Opinion ID: 110914
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: First Day of First Trial

Text: The first trial began as scheduled on Thursday, September 23. At the opening of trial, respondent told the court: I only have this P. D. [Public Defender] for a day and a half, we have not had time to prepare this case. He came in Tuesday night, last Tuesday night was the first time I saw him.. . . We have not had enough time to prepare this case. App. 7. Construing respondent's remarks as a motion for a continuance, the court denied the motion, noting that the case had been assigned to Hotchkiss the previous Friday, six days before the trial date, and that Hotchkiss stated he had investigated the case, [and] studied it. Id., at 8. In reply, respondent repeated his claim that Hotchkiss had only been on the case for a day and a half. Respondent then stated: [T]his past Tuesday was the first time [Hotchkiss interviewed me.] He said he was busy and he couldn't make it up there. He only [sic] been on this case one day and a half your Honor, he can't possibly have had enough time to investigate all these things in this case. Some of the major issues have not been investigated. It's impossible for him to have time enough to take care of this case to represent this case properly, the way it should be represented. Ibid. Hotchkiss explained Goldfine's absence and stated that he was prepared to try the case on the basis of his study of the investigation made by Goldfine and his conferences with respondent. I feel that I am prepared. My own feeling is that a further continuance would not benefit me in presenting the case. Id., at 11. Respondent replied that he was  satisfied with the Public Defender, but it's just no way, no possible way, that he has had enough time to prepare this case. Id., at 12 (emphasis added). The trial judge repeated that he was confident that the Public Defender's Office was representing respondent adequately and that Hotchkiss was an experienced counsel; the court again denied a continuance. Id., at 9.