State v. Williams

581 P.2d 1290, 91 N.M. 795
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 5, 1978
Docket3455
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 581 P.2d 1290 (State v. Williams) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Williams, 581 P.2d 1290, 91 N.M. 795 (N.M. Ct. App. 1978).

Opinion

OPINION

WOOD, Chief Judge.

Convicted of being an accessory to auto burglary, defendant appeals. We (1) answer certain issues summarily; discuss (2) attorneys as witnesses; and (3) interviewing witnesses.

Issues Answered Summarily

(a) Trial was within the extension granted by Judge Snead, who was designated by the Supreme Court to hear the petition for extension of time in which to try defendant. There was no violation of Rule of Crim.Proc. 37(b). Defendant claims that Judge Snead erred in granting the extension because “good cause” for the extension was not shown. We do not review this contention. In granting the extension, Judge Snead was acting for the Supreme Court. This Court has no authority to review actions of the Supreme Court. State v. Jaramillo, 88 N.M. 60, 537 P.2d 55 (Ct. App.1975).

(b) The information was filed April 28, 1977. The case was scheduled for trial on September 7, 1977. Because of the absence of witnesses, the State moved for a continuance. Defendant did not oppose the motion and a continuance was granted. Trial was then scheduled for October 27, 1977. On October 26, 1977' defendant moved to dismiss. This motion raised the issues discussed hereinafter in this opinion. This motion required an evidentiary hearing. Accordingly, Judge Snead vacated the trial setting of October 27, 1977 and granted the petition for extension referred to in paragraph (a) above. Trial on the merits began January 9, 1978. The case was tried approximately eight and one-half months after the information was filed. Defendant acquiesced in vacating the trial setting in September and, by the late filing of a motion requiring an evidentiary hearing, caused the vacation of the October trial setting. These circumstances do not show a violation of the right to a speedy trial. See State v. Tafoya, 91 N.M. 121, 570 P.2d 1148 (Ct.App.1977).

(c) As a part of the defense case, two witnesses testified as to defendant’s employment by them. Defendant tendered testimony from each witness that, in the opinion of the witness, the defendant was an honest person. Defendant asserts this testimony was improperly excluded. We assume the tendered testimony was admissible under Evidence Rules 404(a)(1) and 405(a), and that the trial court erred in excluding it. The error, however, was harmless because the evidence of defendant’s guilt was overwhelming. See State v. Bell, 90 N.M. 160, 560 P.2d 951 (Ct.App. 1977); State v. Self, 88 N.M. 37, 536 P.2d 1093 (Ct.App.1975).

(d) The refused instruction, of which defendant complains, would have instructed the jury on circumstantial evidence. Refusal was proper because such an instruction is not to be given. U.J.I. Crim. 40.01; State v. Bell, 90 N.M. 134, 560 P.2d 925 (1977).

(e) Issues listed in the docketing statement, but not briefed, are deemed abandoned. State v. Ortiz, 90 N.M. 319, 563 P.2d 113 (Ct.App.1977).

Attorneys as Witnesses

Defendant’s motion to dismiss (see paragraph (b) above) alleged that the district attorney’s office had “interferred [sic] with a full and proper preparation of this case by defense counsel.”

Defendant sought to call two prosecuting attorneys as witnesses in support of this motion. The prosecuting attorneys objected, pointing out that if called as witnesses, they would be disqualified from trying the case. See State v. McCuistion, 88 N.M. 94, 537 P.2d 702 (Ct.App.1975).

The trial court ruled it would accept the unsworn statements of counsel, that interrogation of counsel would be by the court, and if defense counsel was of the view that there should be further inquiry, he should inform the court.

Thereafter, various police officers were called as witnesses. After the conclusion of this testimony, the trial court questioned one of the prosecutors and one of the defense counsel. There is no distinction of significance in the unsworn answers of the two attorneys. The trial court was not requested to conduct any additional inquiry.

Defendant contends she was denied her constitutional right to a fair trial because the trial court refused to allow her to examine the prosecuting attorneys under oath. We disagree. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in proceeding as it did. State v. Hogervorst, 90 N.M. 580, 566 P.2d 828 (Ct.App.1977). Defendant did not request that the trial court conduct additional inquiry of the prosecutor who was questioned by the court, and there is no material difference between the statements of the prosecutor and the defense attorney.

Interviewing Witnesses

Testimony by police officers is to the effect that they would not consent to be interviewed by defense counsel in the absence of an attorney from the district attorney’s office. There is evidence that this was the policy of the police department, and there is evidence that this policy was placed in effect because of experience by police officers with “trick” questions by defense counsel in the past. There is evidence that the police department adopted this policy after discussions with the district attorney’s office, and that Mr. Rosenthal, a prosecutor, suggested that if the officers were being hassled by defense attorneys, that Rosenthal would go with the officers and that might take care of the problem.

In this case, several officers agreed to be interviewed by defense counsel, but only in the presence of an attorney from the district attorney’s office. Defense counsel originally agreed to such a condition, but subsequently changed his mind and can-celled the meetings with police officers that had been scheduled.

The “interference” claimed by defendant in the preparation of the case is the fact that police officers would not meet with defense counsel except in the presence of an attorney from the district attorney’s office. Defendant moved to dismiss the criminal charge on the basis of this alleged interference. She contends that denial of this motion was error because the alleged interference denied her the right to a fair trial and the effective assistance of counsel.

There are two aspects to this issue. One aspect involves the police officers, the second aspect involves the district attorney.

The police officer witnesses, not being under court order or other legal process, had the right to refuse to be interviewed and had the right to dictate the terms of the interview sought by defense counsel. Byrnes v. United States, 327 F.2d 825 (9th Cir. 1964). The police officers had no obligation to subject themselves to trick questions or hassling by defense counsel in voluntary interviews.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
581 P.2d 1290, 91 N.M. 795, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-williams-nmctapp-1978.