Opinion ID: 2585495
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Belden's Absence From in camera Conference

Text: [¶ 49] During the prosecutor's closing argument, defense counsel objected to his characterization of a witness' testimony. The trial court excused the jury and directed the court reporter to read the witness' testimony. The transcript indicates that Belden left the room and was not present during the conference on the objection. On appeal, Belden claims that his absence from the hearing meant he was deprived of his constitutional right to be present at all critical stages of the trial.
[¶ 50] An accused has the right to be present during every stage of the criminal proceeding that is critical to the outcome if his presence would contribute to the fairness of the procedure. The Sixth Amendment and the due process clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution guarantee this right. Seeley v. State, 959 P.2d 170, 177 (Wyo.1998). The right of the accused to be present at the critical stages of a trial is also explicitly guaranteed by Wyoming law. Wyo. Const. art. 1, § 10; Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-11-202 and W.R.Cr.P. 43(a). The question of whether a defendant had the right to be present at a specific phase of his trial is an issue of law and, as such, is subject to de novo review. Seeley, 959 P.2d at 175. A deprivation of the right to be present at all critical stages of a trial is subject to harmless error analysis. Seeley, 959 P.2d at 178; Arizona v. Fulminante, 499 U.S. 279, 306-10, 111 S.Ct. 1246, 1263-65, 113 L.Ed.2d 302 (1991); United States v. Gomez, 67 F.3d 1515, 1528 (10th Cir.1995); Luu v. People, 841 P.2d 271, 273-75 (Colo.1992).
[¶ 51] The record is silent as to why Belden was absent during the conference on the objection to the prosecutor's closing argument. The transcript simply notes that Belden left the room. Belden contends that the conference was an important part of the trial proceedings and his exclusion prejudiced him and deprived him of a right to a fair trial. Belden suggests that had he been present, he could have: offered suggestions on other times the disputed testimony may have arisen during trial; asked for an explanation of the proceedings and its significance; and conferred with his counsel on the appropriate course of action. [¶ 52] A defendant's right to be present during trial proceedings is not absolute. People v. Starks, 287 Ill.App.3d 1035, 223 Ill.Dec. 313, 679 N.E.2d 764, 768-69 (3 Dist.1997). A defendant's presence is not required when it `would be useless, or the benefit but a shadow.' Seeley, 959 P.2d at 177 (quoting Snyder v. Com. of Mass., 291 U.S. 97, 106-07, 54 S.Ct. 330, 332-33, 78 L.Ed. 674 (1934)). We have held that a defendant's presence is not required at a conference or argument upon a question of law. Lobatos v. State, 875 P.2d 716, 724 (Wyo.1994). In addition, the defendant's absence can be harmless if the issue is not one on which counsel would be likely to consult the defendant, or it is not one for which the defendant, if consulted, would be likely to have an answer that would sway the judge. United States v. Rodriguez, 67 F.3d 1312, 1316 (7th Cir.1995). A short absence can be insignificant, especially if the defendant's counsel is present throughout the proceedings. United States v. Harris, 908 F.2d 728, 739-40 (11th Cir.1990). [¶ 53] Assuming for purposes of our review that Belden's absence deprived him of his constitutional right to be present, we do not find any prejudice. While the record is silent as to why Belden was absent from the conference, there is no indication that the absence was anything but voluntary. Furthermore, the absence was for a brief period of time. The conference was concerned with the propriety of the prosecutor's closing argument. Belden fails to convince us that his presence during this conference could have had any appreciable effect on the outcome of his trial. There is nothing to indicate that Belden possessed any special information on the question before the trial court that his counsel did not or that his presence could have altered the judge's decision on the objection in any way. If we assume Belden's absence constituted a deprivation of a constitutional right, the error was harmless.