Hartman v. State

292 N.E.2d 293, 155 Ind. App. 199, 1973 Ind. App. LEXIS 1206
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 7, 1973
Docket1-872A53
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 292 N.E.2d 293 (Hartman v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hartman v. State, 292 N.E.2d 293, 155 Ind. App. 199, 1973 Ind. App. LEXIS 1206 (Ind. Ct. App. 1973).

Opinion

Lowdermilk, J.

Appellant was charged with malicious trespass, assault with intent to kill, disorderly conduct, and resisting and interfering with a police officer. Trial was had by jury and appellant was found guilty of disorderly conduct, *200 resisting and interfering with a police officer, and committing bodily injury upon him. Judgment was rendered on the verdict, sentencing appellant to one to five years in prison and a fine in the amount of $1,000.00.

Defendant-appellant timely filed his Motion to Correct Errors which was overruled by the court and this appeal follows.

At arraignment, appellant waived his right to counsel and entered a plea of not guilty and demanded a jury trial. Subsequently, an attorney entered an appearance on behalf of appellant, but withdrew his appearance from the case on December 13, 1971, one day prior to the trial. On December 14, 1971, appellant appeared in court and declared that he was without counsel because of indigency. Judge Baker then appointed an attorney, who happened to be in the court room, to represent appellant. The judge gave the attorney and appellant “a few minutes” to discuss the case.

Appellant contends that he was denied the right to be represented by effective counsel, as guaranteed by the Indiana Constitution, Article 1, § 13, and the United States Constitution, Sixth Amendment as applied through the Fourteenth Amendment. See, Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), 372 U.S. 335, 83 S. Ct. 792, 9 L.Ed.2d 799. Appellant states that the court recognized his right to be represented by counsel but failed to see that the right was properly protected and implemented. Appellant points out that the mere appointment of counsel is not sufficient, but that to be effective counsel after appointment must be given the opportunity to adequately prepare the defendant’s case for trial. Appellant argues that the right to effective assistance of counsel is meaningless if that counsel does not have time to properly prepare and that such circumstances amount to the denial of the right to counsel. Appellant does not impugn the competency or sincerity of the counsel appointed by the court in this case, but contends that said counsel was ineffective because of the lack of time to prepare for trial.

*201 The right to counsel is fundamental to the American system of justice. This right necessarily embodies the corollary right to effective counsel. The Supreme Court of the United States, in the landmark case of Powell v. Alabama (1932), 287 U.S. 45, 53 S. Ct. 55, 77 L. Ed. 158, stated as follows:

“The prompt disposition of criminal cases is to be commended and encouraged. But in reaching that result a defendant, charged with a serious crime, must not be stripped of his right to have sufficient time to advise with counsel and prepare his defense. . . .
“As the court said in Commonwealth v. O’Keefe, 298 Pa. 169, 173; 148 Atl. 73:
“ ‘It is vain to give the accused a day in court, with no opportunity to prepare for it, or to guarantee him counsel without giving the latter any opportuinty to acquaint himself with the facts or law of the case. . . .’ ”

Appellant suggests that the trial court was making an honest effort to assure the defendant a speedy trial as guaranteed by the Constitution and to expedite the case. However, this commendable goal cannot be allowed to deny effective assistance of counsel, as shown by the quotation from Powell, supra.

Indiana courts have recognized the need for adequate preparation time for counsel in conjunction with the right to counsel. Our Supreme Court, in the case of Lloyd v. State (1960), 241 Ind. 192, 170 N.E.2d 904, after quoting extensively, with approval, from Powell, supra, stated as follows:

“. . . the constitutional right to counsel includes not only the right to representation by counsel during trial, but also prior thereto, in order that such counsel may be prepared for a ‘zealous and active’ defense. . . .
“On several occasions this court has been called upon to consider what period of time is adequate or sufficient for counsel to consult with the accused and investigate the facts and prepare for his defense. [Citing cases.] We do not here pretend to fix a minimum period of time which must be allowed by the court in every case between *202 the time of the appointment or employment of counsel and the commencement of trial. ... We do, however, hold that where the charge was murder, which carried the penalty of life imprisonment or life itself, a period of two and one-half hours (including the lunch period) was utterly insufficient for consultation, investigation and preparation for trial, resulting in a virtual denial of the appellant’s constitutional right to assistance of counsel.”

In the case of Hoy v. State (1947), 225 Ind. 428, 436, 75 N.E.2d 915, the court stated:

“. . . The right to counsel includes reasonable time for counsel to prepare for trial under the circumstances in each particular case if the right is to give a fair opportunity to safeguard the rights of a defendant charged with crime. The right to investigate and confer with witnesses as well as subpoena them is included in representation by counsel. ‘Compulsory process’ is vain if counsel has no time to make the right available.”

The court reaffirmed this fundamental principle in the case of Bradley v. State; Taylor v. State (1949), 227 Ind. 131, 84 N.E.2d 580, as follows:

“The fundamental right of a defendant in a criminal case to have competent counsel assist him in his defense carries with it as a necessary corollary, the right that such counsel shall have adequate time in which to prepare the defense.” [Citing cases.]

The court held that three days in that case was not sufficient time for the attorneys to adequately prepare a defense.

See, also, Rice v. State (1942), 220 Ind. 523, 44 N.E.2d 829; Sweet v. State (1954), 233 Ind. 160, 117 N.E.2d 745.

Appellee, State of Indiana, contends that appellant was not denied effective counsel. The State’s position is based principally on the doctrine of waiver. The State argues that appellant had the opportuinty to move for a continuance, refused to do so, and, thereby, waived his right.

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Bluebook (online)
292 N.E.2d 293, 155 Ind. App. 199, 1973 Ind. App. LEXIS 1206, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hartman-v-state-indctapp-1973.