Opinion ID: 2327484
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Deprivation of Counsel at Trial

Text: While a witness was testifying, appellant leaned across the table at which he was seated to speak with his attorney. The trial judge ordered appellant to cease talking and to remain silent. Appellant contends that this prevented him from conferring with his attorney, thus depriving him of a fair trial. Appellant's trial counsel testified at appellant's hearing that the trial judge's order did not in any way hinder the prosecution of appellant's defense. The hearing court found as a fact that the trial judge's statement was made in an effort to keep order in the courtroom, a duty with which the trial judge is charged. This case is different than Commonwealth v. Vivian, 426 Pa. 192, 231 A. 2d 301 (1967), where the defendant was not permitted to speak with counsel during a trial recess. Although defendant is of course entitled to the assistance of consultation with counsel in the courtroom he may not disrupt the trial. This problem is not present in the Vivian situation, where there is no justification for imposing a restriction of silence between accused and counsel during a trial recess. United States v. Venuto, 182 F. 2d 519, 522 (3d Cir. 1950). Although we held in Vivian that as a result, a showing of prejudice is not necessary, here, where there may be clear justification for the trial judge's order, we believe that at the least, prejudice must be shown. Since appellant's counsel testified that he believed that appellant's defense was not hindered, the hearing judge's determination that appellant was not prejudiced supports the rejection of appellant's denial of counsel claim.