Opinion ID: 1744864
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: assignment number three

Text: In this assignment, the defendants contend that the trial judge erred in ruling upon two pre-trial motions outside their presence. The minutes of the court reflect that on November 20, 1981, the trial court granted a defense motion for a continuance, and on November 29, 1981, the court granted a motion for severance by the victim's mother. At both hearings trial counsel for the defendants, waived the presence of his clients. Presence of the defendant is a condition of due process to the extent that a fair and just hearing would be thwarted by his absence, and to that extent only. Therefore, the presence of the defendant is only essential at proceedings which have a reasonably substantial relation to the fullness of the opportunity of the defendant to defend against the charge. Snyder v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 291 U.S. 97, 54 S.Ct. 330, 78 L.Ed. 674 (1934). From this principle has emerged the general rule that no claim of error, or at least no claim of prejudicial error, can be based upon the exclusion or absence of a defendant, pending his trial on a criminal charge, from the courtroom, or from a conference between court and attorneys, during argument on or discussion of a question of law. See C. Torcia, Wharton's Criminal Procedure § 483 at 342 (12th ed. 1975); 85 A.L.R.2d 1111, 1114. Cf. State v. Monk, 315 So.2d 727 (La.1975); State v. Leblanc, 116 La. 822, 41 So. 105 (1906); State v. Pierre, 39 La.Ann. 915, 3 So. 60 (1887). The Louisiana rule affords the defendant greater rights. Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure article 834 provides that the defendant has the right to be present during the making, hearing of, or ruling on a preliminary motion or application addressed to the court. But this right may be waived by the defendant or his attorney, by his voluntary absence or his failure to object to argument or discussion during his absence. See Deschenes v. United States, 224 F.2d 688 (10th Cir.1955). Cf. La.C.Cr.P. art. 831(6); Torcia, supra, at 388, 342. In the present case, no error occurred. The presence of the defendants was waived by their counsel, and nothing in the record supports their claim that their presence was prevented.