Opinion ID: 1894449
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: facts relating to procedural history

Text: This brings us to a consideration of those aspects of the procedural history of this case which bear upon the remaining assignments of error. Defendant was charged on December 17, 1985. The county court record contains the following entry dated June 16, 1986: Def. appears pro se. Insists to court that he has funds to hire private counsel and does not want public defender. Has visited with [names of two attorneys] and lack of funds is not the reason that he hasn't retained them. Court reviews finances and offers def. assistance of public defender office. Mr. Eichelberger refuses. Highlights of Eichelberger's subsequent hegira through the district court include the following. On July 3, 1986, Eichelberger appeared for arraignment in the district court and advised the court he had an attorney and that although the attorney, who was not Eichelberger's injuries attorney, was not present, he wanted to proceed, as the attorney told him to enter a plea. Eichelberger pled not guilty, and the trial judge clearly explained the possible penalties Eichelberger faced. On August 20, 1986, a hearing was conducted on the State's motion to amend the information. The trial judge asked Eichelberger if he had money to hire a lawyer, and Eichelberger replied that he did. The court continued the hearing on the State's motion to amend the information, in deference to Eichelberger's asserted lack of notice. On September 15, 1986, at the continuation of the hearing originally commenced on August 20, Eichelberger complained that he could not hire a lawyer because he did not have access to his money while in jail. The trial judge administered an oath to Eichelberger for the purpose of adducing testimony regarding Eichelberger's indigency. Eichelberger, however, refused to discuss his assets, stating that he had sufficient money to hire a lawyer but that the money was somewhere in Missouri. Eichelberger requested a bond reduction so he could go get his money. The judge refused to grant a reduction in Eichelberger's bond, but remarked on the availability of a power of attorney through which an attorney or relative might retrieve Eichelberger's money. Eichelberger indicated he was unwilling to give anyone such a power. On October 24, 1986, prior to commencement of trial and outside the presence of the jury, the trial judge engaged Eichelberger in the following colloquy: [Judge]: ... Mr. Eichelberger has indicated to the court that he desires to represent himself in this matter, which he has the right to do. He will, however, be held to the same standards as if he were represented as far as evidence and other matters are concerned. The court has asked and is appointing Mr. Gooch of the Public Defender's Office to be standby for you so that if you have any questions of a legal nature that he will be available to answer these for you. He will not be sitting at the counsel table, but he will be available. And you're ready to proceed this afternoon, I take it, at 2 o'clock? [Eichelberger]: Yes, Your Honor. [Judge]: Do you have any questions? [Eichelberger]: No, Your Honor. [Judge]: Okay. And Mr. Gooch will be available if you need to ask anything about legal matters that you did not understand or something of that nature. You understand that? [Eichelberger]: Yes, Sir. [Judge]: And that is correct, that you want to proceed pro se; is that right? [Eichelberger]: Yes, Your Honor. Michael Gooch was in fact present as standby counsel throughout the remainder of the trial. At trial, Eichelberger requested a continuance to gather more information. The judge denied this oral motion, but observed that the trial would go on into the following week and that Eichelberger would have the weekend to gather information prior to the following Monday; in fact, no testimony was taken in the case against Eichelberger until that Monday. On October 27, 1986, in his pro se opening statement to the jury, Eichelberger asserted that he never said he would represent himself, and he promised to stand mute at trial. In the presence of the jury the trial judge noted that [t]he record reflects that the defendant did waive or indicated to the court that he did want to represent himself. The court also noted the presence of Gooch as standby counsel for Eichelberger. At his first opportunity to cross-examine, Eichelberger restated his intention not to participate in the trial, but nonetheless participated to the extent of indicating he had no objection to the admission into evidence of the divorce decree, the district court clerk's child support account sheet, and an exemplar of his handwriting. During recess, out of the presence of the jury, the judge again reviewed the record and again noted that Eichelberger had earlier expressed his desire to represent himself. At the conclusion of the State's case in chief, out of the presence of the jury, the judge inquired whether Eichelberger had any motions to present. Eichelberger responded by complaining, for the first time, of lack of access to the jail law library, and renewed his motion for a continuance. Eichelberger was unwilling to say how long a continuance he would need, but indicated that any continuance would be for the purpose of enabling him to better prepare his pro se defense. The judge offered Eichelberger a 2-day continuance. After consulting with Gooch for nearly half an hour, Eichelberger testified but failed to address the motion for continuance, instead asserting that he was taking several kinds of medication. He did not, however, assert that the medication caused him any difficulty in conducting his defense. The court subsequently overruled the motion for continuance, explained in some detail Eichelberger's constitutional rights to testify on his own behalf or to refrain from doing so, and, still outside the presence of the jury, noted findings of fact for the record to the effect that Eichelberger had, in dealings with the court up to that time, appeared not to have been adversely affected by any medication he might be taking. On October 27, 1986, in the course of an instruction conference, the trial judge noted his intention to take judicial notice of the court's own record regarding continuances already requested and granted. On October 28, 1986, during the last day of trial and out of the presence of the jury, the trial judge sustained the State's objection to Eichelberger's request that Gooch give Eichelberger's closing argument, noting: Mr. Gooch has been appointed by the court as standby counsel only and that does not mean he can participate. He's there to answer any legal questions for you. You have money to hire a lawyer. You indicated that previously and to the court yesterday again. And for those reasons the request is denied. The trial concluded that day, and after the verdicts of guilty were returned, the trial judge seemingly invited a motion for new trial based on Eichelberger's asserted lack of access to the jail law library. On October 30, 1986, while Gooch was still present as standby counsel, Eichelberger accepted the trial judge's invitation and moved for a new trial. He offered his own testimony that he was denied access to the jail law library. On cross-examination by the State's attorney, Eichelberger admitted he had never complained to the court about denial of access to the law library. The judge again, on his own motion, took notice of the court's files and records in Eichelberger's case. Upon redirect examination Eichelberger asserted: [A]t the time of my preliminary hearing, I didn'tI did say that I didn't want a public defender, but I also asked the judge to let the record show that I wasn't refusing counsel, that I was able to get my own counsel. Eichelberger also stated that his brother visited from Kansas City, Missouri, a few days before September 8; Eichelberger did not state why his brother did not bring any of Eichelberger's money with him, but Eichelberger later indicated he would not, in any event, have trusted his brother nor any of the attorneys he had dealt with to do this for him. Eichelberger also testified that an attorney (other than his injuries attorney or Gooch) had negotiated a plea bargain on his behalf with the county attorney's office, but he, Eichelberger, found it unacceptable and refused. Eichelberger also testified that he offered a $500 wage assignment in settlement of the case, but the county attorney refused. The trial judge then questioned Eichelberger as follows: [Judge] You understand that you could have given a power of attorney to get $1,000 or something of that nature? [Eichelberger] Yes. My basic point was if I could work the problem out, why get $1,000, Your Honor. Just try to resolve the problem so I can basically get back to my job. On recross-examination Eichelberger testified that he was being represented by counsel in another action pending at the same time and had paid in advance for that representation. The court continued the hearing on Eichelberger's motion for new trial, ordering the county attorney to investigate the facts surrounding access to law library materials at the county jail. On November 18, 1986, with Gooch still present as standby counsel, the State adduced evidence that Eichelberger requested use of the jail law library three times during the last week of September, all of which requests were granted. In October, Eichelberger requested use of the law library 12 times and was denied use for cause 3 times. In addition, Eichelberger had been allowed to make undocumented use of the law library upon verbal request. The judge again continued the hearing to give Eichelberger time to retrieve some documents. On November 21, 1986, with Gooch still present as standby counsel, Eichelberger adduced testimony through several witnesses, including Gooch, the prosecuting attorney, several jail inmates, and himself. The State called one witness in rebuttal, whom Eichelberger cross-examined. Following closing arguments by both parties, the judge once again took judicial notice of the court's files in the case. The judge subsequently denied Eichelberger's motion for new trial. On December 1, 1986, the trial judge, with Lancaster County Public Defender Dennis Keefe present as standby counsel, offered to continue sentencing 1 day to allow Gooch to be present. Eichelberger declined that offer, saying he had reviewed the presentence report prior to this hearing and had no objection to its contents. The judge pronounced sentence and advised Eichelberger of, among other things, his right to appeal to this court.