Opinion ID: 1751529
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: whether the trial court erred in conducting a critical stage of the proceedings outside the presence of the defendant?

Text: Mack contends that he was not afforded the right to be present at a critical stage of the proceedings. Mack argues that during a pretrial motion hearing, he exited the courtroom and that rather than recessing until he returned, the court proceeded with the hearing. Mack cites State v. Hamilton, 184 W. Va. 722, 403 S.E.2d 739, 743 (1991) and People v. Dokes, 79 N.Y.2d 656, 584 N.Y.S.2d 761, 763, 595 N.E.2d 836, 838 (1992), for the proposition that the defendant's right to be present at all critical stages of a criminal prosecution is constitutional in nature and fundamental to the defendant's right to a fair trial. Not only is the instant case distinguishable from both Hamilton and Dokes, the court in Dokes specifically notes that the defendant has no right to be present at a conference on jury instructions. 584 N.Y.S.2d at 763-64, 595 N.E.2d at 838-39. In Hamilton, the defendant stated that he did not know that he had the right to be present at the jury selection. 403 S.E.2d at 743. Moreover, during the selection, his attorney, in waiving the defendant's right, stated that the defendant was living in another county and could not be reached by phone. Id. In addition, the defendant in Hamilton, was absent from a jury selection process and not from a conference on legal matters. In Dokes, the defendant was absent from a hearing on factual matters, and not a conference of purely legal matter. 584 N.Y.S.2d at 763, 595 N.E.2d at 838. In the instant case, Mack was absent from a portion of the conference on jury instructions. As distinguished from Dokes and Hamilton, Mack voluntarily left the room to go to the bathroom during a pre-trial discussion of the jury instructions. Mack did not request a brief recess nor object to the court continuing without his presence. United States v. Gagnon, 470 U.S. 522, 105 S.Ct. 1482, 84 L.Ed.2d 486 (1985). Moreover, discussions on purely legal matters are not critical stages of the proceedings. United States v. Sherman, 821 F.2d 1337 (9th Cir.1987); United States v. Graves, 669 F.2d 964 (5th Cir.1982). The United States Supreme Court has determined that a criminal defendant is guaranteed the right to be present at any stage of the criminal proceedings that is critical to its outcome if his presence would contribute to the fairness of the procedure. Kentucky v. Stincer, 482 U.S. 730, 745, 107 S.Ct. 2658, 2667, 96 L.Ed.2d 631 (1987). This Court has not addressed the question of whether the conference on jury instructions is such a critical stage of the proceedings. However, in Myers v. State, this Court discussed the absence of the defendant from the courtroom during discussions on jury challenges and a motion for a new trial. Myers v. State, 268 So.2d 353, 357 (Miss. 1972). The defendant argued that his absence from the two in-chambers conferences attended by court and counsel requires reversal. Myers, 268 So.2d at 357. The Court held that [s]ince the absence of appellant from the anteroom was voluntary, the right to be present during that particular phase of the trial was waived. Id. at 358. Although this Court has not addressed this issue, the jurisdictions which have addressed it, have held that a defendant has no constitutional right to be present at a conference which deals with legal issues, such as a conference on jury instructions. Mack's presence was not necessary to contribute to the fairness of the procedure, therefore, his absence did not violate due process. There is no merit to this contention.