Title: State v. Collins

State: washington

Issuer: Washington Supreme Court

Document:

66 Wn.2d 71 (1965) 400 P.2d 793 THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, Respondent, v. MARY COLLINS et al., Appellants.[*] Nos. 37842, 37844. The Supreme Court of Washington, Department One. April 15, 1965. HUNTER, J. Mary Collins and Zadie White were charged in separate informations with the crime of vagrancy on two counts: (1) soliciting prostitution, and (2) being lewd, disorderly and dissolute. See RCW 9.87.010. The cases were consolidated for trial. Judgment was entered by the trial court against both defendants (appellants) upon a jury verdict of guilty on both counts. The defendants appeal. The defendants first contend that they were denied a fair trial by reason of the comments of the trial court directed *72 to the defense counsel and its adjudging him in contempt in the presence of the jury, (1) constituting a comment on the evidence in contravention of art. 4, § 16 of the Washington State Constitution, and (2) having the effect of denying counsel to the defendants in violation of the tenth amendment to our state constitution. This asserted error developed during the defense counsel's examination of C.O. Rolfson, one of the state's witnesses. The record shows that this witness was an undercover investigating officer for the office of the Attorney General of this state; that the investigation was being conducted as a result of the request of certain city councilmen of Pasco and the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney's office. The witness testified that after midnight on August 15, 1963, he and another investigator were in a tavern in East Pasco; that they were drinking beer at a table with one Mary Griffin and the two defendants; that while there, during a conversation, the defendants solicited them to engage in sexual intercourse; that the price was discussed, and lewd language was used. During the course of the examination, defense counsel attempted to question the witness concerning his testimony in a case the day before, relative to whether the city council and the prosecuting attorney had called him in to investigate the question of whether "pay-offs" were made to members of the Pasco Police Department. It was then that an objection was interposed by Mr. Hansen, an assistant attorney general for the state, and the following colloquy took place, during which, and subsequent thereto, the statements of the court upon which this claimed error is predicated by the defendants, were made in the presence of the jury: Later in the case, at the beginning of defense counsel's opening statement to the jury, the record shows the following occurred in the presence of the jury: Defendants urge that as a result of the statements of the court recited above, the court engendered in the minds of the jury that the officers were telling the truth, and that it was defending the state witnesses. We need not pass upon *74 the soundness of this argument as we are convinced the defendants are correct in their second ground of asserted error, that they were, by the court's statements, in effect, denied the right to counsel in contravention of the tenth amendment to our state constitution. [1] In State v. Levy, 8 Wn.2d 630, 643, 113 P.2d 306 (1941), we quoted with approval the following language from State v. Moneymaker, 100 Wash. 463, 171 Pac. 253 (1918): In State v. Phillips, 59 Wash. 252, 109 Pac. 1047, we stated: We are satisfied that the critical remarks directed to defense counsel, and his being adjudged in contempt of court, all in the presence of the jury, so effectively impaired *75 his usefulness as counsel as to contravene the right of an accused to counsel under the tenth amendment of our state constitution. We do not pass on whether the court's remarks would have been justified had they occurred in the absence of the jury, nor on whether defense counsel was properly adjudged in contempt. This is not properly before us. It appears to us, however, that in the instant case defense counsel successfully communicated to the jury his asserted theory of defense, contrary to the rulings of the court. Counsel contends he did not understand the court's ruling and that his violation, if any, was unintentional. Regardless of his intent, the error was nevertheless invited. We do not wish to indicate that circumstances may not be such that where there is invited error, and when, in order to preserve the decorum and a respect for the court, instant action is necessary, that such action may not be taken in the presence of the jury. State v. Levy, supra. We do not believe the action taken by the trial court in the presence of the jury was necessary in this case. [2] It is further contended that the trial court erred in denying the motion of defendant Zadie White to dismiss for insufficiency of the evidence. The record discloses that Zadie White was silent, for the most part, when the conversation between Rolfson, Mary Griffin, and Mary Collins took place. The extent of her statement there was, "Don't you want to have a good time?" On an occasion about two weeks later, two other state investigators, Russell and Jenkins, talked with the defendants while they were in a car parked outside an East Pasco restaurant. Investigator Russell testified that price was discussed and that Zadie White said, "Let's go have some fun; let's go and have a party." Under the circumstances present when the statements were made, the jury could justifiably have found that defendant Zadie White solicited prostitution. As to count two, upon the jury's finding Zadie White guilty of soliciting prostitution, it would then have been justified in finding her conduct to be that of a lewd, disorderly and dissolute *76 person. The court properly denied the motion for dismissal of the charges against her. Error is assigned to the following part of the court instruction No. 6, as it relates to Zadie White, which we will consider for the court's guidance on the retrial. Defense counsel argues there was no evidence in the record to support the giving of such an instruction as to Zadie White. We find the record is barren of vulgar language used by her. The instruction, therefore, was improper as to Zadie White. Error assigned to exclusion of evidence was not argued in the brief and will not be passed upon by this court. The judgment of the trial court is reversed, and the cause remanded for new trial for both defendants, Mary Collins and Zadie White, on the counts charged. ROSELLINI, C.J., HILL and HALE, JJ., and MAcIVER, J. Pro Tem., concur. [*] Reported in 400 P.2d 793.