Opinion ID: 1124985
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Denial of the Request for a Second Attorney at Trial

Text: Porter asserts that the district court's refusal to appoint co-counsel to investigate witnesses' testimony regarding prior bad acts violated his right to due process. When a defendant has been provided with an attorney at public expense, his request for additional counsel is committed to the district court's sound discretion. State v. Pizzuto, 119 Idaho 742, 775, 810 P.2d 680, 713 (1991), cert. denied, 503 U.S. 908, 112 S.Ct. 1268, 117 L.Ed.2d 495 (1992), overruled on other grounds by State v. Card, 121 Idaho 425, 825 P.2d 1081 (1991). Thus, when reviewing a district court's denial of a second attorney, this Court will not disturb a district court's discretion, absent a showing of abuse. Pizzuto, 119 Idaho at 775, 810 P.2d at 713. In evaluating the process by which the district court reached its decision, this Court focuses on: (1) whether the district court correctly perceived the issue as one of discretion; (2) whether the district court acted within the outer boundaries of its discretion and consistently with the legal standards applicable to the specific choices available to it; and (3) whether the district court reached its decision by an exercise of reason. Sun Valley Shopping Ctr., Inc. v. Idaho Power Co., 119 Idaho 87, 94, 803 P.2d 993, 1000 (1991). There certainly is not a requirement of a second attorney in death penalty cases. Thus, the district court acted within its permitted discretion when it denied Porter's request for a second attorney, and we conclude that Porter's allegation of error is without merit. Furthermore, Porter requested a second attorney for the sole reason that he needed to investigate witnesses' testimony regarding prior bad acts. Because Porter was given a second investigator to assist him in investigating those witnesses' testimony, we believe that Porter has failed to demonstrate that he was denied due process. Porter urges this Court to adopt the American Bar Association Guidelines for the Appointment and Performance of Counsel in Death Penalty Cases, which provides for the assignment of two defense attorneys in cases where the death penalty is sought. ABA Guidelines for the Appointment and Performance of Counsel in Death Penalty Cases 2.1 (1989). We decline Porter's invitation to adopt these guidelines. However, we recognize that it may be prudent to have at least one defense counsel who is experienced in death penalty cases and that it also may be prudent to have a second attorney, if requested by the defendant, particularly when the State is represented by two attorneys.