Opinion ID: 2638434
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Denial of a daily transcript

Text: Defendant contends he was denied his constitutional rights to confrontation, due process and a fair trial by the trial court's ruling denying his counsel an opportunity to examine the daily transcript of Garrison's testimony on direct examination before they began their cross-examination. Considered together with the additional alleged errors of being denied full access to Garrison's psychiatric records, the prosecutor's deliberately not taking or producing notes of interviews with Garrison, and the trial court's denial of defendant's request to interview Garrison before trial (all addressed, ante, and found wanting), defendant contends he was unfairly surprised by Garrison's testimony on cross-examination. He also suggests that denial of the daily transcripts was for financial reasons, which he claims also violates his constitutional rights. We agree with respondent that the record does not support defendant's claim. The record shows that on completion of Garrison's direct examination, the defense asked to continue the proceedings until 1:30 p.m. the next day on the ground that the daily transcripts of Garrison's direct testimony would not be available until 9:00 a.m. The trial court simply denied the request. The determination of whether a continuance should be granted rests within the sound discretion of the trial court, although that discretion may not be exercised so as to deprive the defendant or his attorney of a reasonable opportunity to prepare. ( People v. Sakarias (2000) 22 Cal.4th 596, 646, 94 Cal.Rptr.2d 17, 995 P.2d 152.) Defendant does not explain how the trial court's ruling deprived him of a reasonable opportunity to prepare. Accordingly, we reject the argument that the court's ruling violated his constitutional rights.