Opinion ID: 1152586
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: conduct of proceedings outside the presence of the defendant

Text: No important proceeding regarding a criminal trial may be held without the presence of the defendant or his counsel. Strickland v. State, 477 So.2d 1347 (Miss. 1985); Allen v. State, 384 So.2d 605 (Miss. 1980). Both need not be present; where the defendant is represented by counsel, the attorney may represent the defendant at any critical stage in the proceedings, and the defendant's absence will not violate his constitutional rights. Ford v. State, 170 Miss. 459, 155 So. 220 (1934). An exception to this general rule is where the presence of the defendant is necessary to prevent prejudice to him. That exception was recognized in Myers v. State, 254 So.2d 891 (Miss. 1971), where the Court held that a hearing on the defense attorney's motion to withdraw as counsel required the defendant's presence. Bobby Caldwell cites several instances in his motion where matters were argued by attorneys for both sides outside his presence. He claims that he was prejudiced thereby; however, he does not cite a single instance in his motion in which his presence would have made a difference. Caldwell has not asserted that he could have interjected additional information which would have resulted in different results in those proceedings, nor has he indicated, in any way, that consultation with his counsel during those proceedings would have been beneficial. Since Bobby Caldwell was represented adequately by defense counsel at these proceedings, and since he has not demonstrated prejudice resulting from his absence, we find this assertion to be without merit.