Court Opinion

ID: 9931412
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-08 22:06:12.120225+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:16:16.497503
License: Public Domain

STATE OF LOUISIANA

STATE       OF    LOUISIANA                                                       NO.    2024      KW   0109

VERSUS

HAROLD       BUTLER                                                         FEBRUARY            8,      2024

In    Re:          Harold       Butler,       applying       for         supervisory          writs,      22nd
                   Judicial        District       Court,      Parish        of  St.        Tammany,          No.

                   602663.

BEFORE:           WELCH,        WOLFE,    AND   STROMBERG,          JJ.

           STAY    LIFTED.        WRIT    GRANTED.          While        this situation is surely
frustrating             for     the     district     court         and    the  State,  forcing an
attorney to             trial who is unprepared does                      not punish the attorney
for    her       lack    of     readiness,      it   punishes        the        defendant' s         right     to

present          an     adequate        defense      and    violates            his     Sixth      Amendment

right       to    effective       assistance         of    counsel.         See       State   v.     Laugand,

99- 1124 (        La.     3/ 17/ 00),     759     So. 2d    34 (    per     curiam).            Therefore,

the district             court' s ruling is reversed, the motion for mistrial
is    granted,          and this matter is remanded for further proceeding.

                                                     JEW

                                                      EW
                                                     TPS

       T    OF   APPEAL,        FIRST    CIRCUIT

             PUTY       CLERK    OF   COURT
                  FOR     THE    COURT