Opinion ID: 1149229
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether the trial court committed reversible error in denying duplantis access to his attorney for trial preparation.

Text: ¶ 28. Following the reversal of his first trial, Duplantis made numerous requests for better access to his attorney. [4] On July 27, 1995, the trial judge moved Duplantis from Parchman to the Madison County Jail to accomplish this purpose. On August 15, 1997, Duplantis filed a motion to dismiss because he had not been able to adequately prepare his defense due to the trial court's delay in providing experts, personnel, funds and access. The next day, however, Duplantis filed a letter saying that he did not desire a continuance of his trial, even though he did not feel that he had been allowed enough time to confer with his attorney in preparing his defense. ¶ 29. Duplantis bases his contention that he was denied his fundamental right of access to his attorney on McKenzie v. State, 233 Miss. 216, 101 So.2d 651 (1958). In McKenzie, the defendant was charged with capital murder. The trial court appointed nine attorneys to represent the defendant, all of whom failed to confer with him. On the day of the trial, the attorneys filed a motion for continuance alleging a lack of proper opportunity to confer with the accused because he was being held in the Hinds County jail prior to trial rather than in Newton County where the crime had occurred. In overruling the motion for continuance, the court offered to allow the defense counsel to have a thirty minute conference with the accused. This Court held that the trial court was in error by denying the continuance. ¶ 30. The case sub judice is distinguishable from McKenzie. Duplantis had the opportunity to continue his case in order that he may be able to adequately confer with his counsel. He chose not to do so. McKenzie did not have this opportunity. Thus, Duplantis was not denied his fundamental right of access to his attorney. He only chose not to exercise it fully. ¶ 31. Accordingly, this assignment of error is meritless.