State v. Kendall

481 P.2d 265, 107 Ariz. 28, 1971 Ariz. LEXIS 223
CourtArizona Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 25, 1971
DocketNo. 2039
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 481 P.2d 265 (State v. Kendall) 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. Kendall, 481 P.2d 265, 107 Ariz. 28, 1971 Ariz. LEXIS 223 (Ark. 1971).

Opinion

LOCKWOOD, Justice:

Defendant was charged with two counts of robbery, with two prior felony convictions. He was alleged to have robbed a Taco Bell restaurant, and to have had — as his accomplice — one James Hale who was also charged. Both were represented by the public defender, and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The prosecution decided to agree to Hale’s pleading guilty in order to testify against defendant Kendall. Since this ere[29]*29ated a conflict of interest, the public defender withdrew, and on January 27, 1969, John Beaver was appointed by the court to defend Kendall.

Trial was set for February 6th — ten days after Beaver’s appointment. Attorney Beaver examined the information and noted that Hale’s name was not endorsed thereon as a witness. Beaver pushed for a prompt trial and announced himself ready to defend his client on such short notice. On Monday, February 3rd the county attorney endorsed Hale’s name on the information, and Beaver learned of this on Tuesday, February 4th — two days before trial was to commence.

Beaver moved to bar Hale’s testimony pursuant to Rule XIII (e), Rules of Maricopa County Superior Court, 17 A.R.S.1 The court refused. Beaver then asked for a continuance, stating that his readiness to go to trial was based upon the belief that the court would not permit the county attorney to violate Rule XIII (e). The latter argued that the move to call Hale was no surprise to the defense. Beaver admitted that it was no surprise, but claimed that the court’s ruling that Hale would be permitted to testify, was a surprise. Defense counsel argued that he was not prepared to counter the state’s move, because there was insufficient time to investigate Hale and bring to the jury all possible information to impeach and discredit him as a witness. Beaver offered to go to trial at once if Hale’s testimony was omitted, but requested a continuance if it was not. The following colloquy preceded the commencement of the trial on February 6:

“Mr. Beaver:
“ * * * The County Attorney * * * endorsed him on Tuesday, before that— I think I mentioned to you, I said, 'Judge, I’m going to rely on the fact that he hasn’t endorsed him- yet.’ I think you commented * * *. ‘Well, the County Attorney hasn’t endorsed him yet, has he?’ And I said, ‘No, he hasn’t.’
"The Court: I said, “Why are you so hell bent to go to trial today?’ and I think your words to me were, ‘Well, they have made a deal with this co-defendant, and they have not endorsed him.’
“The Court: That is what you told me * * * so that I don't believe you were surprised.
* * * * * *
“Mr. Beaver: At this time I would respectfully ask this Court that you give me a continuance of two weeks on this case in order to prepare for the contingency which I was not prepared for, mainly the fact that James Edward Hale is now going to testify for the State * * *. When I said I was prepared — I had relied upon the fact that Mr. Hale was not endorsed on the information and that this Court would not grant the County Attorney’s motion * * *. I don’t think, under any * * * situation that I am prepared to go to trial today * * *.
“The Court: * * * I don’t believe that he was surprised, and therefore I deny his motion for a continuance.
♦ * * ♦ * *
“Mr. Beaver: I at least would like to give my man a fighting chance, Judge. I feel like I am going into Court today, and I don’t have a chance in the world * * *. I don’t have a chance to investigate and impeach the co-defendant at all.”

Following this, a number of other preliminary matters were argued, after which [30]*30defense counsel and the . county attorney got together and defendant pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, and the second count was dismissed, as was also the allegation of two prior convictions.

At the time of entering the guilty plea, the court questioned the defendant in some detail, bringing out that defendant knew his rights, that there were no promises or threats made, and that defendant knew the possible sentence, and that he actually did commit the crime. The court then made a finding that the guilty plea was voluntary,

and accepted it. At the sentencing, Mr. Beaver stated to the court:

“We arc realists, and Mr. Kendall is a realist, and I am a realist. He committed a robbery. He is willing to pay for it.”

The judge replied: “Mr. Kendall, the court has genuine compassion for you.” and sentenced the defendant to a prison term of eight to fifteen years.

The appeal brings up the related questions of whether it was error to refuse the request for a continuance, and whether such refusal left the defense without sufficient time to prepare its case, thus compelling a plea of guilty in the hopes of getting a reduced sentence.2

It is clear from the wording of the two rules that the trial court has some discretion in deciding whether to penalize the prosecution by refusing to let the witness testify, to penalize the defendant by forcing him to go to trial, or to take the middle course by allowing a continuance so that the defendant may prepare to meet the • threat of a new witness not endorsed on the information.

We have held that this decision is a matter for the trial court’s discretion. State v. Sherrick, 98 Ariz. 46, 402 P.2d 1. We have held that such decision by a trial court will not be disturbed on appeal .unless that court’s discretion was abused and the defendant prejudiced. State v. McWilliams, 103 Ariz. 500, 446 P.2d.229.

These decisions, however, permit review of the trial judge’s decision to determine whether there has been an abuse of discretion. State v. McWilliams, supra. In that case we said:

“The right of a criminal defendant to adequate and effective assistance of counsel is firmly established. Powell v. State of Alabama, 287 U.S. 45, 53 S.Ct. 55, 77 L.Ed. 158 * * *. Such a constitutional right necessarily includes the allowance to counsel of a ' reasonable time to prepare his defense * * *. ‘His right to have counsel and to have his counsel prepare his case for trial * * * is a substantial right, and to deny his counsel sufficient time in which to prepare his case is also the denial of a substantial right; and, under such circumstances, to have counsel appointed to represent him would be a meaningless formality and the granting of’ a barren right.’ ” (Emphasis in original.)

In the instant case the trial court seems to have felt that the defendant’s attorney was not surprised and knew the county attorney intended to use Hale’s testimony, and could have been preparing the case in accordance therewith in the few days that [31]*31he - had. between his appointment and his trial, even though he hoped the court would interpret Rule XIII (e) strictly and exclude the testimony of Hale.

From the record it appears that counsel for the defendant was diligent in representing his client.

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Related

State v. Kevil
527 P.2d 285 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1974)
Walker v. State
510 P.2d 1365 (Nevada Supreme Court, 1973)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
481 P.2d 265, 107 Ariz. 28, 1971 Ariz. LEXIS 223, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-kendall-ariz-1971.