Opinion ID: 2089050
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Presence at all stages.

Text: The defendant contends that the June 13, 1966, proceedings at which the cases were ordered consolidated and at which neither he nor his attorney were present violated his constitutional right to be present at all stages of the proceedings against him. The defendant cites several cases as authority for this argument. It is not to be disputed that a defendant does have a right under art. I, sec. 7, Wisconsin Constitution, and the sixth amendment of the United States Constitution [1] to be present during his trial. This right to be present at the trial includes the right to be present at proceedings before trial at which important steps in a criminal prosecution are often taken. [2] However, this, as other constitutional rights, can be waived. We find such a waiver here from the repeated requests, known and acquiesced in by the defendant, for consolidation of the trial of the two charges against him with the one against Bowers. Furthermore, the court-ordered consolidation was clearly nonprejudicial and harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. [3]