Opinion ID: 2621486
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Access to Legal Materials

Text: [¶ 45] May's final contention is that the trial court abused its discretion in not requiring the Natrona County Detention Center to provide greater access to the law library and legal materials in order to prepare an adequate defense. Specifically, May contends that his access to the library was on a very limited basis, inmates who were not getting ready for trial were allowed more time in the library than he was, access to the library was granted at unreasonable times, and there were times when he was not allowed to use the library at all because it was being used for some other purpose. May asserts that the trial court abused its discretion by not ordering the detention center to allow him access to the library a set number of hours per week at reasonable times. [¶ 46] When a defendant makes a decision to manage his own case, he relinquishes many of the traditional benefits associated with his right to counsel. Jennings v. State, 4 P.3d 915, 919 (Wyo.2000). In this case, over the trial court's warnings concerning the risks of proceeding pro se and its repeated recommendation that he have legal representation, May affirmatively invoked his right to proceed pro se. [¶ 47] Additionally, in the months leading up to the trial, two continuances were granted by the court, one at the State's request and one on a motion by May which he filed expressly in order to gain more time to prepare his defense. Both continuances were granted after May elected to proceed pro se, giving him extra time to prepare for trial. At the time May filed his motion on February 16, the trial was scheduled to begin on February 22. By virtue of the order granting the continuance, the trial was rescheduled for April 12, giving May seven additional weeks to prepare his case. [¶ 48] At the February 18 hearing on May's motion for more access to the library, the trial court specifically invited May to re-petition the court and delineate specifics concerning his denial of access claim. On March 1, May filed a motion to dismiss for denial of due process in which he again asserted, without specifics, that he was being denied access to legal materials. That motion was followed on March 10 by another motion in which May asserted that he had only been able to do three hours of research in the preceding month. Another motion followed on March 19 in which May alleged that he was awakened at 6:40 one morning and told that he could use the library. In this last motion, May alternatively sought dismissal of the charges against him, a second continuance, or an order requiring the detention center to allow him access to the library one hour per day between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. excluding mealtimes. [¶ 49] A hearing was held on March 23 at which time the motions were denied on the ground that May failed to provide documentary evidence showing that he had made demand for more time in the library and that any such demands were denied. In denying the motions, the court urged May to make his demands for use of the library in writing and to utilize standby counsel to assist him in gaining access. The court also indicated that May could re-file his motions along with documentary support showing specific violations. [¶ 50] Nothing further appears in the record concerning May's allegations that he was denied access to legal materials. The trial began as scheduled on April 12 at which time the court asked May whether he was ready to proceed with his defense and May responded that he was. Thereafter, in the course of the two trials that followed, May made no further claim that a denial of access to legal materials hampered his ability to present his defense. Moreover, his performance during the trials demonstrated that he was adequately prepared. Under these circumstances, we find no error in the court's rulings in this regard.