Opinion ID: 75087
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Decision to Continue with Trial

Text: 22 In addition to the Rule 43 requirements, we must also determine whether the district court undertook the required balancing of the public's interest and Bradford's right to be present before proceeding with trial. See United States v. Benavides, 596 F.2d 137, 139 (5th Cir. 1979). We review a district court's decision to proceed with trial in a defendant's absence only for abuse of discretion. See id. 23 Our predecessor circuit stated that the district court has `only a narrow discretion' in deciding whether to proceed with a trial when the defendant is voluntarily in absentia because the right to be present at one's own trial must be carefully safeguarded. Benavides, 596 F.2d at 139. In Benavides, the former Fifth Circuit adopted the complex of issues test set forth by the Second Circuit in United States v. Tortora, 464 F.2d 1202, 1210 (2d Cir. 1972), which annunciated a number of factors the district court must consider in exercising its discretion. For instance, the court must weigh the likelihood that the trial could soon take place with the defendant present; the difficulty of rescheduling, particularly in multiple- defendant trials; the burden on the Government in having to undertake two trials, again particularly in multiple-defendant trials where the evidence against the defendants is often overlapping and more than one trial might keep the Government's witnesses in substantial jeopardy. Id. at 139 (quoting Tortora, 464 F.2d at 1210). A court must also consider the inconvenience to the jurors. Id. at 140. The district court may exercise its discretion to proceed only when the public interest clearly outweighs that of the voluntarily absent defendant. See Tortora, 464 F.2d at 1210. 9 24 The Benavides panel included in its quotation a footnote from Tortora which in dicta stated, It is difficult for us to conceive of any case where the exercise of this discretion would be appropriate other than a multiple-defendant case. However, since Tortora, the Second Circuit has receded from this position, and has held that, because the complex of issues test has been applied to uphold trials in absentia in other compelling, if less extraordinary, circumstances, district courts have broad discretion in determining whether to proceed with a trial in absentia, or to adjourn, or to sever. See United States v. Sanchez, 790 F.2d 245, 250-251 (2d Cir. 1986). 25 More recently, in the single-defendant case of United States v. Nichols, 56 F.3d 403 (2d Cir. 1995), the Second Circuit recognized that, in weighing the public interest in proceeding with trial under Tortora, the court may consider the defendant's contumacious conduct and any inconvenience to the witnesses and jurors or delay of the court's docket resulting from uncertain adjournment. See Nichols, 56 F.3d at 417-418 (involving a criminal defendant who attended the first day of trial, in which the jury was selected, but refused to leave his holding cell to attend the second day, in which the jury was sworn and testimony was heard) (citations omitted). 10 26 Whether the district court's discretion is characterized as broad or narrow, we agree with the Second Circuit that a defendant's obstructionist and willful behavior, and its effect on the orderly administration of the court's docket and the trial at hand, implicate a compelling public interest even in a single-defendant case and are properly considered by the district court in deciding whether to continue or postpone trial in the defendant's voluntary absence. We do not read Benavides to enumerate an exhaustive list of considerations. Indeed, our holding is consistent with the Benavides court's concern for the convenience of the jurors and the Tortora complex of issues test's focus on the public interest. Therefore, we hold that a consideration of the relevant factors, including the defendant's contumacious conduct, in certain circumstances may support a district court's decision to proceed with trial in a single- defendant case. 27 Having determined the appropriate factors to be weighed, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in deciding to continue the trial without Bradford. 11 Bradford had refused to come to court twice before, first for the competency hearing on September 22nd, and then on the original trial date on November 16th. A jury venire had been empaneled on November 16th at a cost of $2,000, according to the court's comments. By December 17th, a second jury venire had been empaneled and a jury selected, which was waiting to fulfill its obligations. Both the Government and the defense had witnesses who would need to make special arrangements to be present at trial and would have been greatly inconvenienced by a sudden postponement. 12 Furthermore, the record indicates that Bradford chose of her own volition to remain in her cell rather than attend the remainder of her trial. Given that Bradford's absence was a result of her own decision not to attend rather than the result of external circumstances preventing her attendance, such as illness or inclement weather, there was no reason to believe that the trial could have soon taken place with Bradford present. Given the nature of the charges against Bradford and the court's concern for the safety of others in the courtroom, the court's decision not to attempt to bring Bradford forcibly into court was reasonable. Under Rule 43(b)(1), if Bradford voluntarily elected not to come once trial commenced, the court was under no obligation to force her. 28 A sufficient basis existed upon which the district court reasonably could have concluded that the public interest [in proceeding with trial] clearly outweigh[ed] that of the voluntarily absent defendant to attend all stages of her trial. See Tortora, 464 F.2d at 1210. This is particularly true where, as here, the defendant's absence was a result of her own willful refusal to come to court. See United States v. Nichols, 56 F.3d 403, 417-18 (2d Cir. 1995) (holding that a defendant's willful refusal to attend his trial is a relevant factor to consider when balancing the interests of the public and the defendant under Tortora). Accordingly, we find that the district court did not abuse its discretion by continuing with trial in Bradford's absence. 29 AFFIRMED.