Opinion ID: 1165079
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Refusal to Appoint Investigator and Chemist at State's Expense

Text: In pursuit of his contention that it was reversible error for the court to deny the appellant the use at State expense of a chemist and private investigator, appellant claims that this refusal violated various provisions of the Constitutions of this State and of the United States including the due process and equal protection provisions. We cannot reach these contentions. It would be entirely improper to explore the constitutionality of the court's order because of the manner in which it is presented. Constitutional questions are too important to be answered unless fully and properly presented. Salt Creek Transportation Co. v. Public Service Commission, 37 Wyo. 488, 263 P. 621 (1928), cited with approval in Johnson v. Schrader, Wyo., 507 P.2d 814, 819 (1973). It is necessary that the constitutional questions be specifically phrased and completely argued before it would be proper for this court to pass upon them. Doe v. Burk, Wyo., 513 P.2d 643, 645 (1973), and cases cited. Appellant has failed to do this, and we will not explore this area of asserted constitutional violations. The statutes upon which appellant relies in raising this claim are: § 7-1-108. Definitions. (a) As used in this act:       (iv) `Needy person' means a person who at the time his need is determined is unable to provide for the full payment of an attorney and all other necessary expenses of representation; § 7-1-110. Right to attorney; cost; other rights. (a) A needy person who is being detained by a law enforcement officer, or who is under formal charge of having committed, or is being detained under a conviction of, a serious crime, is entitled: (i) To be represented by an attorney to the same extent as a person having his own counsel is so entitled; and (ii) To be provided with the necessary services and facilities of representation (including investigation and other preparation). By virtue of the statutes there are two factual questions posed to the trial court for its disposal, i.e., is the defendant an indigent person under the statutes, and are the services necessary? These questions must rest in the sound discretion of the trial judge. State v. Knapp, 114 Ariz. 531, 562 P.2d 704, 713 (1977), certiorari denied 435 U.S. 908, 98 S.Ct. 1458, 55 L.Ed.2d 500 (1978); Collins v. State, 14 Md. App. 674, 288 A.2d 221, 224 (1972); State v. Campbell, 210 Kan. 265, 500 P.2d 21, 29 (1972); Brown v. District Court, 189 Colo. 469, 541 P.2d 1248 (1975). A clear statement for the reasons that this be left to the court's discretion appears in Magley v. State, 263 Ind. 618, 335 N.E.2d 811, 816 (1975), where the court said: ... A wealthy person may hire any number of people to aid in his defense, needlessly, or on a whim, or foolishly, and the State does not control his expenditures. But, when the court is allocating state funds for the defense of a defendant, it is rational for the court to use discretion in granting or denying the defendant's requests for additional personnel to aid him. Within the primary goal of the judicial process, which is due process of law for each defendant, the court may determine which expenses are probably needless, wasteful, or extravagant. The record shows that the appellant in this case was represented by retained counsel both at the trial and upon this appeal. A further examination of the record does not reveal any of the evidence produced at the hearing on these motions. There is nothing in this record which would support any conclusions that the appellant was a needy person or that services were necessary and proper. Appellant did, in an apparent attempt to make this a part of the record, file an instrument entitled Statement of Evidence When Transcript Is Unavailable. This was filed in reliance on Rule 4.03, W.R.A.P., but was stricken by this court because of the failure of appellant to comply with the conditions of this rule. Where, as here, the trial judge has not approved the statement of the record of evidence, this court cannot reach the issues. Petersen v. State, Wyo., 594 P.2d 978, 980 (1979). Absent evidence upon which this court could make any determination of this question it is apparent that appellant cannot predicate error upon this basis. There is nothing in the record upon which this court might make any disposition of this matter and it would be demonstrably improper and violative of basic and fundamental appellate rules to determine that the trial court had abused its discretion absent some evidence. This court said in Martinez v. State, Wyo., 611 P.2d 831, 838 (1980): A court does not abuse its discretion unless it acts in a manner which exceeds the bounds of reason under the circumstances. In determining whether there has been an abuse of discretion, the ultimate issue is whether or not the court could reasonably conclude as it did. This demonstrates the necessity of evidence to dispose of any contention that there has been any such abuse. In his disposal thereof, the trial court by his letter held that the appellant had failed to prove the necessity or reasonableness of the expenses for the employment of the chemist or investigator.