Opinion ID: 110914
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Second Day of First Trial

Text: At the start of the second day of trial, on Friday, September 24, 1976, respondent again complained that Hotchkiss was not prepared. When the court expressed its confidence in Hotchkiss, respondent said: I don't mean he's not a good P. D., I don't have anything against him. It's just that he didn't have time to prepare the case, one day and a half. Id., at 18 (emphasis added). The trial judge again stated that he was satisfied that the case had been well prepared by Goldfine, and that Hotchkiss had been assigned to the case the previous week, had read the transcript of the preliminary hearing, and had prepared the case, reviewed all the matters, obtained the pictures, and other items that he intends to produce into evidence. Ibid. In conclusion, the trial judge stated: I am satisfied . . . that Mr. Hotchkiss is doing a more than adequate job, a very fine job. Id., at 18-19. When respondent continued to complain that Hotchkiss had not adequately investigated the case, Hotchkiss told the court: My feeling is that all investigation that needed to be done and that should be done and quite possibly that could have been done has been done. Id., at 21-22. Finally, Hotchkiss pointed out that he would have the weekend between the close of the prosecution's case and the beginning of the defense's case for further conferences with respondent. Id., at 22-23. At this time  on the second day of the first trial  respondent first mentioned Goldfine's name. After complaining again about Hotchkiss' alleged lack of time for preparation, respondent said: Mr. Harvey Goldfine was my attorney, he was my attorney, and he still is. I haven't seen him in five weeks because he's in the hospital. Id., at 24. Respondent then claimed that not even Goldfine had had enough time to prepare the case: Mr. Harvey Goldfine didn't even have enough time to go over my case with me, he didn't even have time. Ibid. Respondent concluded these remarks with additional complaints about Hotchkiss' preparation.