Opinion ID: 1163421
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Victim's Presence in the Courtroom

Text: Gonzales argues that Deborah's presence in the courtroom during jury selection and her possible presence during trial after she testified prejudiced him and denied him the right to a fair trial. This argument is without merit. Deborah had a constitutional right to attend all criminal proceedings that Gonzales had the right to attend. Ariz. Const. art. 2, § 2.1(A)(3); Rule 9.3(a), Ariz. R.Crim.P. Deborah, on her own initiative, attended jury selection. She sat in the back row of the courtroom, and neither the court nor counsel knew she was there until several days later. Nor is there any evidence that prospective jurors noticed Deborah or knew who she was during jury selection. Gonzales has not shown that Deborah's presence during jury selection was prejudicial. There is no evidence that Deborah intended to or did remain in the courtroom after she testified, and therefore we consider the matter no further. State v. Ethington, 121 Ariz. 572, 574, 592 P.2d 768, 770 (1979).