€that€there€hadÏbeen€no€basis€of€knowledge€or€reliability€for€the€search.€€He€testified€that€he€had€fullyÏanticipated€that€the€motion€to€suppress€would€be€granted.€€He€further€testified€that€theÏlast€argument€on€the€motion€had€taken€place€on€August€4,€1986,€and€that€the€rulingÏhad€not€been€made€by€Judge€Gray€until€December€8,€1986,€some€four€months€later,€anÏunusually€long€delay.€€He€also€testified€that€a€motion€in€limine€had€been€filed€to€limit€aÏco„conspiratorððs€statement€that€was€made€clearly€outside€the€time€limits€of€theÏconspiracy.€€According€to€the€petitionerððs€counsel,€the€motion€was€denied€after€anotherÏunusual€delay.€€He€then€testified€that€when€the€petitioner€had€told€him€about€theÏattempted€bribe€solicitation,€the€case€was€already€on€appeal€and€that€he€had€advisedÏthe€petitioner€that€no€mechanism€was€available€to€raise€the€issue€at€that€time.€€ÌÌà àThe€petitionerððs€lead€attorney€testified€about€the€incident€between€theÏpetitioner€and€Oten€that€took€place€during€the€suppression€hearing.€€He€recalled€beingÏvery€concerned€and€upset€about€the€communication.€€Both€attorneys€testified€that€theyÏhad€feared€that€someone€was€trying€to€ð ðset€upðð€the€petitioner€for€additional€chargesÏbecause€they€believed€that€their€motions€to€suppress€would€be€successful.ÌÌà àDavidson€County€Deputy€District€Attorney€General€Tom€Thurman€wasÏcalled€by€€the€petitioner€to€testify€that€on€October€17,€1985,€he€had€been€offered€a€bribeÍby€Irvin€Oten€on€behalf€of€a€defendant€in€another€case,€but€he€added€that€at€that€time,Ïhe€thought€Mr.€Oten€was€joking.€€He€also€testified€about€the€investigation€and€arrest€ofÏJudge€Gray,€stating€that€Gray€had€denied€all€accusations€until€learning€that€Oten€hadÏbeen€ð ðwiredðð€when€they€spoke€the€night€before€about€the€bribe€solicitation€ofÏð ðBoneheadðð€Scales.€€Gray€had€told€Thurman€that€at€that€time€there€were€no€more€bribeÏsolicitations€ð ðin€the€pipeline.ðð€€On€cross„examination,€Thurman€stated€that€at€no€timeÏduring€the€two„year€investigation€of€Gray€had€there€been€any€information€concerning€aÏbribe€solicitation€in€the€petitionerððs€case.ÌÌà àDavidson€County€Criminal€Court€Judge€Thomas€Shriver€testified€that€heÏhad€been€the€district€attorney€general€and€had€initiated€the€investigation€of€Irvin€OtenÏand€Judge€Gray€in€October,€1985,€after€he€received€several€complaints€concerningÏalleged€bribe€solicitations€in€Judge€Grayððs€court.€€He€testified€that€attorney€ArnoldÏPeebles€had€informed€his€office€that€Judge€Gray€could€be€bribed€and€that€uponÏinquiry,€his€assistants€informed€him€of€other€similar€allegations€concerning€Gray.€ÏJudge€Shriver€stated€that€the€defendant€in€Mr.€Peebleððs€case€had€been€a€maleÏCaucasian.€€Also,€he€acknowledged€that€although€the€investigation€of€Judge€Gray€andÏOten€had€been€ongoing€at€the€time€of€the€petitionerððs€trial,€no€special€measures€hadÏbeen€taken€to€monitor€Judge€Grayððs€cases.ÌÌà àSpecial€Agent€Richard€Wright€with€the€T.B.I.€testified€concerning€hisÏinvestigation€of€Judge€Gray€and€Irvin€Oten.€€Wright€testified€that€he€had€received€a€callÍfrom€General€Shriver€in€October,€1985,€concerning€a€purported€bribe€payment€byÏHoward€Scales€to€Irvin€Oten.€€He€testified€that€when€Irvin€Oten€had€been€arrested€inÏNovember,€1987,€he€had€admitted€involvement€in€only€two€other€cases,€but€that€WrightÏhad€known€that€he€was€not€telling€the€truth€because€his€office€had€posted€surveillanceÏwhen€Oten€had€accepted€money€in€another€case.€€He€also€testified€that€Irvin€OtenððsÏfather€had€been€involved€in€a€solicitation€attempt€and€that€he€had€later€been€convictedÏof€that€offense.€€He€stated€that€in€the€course€of€the€investigation€he€had€learned€thatÏGray€had€borrowed€money€from€bondsmen€and€had€written€several€bad€checks.€€HeÏadmitted€that€at€the€time€of€the€Benson€case,€his€office€had€not€taken€any€steps€toÏinsure€that€inappropriate€gestures€were€not€made€by€Gray€or€Oten.€€He€stated€that€atÏthe€time€of€Judge€Grayððs€death,€the€state€had€indictments€in€four€cases€but€that€to€hisÏknowledge,€there€had€never€been€any€allegation€of€misconduct€in€the€petitionerððsÏcase.€€On€cross„examination€he€stated€that€all€allegations€involving€bribery€in€JudgeÏGrayððs€court€had€involved€members€of€the€black€community.ÌÌà àOther€witnesses€called€by€the€petitioner€included€Mark€Beverage,€aÏformer€assistant€district€attorney,€who€testified€that€Irvin€Oten€had€inappropriatelyÏapproached€him€on€occasion€to€discuss€individual€defendants€and€their€cases.€€HarryÏOwens,€former€chief€accountant€with€the€Davidson€County€Criminal€Court€ClerkððsÏoffice,€testified€that€he€had€been€unaware€of€Judge€Grayððs€financial€difficulties€untilÏseveral€checks€œthat›€Gray€had€cashed€through€the€clerkððs€office€were€returned€forÏinsufficient€funds.€€Forest€Brent,€a€Davidson€County€bail€bondsman,€testified€that€JudgeÍGray€had€borrowed€$700.00€from€him€and€that€Gray€had€never€repaid€him.€€BillÏThompson,€another€T.B.I.€agent€who€had€assisted€in€the€investigation€of€Gray€andÏOten,€testified€that€he€had€learned€that€Judge€Gray€had€often€sent€court€officers€toÏretrieve€his€bad€checks€œand€to›€place€illegal€numbers€bets€for€him.€€Floyd€Price,€theÏformer€assistant€district€attorney€who€had€represented€the€state€in€Bensonððs€originalÏtrial,€testified€he€had€not€been€made€aware€of€any€investigation€concerning€Oten€orÏGray€during€the€trial.€€He€also€testified€that€he€recalled€having€participated€in€seriousÏplea€negotiations€involving€a€œten€to€fifteen„year›€sentence€for€the€petitioner.€Ìà àà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà àIrvin€Oten€was€the€first€witness€called€by€the€state.€€He€testified€that€heÏhad€served€as€Judge€Grayððs€court€officer€from€September,€1982,€until€the€time€of€hisÏarrest.€€He€stated€that€he€had€pled€guilty€to€the€offenses€in€which€he€took€part€inÏsoliciting€bribes€and€that€he€was€currently€on€probation.€€Oten€admitted€that€he€hadÏtaken€money€from€two€defendants€who€had€cases€pending€in€Judge€Grayððs€court,€butÏadamantly€denied€that€he€had€ever€spoken€with€the€petitioner.€€He€stated€that€his€jobÏhad€been€to€oversee€the€prisoners€being€held€in€the€room€behind€the€courtroom,€andÏsince€the€petitioner€had€been€on€bond,€he€would€have€not€had€a€reason€to€be€inÏcontact€with€him.€€He€also€stated€that€he€would€never€talk€to€anyone€in€the€bathroomÏbecause€it€was€a€public€place€and€because€the€prisoners€in€the€backroom€demandedÏall€of€his€attention.ÌÌà àOn€cross„examination€Oten€testified€that€he€had€no€prior€convictions,€butÏa€presentence€report€which€revealed€that€he€had€been€convicted€of€passing€worthlessÏchecks€was€used€to€impeach€him.€€He€admitted€that€Judge€Gray€had€sent€him€to€placeÏnumbers€bets€and€pick€up€his€bad€checks€at€least€once€a€week.ÌÌà àEd€Yarbrough,€the€attorney€who€had€represented€Irvin€Oten€in€his€pleaÏnegotiations,€testified€that€the€district€attorneyððs€office€had€promised€Oten€that€if€heÏwould€be€truthful€and€assist€them€in€their€investigation€of€Judge€Gray,€he€would€not€beÏincarcerated.€€He€stated€that€he€had€advised€Oten€at€that€time€to€cooperate€and€reportÏany€other€cases€in€which€a€bribe€had€been€solicited.€€ÌÌà àAfter€the€evidentiary€hearing,€the€trial€court€filed€an€order€and€aÏsupporting€memorandum€with€its€findings€and€conclusions.€€The€court€concluded€thatÏthe€petitioner€failed€to€prove€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence€that€either€JudgeÏGray€or€his€court€officer€had€solicited€a€bribe€from€the€petitioner€and€that€the€only€directÏevidence€of€such€a€solicitation€had€come€from€the€petitioner€himself.€€The€court€notedÏthat€the€solicitation€allegation€was€refuted€by€the€deliverer€of€the€alleged€offer,€IrvinÏOten,€but€that€both€witnesses€were€convicted€felons.€€The€court€found€that€there€wasÏcredible€evidence€that€the€petitioner€spoke€with€Oten€on€at€least€one€occasion€and€thatÏthe€petitioner€had€phoned€Grayððs€office€on€December€19,€1985.€€He€then€noted€that€theÏpetitioner€was€scheduled€to€appear€in€court€on€that€same€day€and€that€it€was€moreÏprobable€that€rather€than€returning€a€purported€phone€call€made€by€Gray,€the€petitionerÍwas€phoning€the€judgeððs€office€to€advise€the€court€that€he€would€be€late€for€hisÏappearance€when,€in€fact,€he€did€appear€three€and€one„half€hours€late.€€He€then€foundÏthat€because€the€circumstances€surrounding€and€the€purpose€of€the€December€16€callÏð ðwereÌfabricated,€.€.€.€little€credence€[could]€be€given€petitionerððs€assertions€that€a€bribe€wasÏsolicited€from€him.ðð€€He€then€stated€that€ð ðeven€if€the€petitioner€had€proven€the€attempt€toÏsolicit€a€bribe,€his€failure€to€disclose€it€before€trial€would€prevent€his€being€entitled€toÏrelief.ððÌÌà àThe€court€emphasized€that€the€petitioner€had€been€found€guilty€by€a€juryÏand€that€he€had€been€represented€by€two€preeminent€criminal€defense€attorneys.€€HeÏpointed€out€that€the€conviction€was€reviewed€by€the€court€of€criminal€appeals€whoÏfound€that€there€was€ð ðample,€indeed€overwhelming€evidence€from€which€any€rationalÏtrier€of€fact€would€conclude€that€all€the€appellants,€.€.€.€were€guilty€of€all€these€crimesÏbeyond€a€reasonable€doubt.ðð€€He€noted€that€Judge€Grayððs€ruling€on€the€motion€toÏsuppress€evidence€had€also€been€reviewed€by€the€appellate€court€in€some€detail€andÏhad€been€sustained€and€that€the€court€had€conducted€a€òòdeóó€òònovoóó€review€of€theÏpetitionerððs€sentence,€without€a€presumption€of€correctness,€and€had€affirmed€it.€€InÏconclusion,€the€trial€court€stated€that€even€though€the€appellate€court€had€conductedÏan€ð ðexhausted€reviewðð€of€the€case,€ð ðthis€court€has€again€reviewed€the€transcript€of€theÏtrial€proceedings€and€has€not€found€exercise€of€discretion€by€Judge€Gray€that€wasÍinappropriate€or€may€have€unfairly€prejudiced€the€petitioner.ðð€€The€court€thenÏdismissed€the€petition€for€post„conviction€relief.ÌÌÓ  Óò òSUFFICIENCY€OF€SOLICITATION€EVIDENCEÌÓ  Óó óà àThe€petitioner€first€contends€that€the€trial€courtððs€conclusion€that€theÏpetitioner€failed€to€prove€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence€that€Judge€Gray€solicitedÏa€bribe€from€him€is€erroneous.ò ò€€ó óHe€concedes€that€the€only€direct€evidence€of€theÏsolicitation€is€the€testimony€of€the€petitioner€and€Irvin€Oten,€but€he€argues€that€theÏunrebutted€testimony€of€Jerri€Sue€Ward€and€Larry€Travis€that€Judge€Gray€telephonedÏthe€petitioner€at€the€Dayton€Golf€and€Country€Club€and€the€unrebutted€testimony€of€theÏpetitionerððs€attorneys€and€the€attorneysðð€investigator€that€there€was€contact€betweenÏthe€petitioner€and€Oten€on€two€occasions€strongly€supported€the€petitionerððsÏallegations.€€He€also€notes€the€unusually€long€delay€in€Judge€Grayððs€ruling€on€theÏpetitionerððs€pretrial€motions.ÌÌà àThe€state€argues€that€there€is€ample€evidence€to€support€the€trial€courtððsÏconclusions.€€It€points€to€an€inconsistency€in€the€petitionerððs€testimony€concerning€theÏNovember€19,1986,€telephone€call€supposedly€made€to€Dayton€Golf€and€Country€ClubÏin€which€Judge€Gray€asked€that€the€petitioner€return€his€call€at€8:00€p.m.€€The€petitionerÏtestified€that€he€returned€the€call€at€8:00€p.m.€from€a€Chattanooga€restaurant,€whichÏwould€have€been€7:00€p.m.€Nashville€time,€which€the€state€contends€was€inconsistentÏwith€Grayððs€purported€message.€€The€state€also€refutes€the€December€19,€1986,Ítelephone€call€by€noting€that€Judge€Gray€announced€at€the€hearing€that€day€on€theÏattorneyððs€motion€to€withdraw€that€he€had€talked€to€the€petitioner€that€morning€whenÏthe€petitioner€had€called€to€say€that€he€might€not€be€in€court€on€time.€€The€state€arguesÏthat€Oten€stated€that€he€had€never€had€any€contact€with€the€petitioner€and€that€whenÏTom€Thurman€had€confronted€Gray€with€the€evidence€against€him,€Gray€had€told€himÏthere€were€ð ðno€more€cases€in€the€pipeline.ðð€€Lastly,€the€state€emphasizes€that€all€of€theÏcases€in€which€bribes€were€alleged€involved€members€of€the€Afro„AmericanÏcommunity.ÌÌà àIn€a€post„conviction€proceeding,€the€burden€is€on€the€petitioner€to€proveÏthe€factual€allegations€in€his€petition€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence.€€òòBrooks€v.ÏStateóó,€756€S.W.2d€288,€289€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1988).œ× ƒ2 ××  ×›€€On€appeal,€we€are€bound€byÏthe€trial€courtððs€findings€of€fact€unless€we€conclude€that€the€evidence€in€the€recordÏpreponderates€against€those€findings.€€òòBlack€v.€Stateóó,€794€S.W.2d€752,€755€(Tenn.ÏCrim.€App.€1990).€€ÌÌà àUnder€the€facts€and€circumstances€of€this€case,€we€conclude€that€theÏevidence€in€the€record€on€appeal€preponderates€against€the€findings€of€the€trial€courtÏfrom€which€it€concluded€that€the€petitioner€had€not€carried€his€burden€of€proving€by€aÏpreponderance€of€evidence€that€Judge€Gray€and€Irvin€Oten€solicited€a€bribe€from€him.€ÍThe€stateððs€only€direct€evidence€that€the€petitioner€was€not€solicited€for€a€bribe€was€theÏtestimony€of€Oten.€€However,€the€record€is€replete€with€instances€in€which€Oten€hadÏfalsely€represented€facts€to€T.B.I.€officers.€€Oten€testified€more€than€once€that€he€hadÏnever€spoken€to€the€petitioner€under€any€circumstance,€however€this€testimony€is€inÏdirect€contradiction€to€that€of€the€petitionerððs€attorneys€and€the€attorneysðð€investigator€inÏthis€case.€€Oten€also€testified€falsely€concerning€his€prior€record.œ× ƒ3 ××  ×›ÌÌà àIn€its€brief,€the€state€makes€much€of€the€fact€that€Judge€Gray€had€onlyÏsolicited€bribes€from€the€black€community.€€However,€former€œDistrict›€œAttorney›€œGeneralÏThomas›€Shriver€testified€that€he€had€first€been€made€aware€of€improper€conduct€inÏJudge€Grayððs€court€by€œArnold›€Peebles,€and€the€defendant€in€that€case€had€been€white.€ÏOfficers€involved€in€the€investigation€of€Gray€and€Oten€admitted€that€no€specialÏprecautions€had€been€taken€to€monitor€the€cases€in€which€œJudge€Gray›€was€presidingÏat€the€time,€even€after€most€allegations€against€œJudge€Gray›€had€been€revealed.€ÌÌà àThe€trial€court€did€not€address€Judge€Grayððs€unusually€long€delay€inÏruling€on€the€petitionerððs€pretrial€motions.€€It€also€made€no€mention€of€the€unrebuttedÏtestimony€of€Jerri€Sue€Ward€and€Larry€Travis€that€Judge€Gray€had€telephoned€theÏDayton€Golf€and€Country€Club€asking€for€the€petitioner.€€In€conclusion,€we€hold€that€theÍweight€of€the€evidence€in€this€case€preponderates€against€the€trial€courtððs€finding€thatÏthe€petitioner€did€not€carry€his€burden€in€proving€that€he€had€been€solicitated€for€aÏbribe.ÌÌÓ  ÓÌÌà àà àò òWAIVERÌÓ  Óó óà àThe€petitioner€next€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€finding€that€theÏpetitioner€had€waived€the€ground€for€relief€based€upon€Judge€Grayððs€improper€conductÏby€failing€to€raise€it€prior€to€trial.€€In€his€reply€brief,€the€petitioner€argues€that€he€did€notÏpersonally€and€intentionally€relinquish€his€right€to€present€the€bribe€solicitation€as€aÏground€for€review€of€his€conviction€and€sentence€because€he€timely€brought€it€to€theÏattention€of€his€attorneys.€€The€state€argues€that€even€if€the€petitioner€had€told€hisÏattorneys€about€the€solicitation€attempt€at€the€appellate€stage€of€the€proceedings,€theÏpetitioner€would€still€have€waived€the€issue€because€he€failed€to€bring€it€to€theirÏattention€at€the€trial€stage.€€We€agree,€first€œnoting›€the€conspicuous€absence€from€theÏpetitionerððs€excellent€briefs€of€any€real€attempt€to€justify€his€failure€to€notify€his€attorneyÏbefore€trial€of€the€solicitations.ÌÌà àPursuant€to€T.C.A.€ðð€40„30„112(b)(1),€"[a]€ground€for€relief€is€'waived'€ifÏthe€petitioner€knowingly€and€understandingly€failed€to€present€it€for€determination€inÏany€proceeding€before€a€court€of€competent€jurisdiction€in€which€the€ground€couldÍhave€been€presented."€€Furthermore,€there€is€"a€rebuttable€presumption€that€a€groundÏfor€relief€not€raised€in€any€such€proceeding€which€was€held€was€waived."€T.C.A.€ððÏ40„30„112(b)(2).× ƒ4 ××  ×€€In€this€respect,€our€supreme€court€addressed€the€issue€of€waiverÏunder€the€post„conviction€act.€€The€court€held€as€follows:ÌÓ  ÓÓÓà8 àWe€further€conclude€that€the€rebuttable€presumption€ofÏwaiver€is€not€overcome€by€an€allegation€that€the€petitionerÏdid€not€personally€and€therefore,€ð ðknowingly€andÏunderstandinglyðð€waive€the€ground€for€relief.€€Waiver€is€toÏbe€determined€by€an€objective€standard€under€which€aÏpetitioner€is€bound€by€the€action€or€inaction€of€his€attorney.ÌÌÓ  ÓÓÓòòHouse€v.€Stateóó,€911€S.W.2d€705,€706€(Tenn.€œ1995),€òòcertóó.€òòdeniedóó,€116€S.€Ct.€1685Ï(1996).›ÌÌÓlÓœ›à àIn€this€case,€the€petitioner€had€the€opportunity€both€pretrial€and€in€hisÏmotion€for€a€new€trial€to€raise€the€solicitation€issue.€€According€to€the€petitioner,€he€wasÏfirst€solicited€for€a€€bribe€during€hearings€on€pretrial€motions.€€He€admitted€that€he€didÏnot€tell€his€attorneys€of€the€contact,€supposedly€because€he€was€afraid€they€wouldÏwithdraw€from€the€case.€€He€also€admitted€that€he€had€not€asked€that€Judge€Gray€beÏrecused€and€that€he€had€never€objected€to€Judge€Gray€presiding€over€the€trial.€€€€ÌÌà àThe€trial€court€concluded€that€the€petitionerððs€explanation,€that€he€ð ðfearedÏthe€ire€of€his€attorneys,ðð€did€not€provide€a€legally€sufficient€reason€to€excuse€his€failureÍto€raise€the€issue€earlier.€€We€agree.€€Accordingly,€the€petitioner€has€not€overcome€theÏpresumption€of€waiver,€and€this€issue€is€without€merit.ÌÌÓ  Óà àò òHARMLESS€ERROR€ANALYSISÌÓ  Óó óà àLastly,€the€petitioner€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€applying€theÏharmless€error€standard€to€the€facts€in€this€case.€€He€cites€òòState€v.€Boboóó,€814€S.W.2dÏ353,€358€(Tenn.€1991),€for€the€proposition€that€constitutional€ð ðviolations€which€areÏdefects€in€the€structure€of€the€trial€mechanism€defy€harmless€error€analysis.ðð€€He€alsoÏcites€òòTumey€v.€Ohioóó,€œ273›€U.S.€510,€535,€47€S.€Ct.€437,€71€L.Ed.749€(1927),€in€whichÏthe€United€States€Supreme€Court€held€that€where€a€court€has€a€financial€interest€in€itsÏdecision,€the€harmless€error€standard€does€not€apply.€€The€petitioner€asserts€that€theÏjudicial€corruption€surrounding€Judge€Gray€at€the€time€of€his€trial€so€infected€theÏintegrity€of€the€judicial€process€that€he€should,€òòperóó€òòseóó,€be€granted€a€new€trial€by€anÏimpartial€and€disinterested€judge.ÌÌà àIn€its€memorandum€in€support€of€its€order€dismissing€the€post„convictionÏpetition,€the€trial€court€concluded€that€after€reading€the€transcript€of€the€trialÏproceedings€it€found€that€Judge€Grayððs€exercise€of€discretion€had€not€beenÏinappropriate€or€had€not€unfairly€prejudiced€the€petitioner.€€It€noted€that€while€thereÏwas€valid€evidence€that€Judge€Gray€had€been€performing€official€acts€for€personalÏmotive,€and€that€his€abuses€of€office€had€been€known€to€law€enforcement€authorities,Íthe€facts€did€not€necessarily€suggest€that€Gray€had€acted€improperly€in€this€case.€€AsÏstated€previously,€the€court€emphasized€that€the€defendant€had€been€found€guilty€by€aÏjury,€that€the€petitioner€had€been€represented€by€two€preeminent€criminal€defenseÏattorneys,€and€that€this€court€had€reviewed€the€petitionerððs€convictions€and€theÏsentences€and€had€found€them€to€be€correct€and€appropriate.€€However,€even€inÏfinding€no€prejudice,€it€went€on€to€conclude€that€the€petitionerððs€failure€to€raise€timelyÏthe€alleged€impropriety€constituted€waiver.€€ÌÌà àWhile€this€court€wholeheartedly€agrees€with€the€petitionerððs€position€thatÏJudge€Grayððs€conduct€directed€toward€defendants€from€whom€he€solicited€bribes€wasÏillegal€and€that€the€Due€Process€Clause€of€the€Fourteenth€Amendment€of€the€UnitedÏStates€Constitution€guarantees€every€defendant€the€right€to€a€fair€trial€with€aÏdisinterested€and€impartial€trial€judge,€we€must€agree€with€the€trial€court€that€theÏpetitioner€in€this€case€waived€any€right€to€challenge€the€partiality€of€the€trial€judge.ÏT.R.A.P.€36(a),€in€pertinent€part,€states€that€ð ð[n]othing€in€this€rule€shall€be€construed€inÏrequiring€relief€be€granted€to€a€person€responsible€for€an€error€or€who€failed€to€takeÏwhatever€action€was€reasonably€available€to€prevent€or€nullify€the€harmful€effect€of€anÏerror.ðð€€In€òòState€v.€Simerlyóó,€612€S.W.€2d€196,€197€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1980),€this€courtÏconcluded€that€even€constitutional€issues€could€not€be€considered€on€appeal€whenÏthere€was€no€contemporaneous€objection€and€they€were€not€presented€in€the€motionÍfor€a€new€trial.€€Adopting€language€from€òòHill€v.€Stateóó,€513€S.W.2d€142,€143€(Tenn.ÏCrim.€App.€1974),€the€court€quoted€the€following:ÌÓ  ÓÓÓà8 àð ðWhile€recognizing€the€authority€that€holds€constitutionalÏquestions€may€be€raised€at€any€time,€we€believe€that€ruleÏapplies€only€to€fundamental€constitutional€defects€in€theÏconvicting€process€not€waived€or€not€subject€to€waiver.€€ToÏapply€the€rule€to€questions€of€evidence€admissibility€wouldÏundercut€the€very€function€of€the€trial€process,€for€if€it€wouldÏbecome€a€tactical€matter€of€defense€to€allow€a€bit€ofÏconstitutionally€inadmissible€evidence€into€the€record,€in€theÏhope€for€an€acquittal€but€secure€in€the€knowledge€that€aÏnew€trial€would€result...€Search€and€seizure,€fifthÏamendment,€due€process,€equal€protection,€right€to€counsel,Ïor€one€of€the€many€constitutional€provisions€lies€at€theÏbottom€of€most€trial€proceeding€questions.€€ò òWe€cannotÏsay€that€constitutional€questions€enjoy€anÏimmunity€from€not€being€raised€at€the€trial€withoutÏby€so€doing€destroying€the€trial€process€itself.ó óððÌÌÓ  ÓÓÓòòState€v.€Simerlyóó,€612€S.W.2d€at€197€(emphasis€added).Ìà àà àÌà àIn€òòHolmes€v.€Easonóó,€76€Tenn.€754€(1882),€our€supreme€court€held€that€aÏjudgment€rendered€by€a€justice€of€the€peace€who€was€related€to€one€of€the€partiesÏwithin€the€prohibited€degree,€without€objection€made€by€the€other€party€on€that€ground,Ïwas€not€void€but€merely€voidable.€€The€court€reasoned€that€an€objection€should€beÏmade€before€trial,€ð ð[f]or€otherwise,€the€parties€would€be€allowed€to€experiment€with€theÏcourt€by€tacit€acquiescence,€and€raise€the€objection€when€the€result€of€the€trial€provedÏto€be€unfavorable.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€756„57.ÌÌà àWe€agree€with€the€above€rationale.€€In€the€case€at€bar,€the€petitioner€didÏnot€inform€his€attorneys€of€the€bribe€solicitation€until€the€case€was€on€appeal,Ïsupposedly€because€he€feared€the€anger€of€his€attorneys€and€the€fact€that€they€mightÏwithdraw€from€his€case.€€Had€the€issue€been€raised€immediately€after€the€firstÏsolicitation€attempt,€a€motion€for€recusal€would€have€been€appropriate.€€Instead,€theÏpetitioner€waited€to€come€forth€with€this€complaint€until€the€motion€for€new€trial€hadÏbeen€heard€and€denied€and€the€proceedings€were€in€the€appellate€stage.€€A€plausibleÏinference€from€the€petitionerððs€delay€in€raising€this€issue€is€that€he€was€contemplatingÏraising€the€money.€€By€not€contesting€the€partiality€of€the€trial€court€immediately,€theÏpetitioner€may€have€been€keeping€his€options€open,€realizing€that€if€he€received€anÏunfavorable€verdict€and€sentence,€he€could€raise€the€issue€on€appeal€and€obtain€aÏnew€trial.ÌÌà àWhile€recognizing€the€critical€importance€of€maintaining€the€integrity€ofÏour€criminal€justice€system,€we€cannot€accept€the€petitionerððs€argument€that€even€afterÏfailing€to€raise€his€claim€timely,€his€convictions€should€be€vacated€and€he€should€beÏgranted€a€new€trial.€€Rather,€as€we€have€previously€stated,€we€hold€that€the€petitionerÏwaived€his€right€to€raise€this€issue€at€this€time.€ÌÌÓ  Óò òCONCLUSIONó óÌÓ  Óà àIn€consideration€of€the€foregoing€and€the€records€of€the€original€trial,€theÏdirect€appeal,€and€the€post„conviction€proceeding,€we€conclude€that€the€evidence€inÍthe€record€on€appeal€preponderates€against€the€trial€courtððs€conclusion€that€theÏpetitioner€had€not€proven€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence€his€allegation€that€heÏwas€solicited€for€a€bribe€by€the€trial€court€and€its€officer.€€However,€we€further€concludeÏthat€the€petitioner€has€waived€his€right€to€raise€this€issue€at€this€time.€€Accordingly,€theÏjudgment€of€the€trial€court€in€its€denial€of€post„conviction€relief€is€affirmed.€ÌÌÓ6Óà àà àà àà àà àà àòòÌà àà àà àà àà àà àóó_____________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àJoseph€M.€Tipton,€JudgeÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ___________________________òòÌóóDavid€H.€Welles,€JudgeÌÌÌ___________________________òòÌóóStephen€M.€Bevil,€Special€JudgeòòÌà àà àà àà àóó€ÌÌ€€€€€€€Ìà àà à€€€€ÌÌÌ€€€ÌÌà àà à€ÌÌà àà àÌÌ€ÌÌà à€à à€ÌÌà à€€€Ì€€€à àÌÌà à€€Ìà àÌà àÌÌà àÌà à