Opinion ID: 560585
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: kirby's trial in absentia

Text: 40 Kirby next urges that his constitutional right to be present at his trial was violated when the district court elected to try him in absentia after he failed to appear for the proceedings. An accused has a Sixth Amendment right to be present in the courtroom at every stage of her or his trial, unless the right is waived. Diaz v. United States, 223 U.S. 442, 455, 32 S.Ct. 250, 253, 56 L.Ed. 500 (1912); United States v. Songer, 842 F.2d 240, 242 (10th Cir.1988); United States v. Tortora, 464 F.2d 1202, 1208 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 409 U.S. 1063, 93 S.Ct. 554, 34 L.Ed.2d 516 (1972). Absence without compelling justification constitutes a waiver of the right to be present at trial. United States v. Peterson, 524 F.2d 167, 184-85 (4th Cir.1975), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1088, 96 S.Ct. 881, 47 L.Ed.2d 99 (1976). The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure codify this right, and further provide that a defendant's presence is not required if she or he voluntarily absents [herself or] himself after the trial has commenced. Fed.R.Crim.P. 43(b)(1). 41 We review the district court's decision to proceed with the trial in Kirby's absence under the abuse of discretion standard. United States v. Muzevsky, 760 F.2d 83, 84 (4th Cir.1985). We note, however, that this important Sixth Amendment right cannot cursorily, and without inquiry, be deemed by the trial court to have been waived simply because the accused is not present when [she or] he should have been. United States v. Beltran-Nunez, 716 F.2d 287, 291 (5th Cir.1983). When Kirby did not show up for the first day of trial, the district court issued a bench warrant and continued the proceedings until the following day. When Kirby again failed to appear, the district court conducted an inquiry in an attempt to determine why Kirby was absent. Kirby's counsel told the court that Kirby had been preparing for trial and was aware of the trial date. No explanation was given for his absence and there was no indication that Kirby was going to appear. 42 After resolving the issue of waiver, the court must decide whether to proceed in a defendant's absence. A trial court should consider factors such as the likelihood that the trial could soon proceed with the defendant present, the difficulty of rescheduling, and the burden on the Government. United States v. Rogers, 853 F.2d 249, 252 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 946, 109 S.Ct. 375, 102 L.Ed.2d 364 (1988); Peterson, 524 F.2d at 185; Tortora, 464 F.2d at 1210. Generally, the balance will favor proceeding without the defendant only in multi-defendant trials. Rogers, 853 F.2d at 252; Tortora, 464 F.2d at 1210 n. 7. In this case, the district court found that Kirby was aware of his obligation to appear, and that he voluntarily absented himself without excuse. The court then concluded that there was no likelihood Kirby would return shortly, and that it would be burdensome for the Government to have to conduct two trials, especially given the overlapping evidence and the likelihood that the Government's witnesses would be placed in substantial jeopardy if more than one trial were held. Accordingly, we hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion when it elected to try Kirby in absentia.