Opinion ID: 1598918
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the court erred failing to have entire proceedings recorded.

Text: ¶ 20. Burns' next assignment of error alleges that the failure of the trial court to record the entire proceedings including bench conferences is reversible error. Burns filed a pre-trial motion requesting that all hearings be recorded whether pre-trial hearings, in open court, bench conferences or conferences in chambers. The trial judge granted Burns' motion. Appellant argues that the absence of complete recordings violates his right of a record for the purpose of an appeal. In his brief, Burns fails to cite any specific instances of unrecorded or off-the-record proceedings. ¶ 21. The State correctly responds that nothing of substance was omitted from the record, that the record is sufficiently complete, and that a full appellate review can be made on the present state of the record. The State also submits that approximately twenty-four bench conferences were held without the benefit of the court reporter. The majority of these proceedings concerned administrative matters and no rulings of the court were made. Finally, the State contends that at no point in the proceedings did counsel for Burns object to the court reporter not recording these conferences. ¶ 22. Burns cites this Court's decision in Davis v. State, 684 So.2d 643, 651 (Miss. 1996) which stands for the proposition that trial courts should ensure that every word is transcribed stating, `[W]e direct without equivocation that court reporters should never fail to preserve for record at-the-bench or chambers conferences following objections... The trial judge is responsible to enforce this directive.' Id. ( quoting Suan v. State, 511 So.2d 144, 147 (Miss.1987)). Davis also states, [h]owever, `it is the appellant's burden to furnish the record.' Id. ( quoting Goodson v. State, 566 So.2d 1142, 1153 (Miss.1990)(designating the record on appeal turns on wishes of counsel)). However, in the case sub judice many of the instances in the record of bench conferences were not as a result of objections. Also in Davis, this Court further found, Davis failed to designate this portion of the record for purposes of appeal, and failed to show or attempt to show that he was prejudiced as a result, in that the loss of information would have revealed a violation of Davis's rights during jury selection. Id. The case at bar presents the same issue. Burns fails to state how he was prejudiced in any way by the failure to record the entire proceedings. ¶ 23. Burns further relies on Walker v. State, 671 So.2d 581 (Miss.1995) where a majority of this Court found that none of these unrecorded discussions prejudiced Walker's ability to appeal his case. Id. at 620. This Court has said it is the duty of the appellant to present a record of the trial sufficient to show that the error of which he complains on appeal has occurred and, further, the error was timely and properly preserved. Doby v. State, 557 So.2d 533, 536 n. 2 (Miss.1990). Relying on the proposition in Doby, this Court in Thorson v. State, 653 So.2d 876 (Miss.1994) found that because defendant failed to object at trial as to the trial court's failure to preserve a record of bench conferences, this issue did not warrant a finding of reversible error. Id. at 895. In Thorson, this Court said: While defense counsel filed a motion June 23, 1987, to require the transcription of all proceedings at the bench outside the presence of the jury, the record shows that counsel participated in unrecorded conferences without calling it to the court's attention, or making any contemporaneous request at the time to have comments made a part of the record. It is in poor grace for counsel to participate without objection in unrecorded bench conferences and complain for the first time on appeal. We find no error here. Id. ( citing Doby, 557 So.2d at 536). ¶ 24. The issue now before this Court is almost the exact same issue presented in Thorson and discussed above. In both the case at bar and in Thorson, the defendant filed a motion requesting that the proceedings be recorded in its entirety and in both instances the trial judge granted the motion. In both cases, also, counsel for the defendant participated in bench conferences willingly without requesting that they be recorded or even calling it to the court's attention. This Court finds no distinction between the present case and Thorson. Therefore, this issue is without merit. ¶ 25. After a thorough review of the record in this case, we determine that the subject of the discussions as well as the outcome of those discussions was clear. When taken in the context in which they arose, the reason for the discussions was apparent. Burns raises no issue on appeal in which he argues that there is an insufficient record to adequately pursue his appeal. Therefore, the argument presented by Burns in his brief, is insufficient to establish a valid claim of an incomplete record. ¶ 26. This Court does note for the future, however, that when a trial judge grants a motion to have all proceedings recorded, it becomes at least partially the responsibility of the granting court to do everything possible to ensure the court reporter complies with the order. Without overruling any previous law issued by this Court providing that it is the responsibility of the appellant to ensure that there is a proper record for appeal, we admonish the trial courts of our State to assist in this endeavor.