Court Opinion

ID: 9825256
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 12:24:34.210421+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:40:37.660703
License: Public Domain

On Rehearing.
So far as we can ascertain, and we hold, the following quotation correctly states the law of our state, with reference to the right of a defendant in a criminal prosecution to have “compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor,” as provided by section 6 of the Constitution of 1901, to wit: “ ‘Compulsory process for obtaining witnesses’ [in his favor] means the right to invoke the aid of the law to compel the personal attendance of witnesses at the trial, when they are within the jurisdiction of the Court. It is a sub*299stantive right, a real right, and not an illusory sham to be satisfied by the issue of process, which is to be rendered ineffectual by hastening on to immediate trial. A reasonable opportunity to make the process effective must be afforded, else what the framers of the Constitution termed ‘a right to be enjoyed’ by the accused, is only a mockery to vex.’2 3 Thomas v. State, 15 Ala. App. 408, 73 So. 558.
But it should be kept in mind that: “The constitutional guaranty — ‘does not operate to take from the court the discretion as to granting or refusing continuances, or the authority ■to adopt proper means for ascertaining whether an application for continuance is made with a view of obtaining a fair trial, or for the mere purpose of delay. * * * Extraordinary compulsory process, such as attachment, is not resorted to, until the witness has placed himself in contempt, and the propriety and the necessity of the process is shown. The court is not bound to order an attachment, ex mero motu, on the failure of a witness to appear.’ ” Thomas v. State, supra.
Upon reconsideration of this case, upon appellant’s application for rehearing, while adhering to what was said in our opinion on the original submission, we have nevertheless come to the conclusion, and now hold, that the trial court erred prejudicially to appellant in refusing to issue an attachment for the witness Dr. Garrison. Every condition set forth as a prerequisite for its issuance in the law as it exists in our state seems to have been met by the circumstances, and for the refusal to issue the process the former judgment of affirmance will be set aside, and one here rendered reversing the judgment of convictions and remanding the cause for a new trial.
Opinion extended, application for rehearing granted, reversed and remanded.