Opinion ID: 1690126
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 20

Heading: could the trial court allow defense counsel to waive jordan's presence?

Text: ś 126. Jordan filed a pre-trial motion to assert his right to be present at all proceedings, including pre-trial hearings and bench conferences. A criminal defendant's right to be present at critical stages does not include the right to be present during bench conferences and the conference on jury instructions, since those matters are purely legal and the criminal defendant can do little to aid his defense. It is sufficient that his counsel is present. Smith v. State, 724 So.2d 280, 308-12 (Miss.1998). However, the real issue here seems to be the pre-trial hearing with regard to the appointment of Dr. Maggio. Jordan's counsel waived his presence at the beginning of the telephone hearing. Jordan contends that he did not knowingly waive his right to be present during the hearing and that his defense counsel's waiver of his presence prejudiced him since, had he known the outcome of the hearing that the prosecution would receive a copy of Dr. Maggio's report, then he would not have spoken so freely with Dr. Maggio. However, because we have found that it was not error for the State to receive a copy of the report, this issue is without merit.