Opinion ID: 878073
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Defense Counsel John L. Adams, Jr.:

Text: Adams graduated from the University of Montana Law School in 1954. He became a Deputy County Attorney in Billings, Montana, in 1956, and County Attorney in 1965. He served as County Attorney until 1970. From 1970 to the present he has served continuously as court-appointed defense counsel in the District Court. His legal work has been almost exclusively in the field of criminal law and he has tried at least 200 felony cases, including several capital cases. During the first trial of the codefendants, Adams was appointed to represent Paul Bad Horse. He was assisted in his representation of Bad Horse by Jerome Cate, who was selected by the Indian tribe. After Adams was appointed counsel to Fitzpatrick for the second trial, he discussed Fitzpatrick's case with Chris Nelson, Fitzpatrick's attorney during the original trial. In addition, Nelson gave Adams most of his work product, including witnesses' statements. Nelson had withdrawn from representing Fitzpatrick during the second trial because he had recently joined a firm which included Mr. Sinclair, a co-prosecutor in the first trial. Adams furnished Fitzpatrick with much of the original file and later supplemented it. In addition, he and Fitzpatrick went over the notes and material Fitzpatrick provided. Adams was assisted in the defense by Larry Cole, the court-appointed special investigator, who was at that time an attorney licensed in Wyoming and awaiting licensing in Montana. After defendant Radi was acquitted on retrial, Adams discussed the case with Mr. Stephens, Radi's counsel, and was given some of Stephens' case material. Adams has known Fitzpatrick since the 1960's and made an appearance once as prosecutor in a previous charge against him. Adams has defended Fitzpatrick on other charges at least twice. In 1972, Adams represented Fitzpatrick on burglary, drugs and other offenses. Prior to the 1978 trial, Adams also represented Fitzpatrick when he was charged with assault involving a weapon which resulted in Fitzpatrick's imprisonment. Prior to the second trial, Adams filed a number of motions on petitioner's behalf, including a motion to limit any testimony of Gary Radi, a notice to rely on the defense of alibi listing thirty-seven witnesses, a supplement to the alibi defense, discovery motions, a motion to dismiss, a motion for appointment of a special investigator, a motion for a change of venue, and a subsequent motion, submitted at petitioner's request, to withdraw the motion for change of venue. In addition, Adams requested that a number of subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum issue on behalf of Fitzpatrick and responded to the State's motion for production of evidence. Additional motions were submitted by defense counsel prior to trial and a brief relating to the testimony of Edwin Bushman was submitted during the course of the trial. At the conclusion of the trial, Adams submitted fifty-seven jury instructions for the court's consideration.