State v. Bowen

449 P.2d 603, 104 Ariz. 138, 34 A.L.R. 3d 1246, 1969 Ariz. LEXIS 224
CourtArizona Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 23, 1969
Docket1585
StatusPublished
Cited by47 cases

This text of 449 P.2d 603 (State v. Bowen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Arizona Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Bowen, 449 P.2d 603, 104 Ariz. 138, 34 A.L.R. 3d 1246, 1969 Ariz. LEXIS 224 (Ark. 1969).

Opinion

KRUCKER, Judge,

Court of Appeals.

The defendant was charged with the crimes of rape and robbery upon informations filed in the Superior Court of Maricopa County on August 11, 1964, and alleging prior felony convictions. He was arraigned on August 17, 1964, entered a plea of not guilty, admitted the prior convictions, and did not waive the right to be tried within 60 days. Trial was set for October 1, 1964, with actual trial commencing October 14, 1964.

Both charges were consolidated for trial and the jury returned verdicts of guilty as to both. Defendant was sentenced to serve not less than 20 years nor more than 25 years in the Arizona State Prison for each offense, the sentences to run concurrently. 1

Defendant raises the following questions for review (we will discuss the facts as they relate to the specific question) : (1) Was it error to commence defendant’s trial 64 days after the filing of the informations? (2) Was it error for the State to refuse to provide to an indigent defendant either a blood test examination of sperm taken from the alleged victim, or the funds for such a test? (3) Was it error that a witness unintentionally disclosed that the defendant refused to submit to a polygraph examination ? (4) Was it error to question defendant as to prior convictions of robbery when he testified in his own behalf since he had admitted the prior convictions charged in the informations? (5) Was it error to deny defense counsel an opportunity to examine notes of the prosecuting attorney relating to a conversation with a key witness ?

DELAY OF TRIAL

The constitutional guarantee of a speedy trial, Arizona Constitution, Art. 2 § 24, A.R.S., is implemented by Rule 236, Rules of Criminal Procedure, 17 A.R.S., which provides for dismissal if trial is not had within 60 days after the information is filed.

The original trial date was October 1,. within the 60-day period. Defendant filed a motion challenging the qualifications of the jury panel on September 25, 1964. The motion was granted on October 6, resulting in a new jury panel being drawn and qualified.

Where a delay is beyond the 60-day period and is caused by defendant, dismissal is not required. As stated in State v. Pruett, 101 Ariz. 65, 415 P.2d 888 (1966) :

“An alleged denial of a speedy trial must be considered in light of the fact [sic] and circumstances of each case, Everett v. State, 88 Ariz. 293, 356 P.2d 394, and determined from a common sense viewpoint. * * * ” 101 Ariz., at 68, 415 P.2d, at 891.

See also, State v. Womack, 6 Ariz.App. 267, 431 P.2d 908 (1967). In State v. Churchill, 82 Ariz. 375, 313 P.2d 753 (1957), this Court held that before a defendant is entitled to an order of dismissal under Rule *140 236, Rules of Criminal Procedure, he must place himself under the spirit and intention of the Rule.

We held in Rojas v. Superior Court, 100 Ariz. 364, 414 P.2d 740 (1966), that Rule 236 does not apply where the delay was occasioned by the defendant, i. e., his challenge of the jury panel by motion filed just five days before the date set for trial.

BLOOD TEST EXAMINATION

In considering the question of whether an indigent defendant is entitled to State-furnished funds for expert testimony, tests, and other “paraphernalia of defense,” we appreciate that this is an ever-growing problem.

A sample of sperm, taken from the victim, was available at all times for testing. A test of this sperm and a subsequent test of the saliva and blood of the accused can be made, which, although unavailable as positive identification, may exclude the accused. Defendant made a pre-trial motion entitled “Motion for Appointment of Experts” so that an examination could be made, which was denied. He also made a motion at trial to dismiss and quash information because of the prejudice to him from not affording this expert testimony. This motion was also denied. Defendant now claims that the failure to give the test or provide funds for obtaining it was a denial of due process and equal protection of the law.

We note that the defendant at no time stipulated or agreed that the test results would be admissible or binding upon him if they indicated that the defendant fell within the class or the result would not be exclusionary.

It is ably argued that indigent defendants should be afforded expert testimony at State expense. People v. Watson, 36 Ill.2d 228, 221 N.E.2d 645 (1966) (handwriting expert in a forgery case); Ambassador Goldberg, Equality and Governmental Action, James Madison Lecture, copyrighted by New York University School of Law, p. 18 (February 11, 1964) ; Report of Attorney General’s Committee on Poverty and the Administration of Criminal Justice, p. 12 (1963).

This Court has never held that an indigent is entitled to experts at State expense, and no Arizona authority is cited to this effect. In State v. Crose, 88 Ariz. 389, 357 P.2d 136 (1960), it was held that an indigent defendant who had entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity was not entitled to have medical experts appointed at State expense to assist him in his defense.

More recently, the Court of Appeals of this State, Division One, held that A.R.S. § 13-1621.01 requires the court to appoint a psychiatrist prior to the trial, San Miguel v. McCarthy, 8 Ariz.App. 323, 446 P.2d 22 (1968). This holding was the result of an express provision of a statutory enactment by the legislature in 1968. In State v. Superior Court In and For Pima County, 2 Ariz.App. 458, 409 P.2d 742 (1966), (review denied, March 1, 1966), it was held that the rights of an indigent defendant to equal protection of the law and due process of law imposed no duty on the county to pay for the services of a medical doctor who examined the defendant and testified at his trial as an expert concerning chronic alcoholism; and in State v. Superior Court In and For Pima County, 2 Ariz.App. 466, 409 P.2d 750 (1966), (review denied, February 23, 1966), it was held that the superior court had no inherent power to pay expenses incurred in defense of an indigent defendant.

Until the power of the courts to order payment of defense experts is authorized by appropriate legislation, we cannot judicially legislate to enlarge the scope of the term “counsel” to encompass expert testimony.

REFERENCE TO POLYGRAPH

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Bluebook (online)
449 P.2d 603, 104 Ariz. 138, 34 A.L.R. 3d 1246, 1969 Ariz. LEXIS 224, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-bowen-ariz-1969.