Municipal Court of Phoenix v. Waldron

754 P.2d 1365, 157 Ariz. 90, 1988 Ariz. App. LEXIS 5
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedJanuary 19, 1988
DocketNo. 1 CA-CIV 9356
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 754 P.2d 1365 (Municipal Court of Phoenix v. Waldron) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Municipal Court of Phoenix v. Waldron, 754 P.2d 1365, 157 Ariz. 90, 1988 Ariz. App. LEXIS 5 (Ark. Ct. App. 1988).

Opinion

EUBANK, Judge.

The single issue raised in this appeal is whether a criminal defendant can waive his right to consult privately with counsel by failing to request a private consultation. The City of Phoenix appeals a special action to the superior court in which the defendant, John Waldron, sought and was granted relief from the municipal court’s denial of his motion to dismiss the DWI charges. We have jurisdiction pursuant to A.R.S. § 12-120.21(A)(1) and Rule 8(a), Rules of Procedure for Special Actions. See Zarate v. Jennings, 17 Ariz.App. 401, 498 P.2d 475 (1972).

The facts are undisputed. John Waldron was arrested by Officer Maclver on February 25, 1986 for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, in violation of A.R.S. § 28-692(A). He transported Mr. Waldron to the Maryvale Police Station for processing. At the station, Mr. Waldron refused to take the breathalyzer test and requested to be allowed to telephone his attorney. The record is clear that Mr. Wal-dron did not know the name of his attorney, was not able to locate the name of his [91]*91attorney in the telephone book, and could not properly dial the telephone. Officer Maclver testified:

Q: Was he able to make phone calls?
A: Not unassisted, no.
Q: Could you explain what you mean by that?
A: Sure. We had him in that caged holding area and as Officer Kohl stated in his testimony, there was a — there is a phone on the wall and it’s a — it’s a Mountain Bells phone that’s — it’s a toll call only, either with a — with a calling card or by accepting reverse charges and he wasn’t able to operate the phone and, and obtain any success in calling anyone.
Q: What do you mean he wasn’t able to operate the phone?
A: Well, he tried to dial information and he tried to dial the number and he, he wasn’t able to, to get an outside line.
Q: Did you attempt to assist him in operating that phone?
A: I explained to him how to do it but I didn’t actually go into the area and, and help him with that phone.
Q: After you explained to him how to operate the phone was he able to operate the phone?
A: No.
Q: Well, what did you do then?
A: I, I asked him why didn’t he come on out here with me and, and sit next to me and I’d, I’d — instead of calling the operator each time tryin’ to make a toll call, he could just dial direct.
Q: Then what did you do?
A: I, I brought him out of the cage and he sat right next to me and we go — went and found a phone book and I gave it to him to look for his attorney.
Q: Did he indicate that that’s what he wanted you to do, is to help him?
A: Yes, he asked for — he, he tried to find his attorney and finally pushed the book away and so I, I said I’ll try if you’d like and he said yeah, go ahead.
Q: When you brought him out of the holding cage where he’d been unsuccessful in using the telephone, did he come willingly?
A: Yes.
Q: And that was the point that you offered to help — .
A: Yes.
Q: Can you tell me what the specific nature of your assistance was to Mr. Waldron as far as using the telephone?
A: I dialed the number.
Q: Did he give you the number?
A: No, we had to look it up in the phone book.
Q: Did you look it up or did he look it up?
A: I looked it up when he finally came up with the right name.
Q: After he — you indicated that he was successful finally in talking to his attorney. Is that right?
A: Yes, he did talk to his attorney.
Q: And you were aware that he was talking to his attorney?
A: Yes.
Q: Did his attorney ever request to talk to you?
A: I don’t recall. I don’t re — I don’t know if he requested of him. I, I don’t recall talking to his attorney.
Q: Did Mr. Waldron ever ask that his conversation with his attorney be private?
A: No.
Q: At any time during your period of contact with Mr. Waldron, did he ever request a private phone call with his attorney?
A: No, he did not.
Q: Apparently during the period of time when he was talking to his attorney, you were somewhere nearby. Is that correct?
A: Yes.
Q: Roughly how far away were you?
A: I’d say two feet.
Q: Did you listen to the substance of the conversation?
A: No, I did not.

[92]*92During their conversation, the attorney asked Waldron if other people could hear the conversation to which Waldron responded “yes.” He then told Waldron that it was better that they not speak at that time but that Waldron should call him as soon as he was bailed out. The record is clear that neither Waldron nor his attorney asked the police officers to step away so that they could have a private conversation. Both police officers testified that they neither listened to the conversation nor took notes of it. Maclver did testify, however, that if he had heard something incriminating, he would probably have used it in his investigation.

Waldron filed a motion to dismiss the charges, alleging that he had been denied his right to consult privately with his attorney. After an evidentiary hearing, the municipal judge denied the motion, stating that the defendant has an obligation to request a private consultation. Waldron then filed a special action in superior court, which accepted jurisdiction and ordered the municipal court to dismiss the charges. The superior court judgment stated:

THIS COURT FINDS that the plaintiff was deprived of his right to consult with counsel in private.
THIS COURT FURTHER FINDS that Plaintiff does not have to invoke his right to privacy while talking to his attorney.
THIS COURT FURTHER FINDS that the right to privacy was inherent in the right to counsel once that right is provided to a defendant.
THIS COURT FURTHER FINDS that had the plaintiff or his counsel requested privacy, no facilities were available to facilitate such a request.

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Bluebook (online)
754 P.2d 1365, 157 Ariz. 90, 1988 Ariz. App. LEXIS 5, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/municipal-court-of-phoenix-v-waldron-arizctapp-1988.