Opinion ID: 1821648
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: ineffective assistance in failing to waive the presence of the defendant at the drawing of the special venire.

Text: ¶ 25. Burns claims that he never waived his right to be present at the drawing of the special venire in this matter. He cites authority which states that a defendant has the right to be present at all critical states in the proceedings but he provides no authority which holds that a defendant's absence at the drawing of the special venire is reversible error. While the special venire must be drawn in open court according to Miss.Code Ann. § 13-5-77 (Supp.2001), Burns cites no cases which find reversible error if the defendant was not present at the drawing of the special venire. Here, Burns argues no impropriety in the drawing and makes no allegation that any venireman was biased against him. This Court has held that the better practice would be to have the accused present at the drawing of the special venire. Kendall v. State, 249 So.2d 657, 660 (Miss.1971). However, in Kendall, the Court ruled that no reversible error occurred in the absence of any showing of prejudice to the defendant. Id. Burns concedes as much here. His attorney admits that this omission alone does not amount to reversible error. The Court finds that this claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is without merit.