Opinion ID: 1163481
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Denial of the motion to continue

Text: Defendant claims the court erred in denying his motion to continue the sentencing hearing. We review denials of continuances only for abuse of discretion. State v. Amaya-Ruiz, 166 Ariz. 152, 164, 800 P.2d 1260, 1272 (1990). There is no abuse of discretion unless the court's actions substantially prejudiced the defendant. State v. Clabourne, 142 Ariz. 335, 342, 690 P.2d 54, 61 (1984). We consider all the circumstances of the case to decide if denial of a motion to continue violated a defendant's rights. Amaya-Ruiz, 166 Ariz. at 164, 800 P.2d at 1272. There was no error in denying the continuance. The judge made it clear from the outset that defense counsel was responsible for ensuring Dr. Tatro's presence when the state's expert testified. Defense counsel knew in advance that Dr. Tatro might not be available on the hearing's second day. He could have but did not ask the court to schedule the first day's witnesses accordingly. Moreover, defense counsel requested a continuance of at least six days when Dr. Bayless was present and prepared to proceed. Considering all these factors, the judge acted well within the latitude that trial courts need to manage their dockets. There is also no evidence of prejudice to Defendant. Defendant's appointed experts submitted written reports and testified at length in his behalf. Cf. Eastlack, 180 Ariz. at 260-64, 883 P.2d at 1016-20. Dr. Bayless did not actually examine Defendant. His testimony was limited to criticizing Dr. Tatro's findings. The state gave a copy of Dr. Bayless' report to defense counsel two days before he testified, and defense counsel cross-examined Bayless at length, presumably having prepared by conferring with Dr. Tatro. The trial court, moreover, offered to provide a transcript of Dr. Bayless's testimony for Dr. Tatro to review and to entertain allowing him to testify later in rebuttal. Defendant's failure to call Dr. Tatro in rebuttal undermines any notion that Dr. Tatro's physical presence for cross-examination would have helped Defendant. There is simply nothing in the record indicating that Defendant was prejudiced. We find no error.