Opinion ID: 1384715
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: counsel at arraignment when plea is entered

Text: In Deckert v. State, No. 86-34, dismissed July 27, 1987, occasion was initially afforded to discuss this subject in detail which, for whatever reason, was not again briefed in this appeal. After commutation, the Deckert appeal was dismissed without published opinion. Except to illuminate the events portrayed in procedural travail of this record, the defect will not be comprehensively analyzed since further opportunity will likely be utilized in another of these grand jury appeals to evaluate this incomprehensible violation of both constitutional imperatives and the specific provision of Rule 6, W.R.Cr.P. requiring assignment of counsel to represent him at every stage of the proceedings from his initial appearance before the commissioner or the court through appeal, unless he waives such appointment. After indictment on June 25, 1985, arrest on June 26, and arraignment with five other persons on June 27, the following occurred: THE COURT: Tammy Burke? DEFENDANT BURKE: Yes. In general address to the group: And if you plead not guilty and you are questioned or asked to be questioned, you may refuse to answer as any answers you give can and may be used against you. During any questioning you may stop answering at any time. And I would advise you that if you do answer questions you should first consult with an attorney.       THE COURT: Miss Burke, you are charged with a violation of Section 35-7-1031(a)(ii). The trial court then comprehensively advised her about the statute and the aiding-and-abetting statute, § 6-1-201(a), W.S. 1977, and then said: So, if you are convicted of both counts or plead guilty to both counts you could receive a maximum penalty of up to 20 years and a $20,000 fine.  In addition, you could be required to make restitution for your court-appointed attorney, if you have one; you could be required to pay the costs of prosecution, and to make restitution, if there is any. Do you understand that? DEFENDANT BURKE: Yes, sir. (Emphasis added.) Thereafter, she was extensively questioned about income and assets in the open-court session in a manner which was essentially negative. [1] In regard to the appearance bond, the county attorney stated and the trial court advised with reference to appointed counsel: MR. MURRAY: Let me back up, if I can, Your Honor. On Miss Burke, her ties with the community are somewhat tenuous. And I think that in this particular set of circumstances, in light of the fact that she's unemployed and really has no ties to the community, her husband is out of state, we would be requesting a cash or corporate surety bond on Miss Burke.       Mr. Murray, would you come up to the bench for a moment. (At which time the court and Mr. Murray met at the bench.) THE COURT: It's my intention to then assign attorneys to those of you, as I said, that need to have attorneys. [ Tammy Burke was not included. ] The rest of you I'm going to give you some time to get an attorney. And I'm going to tentatively set a date at which time you will return to court and enter your plea, rather than request you to do so today without having consulted with an attorney. And I see that we still have someone from the public defender's office present. Mr. Rosenthal, have you spoken with your director about the possibility of sending some help up to take care of these cases? MR. ROSENTHAL: Yes, I have, Your Honor. THE COURT: And what was his response? MR. ROSENTHAL: We'll have to take care of it initially ourselves, but we will be getting some help later. THE COURT: All right. For trials and those sorts of things? MR. ROSENTHAL: Right. THE COURT: Mr. Rosenthal, if I started setting some of these down within about 8 to 10 days for pleas, are you going to be able to consult with some of these people? MR. ROSENTHAL: We would hope so, yes. THE COURT: Thank you.       Miss Burke, you are also given 10 days to have an attorney enter an appearance, and your plea hearing is also set at, yours is set at 8:15 on Monday, July 8th. Mr. Boykin, Mr. Cusson, Mr. Blanchard, and Miss Barnett, the public defender is represented  or is appointed to represent each of you. [ But not Tammy Burke. ] And your cases are all set for 8:30, Friday, 8:30 in the morning, Friday, July 5th. At that time you can enter your pleas in these cases. Mr. Boykin, and Miss Barnett, and Mr. Blanchard, the three of you are all released on a $50,000 unsecured bond. Considering the absence of any resources and the decision that she would not be released, the disinclination of the trial court at that time to appoint an attorney is not understood. Hoskins v. State, Wyo., 552 P.2d 342, 350, reh. denied 553 P.2d 1390 (1976), cert. denied 430 U.S. 956, 97 S.Ct. 1602, 51 L.Ed.2d 806 (1977); State v. Henry, supra, 733 S.W.2d 127. Thereafter, on July 8, Tammy Burke, having remained in jail without having arranged for bond, was again taken before the trial court. THE COURT: Looks like we have Miss Burke up here first so we'll begin with that case. Court is in session in criminal No. 2052, State of Wyoming versus Tammy Burke. Miss Burke, are you presently under the influence of alcohol or drugs? THE DEFENDANT: No, sir. THE COURT: Do you have any mental defect which would impair your ability to understand these proceedings? THE DEFENDANT: No, sir. THE COURT: Are you the same Debbie  or Tammy Burke  excuse me  that appeared here on the 27th of June, 1985? THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir. After reinquiry about the charges with which she was faced, the trial court further examined the unrepresented defendant: THE COURT: Miss Burke, as I recall, I ordered you to have an attorney enter an appearance in this case before today, and I don't see that that has been done. Why is that? THE DEFENDANT: I have no idea, sir. I have been trying. THE COURT: Who have you talked to? THE DEFENDANT: Nobody yet, I guess. I have just been trying. I have been here for 12 days, and I haven't got nobody. THE COURT: Are you ready to enter a plea in this case? THE DEFENDANT: I can, sir, yes. THE COURT: All right. Why don't you please stand. To the charge that on the 18th day of January, 1985, in Campbell County, Wyoming, you did aid and abet in the commission of a felony, the delivery of methamphetamine, how do you plead? THE DEFENDANT: Not guilty. THE COURT: And to count II, that on or about the 22nd day of May, 1985, in Campbell County, Wyoming, you did unlawfully deliver or possess with intent to deliver methamphetamine, how do you plead? THE DEFENDANT: Not guilty. Consequently, without resources and without an attorney, and after 12 days incarceration, the indicted defendant was required to enter a plea, in disregard of the Constitution, counseled discussion, and Rule 6, W.R.Cr.P.