Court Opinion

ID: 9626186
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 08:04:46.691038+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:06:22.845540
License: Public Domain

ROONEY, Justice,
dissenting.
I dissent. As noted in the majority opinion, this is a close case. The majority opinion properly sets forth the law applicable to it. Two questions are presented: One, was appellant’s absence due to a bona fide health problem or was he using a contrived health complaint to manipulate the court thus voluntarily absenting himself? Two, if the absence was due to a bona fide health problem, was appellant prejudiced?
I believe the first issue is one of fact to be decided by the court in its discretion. Perhaps another judge would have continued the case for another day or two and would have secured additional medical opinions before making the decision, but the question here is not whether additional or different methods could have been used to fortify the decision, but whether or not the decision itself was accurate. In other words, the question is: Did the court abuse its discretion in deciding that appellant’s absence was contrived and thus not voluntary?
Rule 42, W.R.Cr.P., provides in part: “ * * * In proSecution for offenses not punishable by death, the defendant’s voluntary absence after the trial has commenced in his presence shall not prevent continuing the trial to and including the return of the verdict. * * * ”
“The decision as to whether the defendant’s voluntary absence from the trial amounts to a waiver is thus vested in the sound discretion of the trial judge, who is usually in a superior position to evaluate the evidence, including witnesses’ credibility, because of familiarity with the background and circumstances. * * * ” United States v. Pastor, 557 F.2d 930, 934 (2nd Cir.1977).
We defined “abuse of discretion” in Martinez v. State, Wyo., 611 P.2d 831, 838 (1980):
“A court does not abuse its discretion unless it acts in a manner which exceeds *725the bounds of reason under the circumstances. In determining whether there has been an abuse of discretion, the ultimate issue is whether or not the court could reasonably conclude as it did. An abuse of discretion has been said to mean an error of law committed by the court under the circumstances. Eager v. Derowitsch, 68 Wyo. 251, 232 P.2d 713 (1951); Anderson v. Englehart, 18 Wyo. 409, 108 P. 977 (1910); DiPalma v. Wiesen, 163 Conn. 293, 303 A.2d 709 (1972); In re Estate of Horman, 265 Cal.App.2d 796, 71 Cal.Rptr. 780 (1968). * * * ”
In this case, appellant was present at all stages of the trial until after the evidence was closed and the jury instructions prepared. The trial judge observed him during this period. Appellant’s counsel had contacted the judge before the trial concerning appellant’s condition to stand trial. They agreed to have appellant examined by a local physician, but appellant refused to have the examination. Appellant’s brother and sister testified that they did not believe appellant had ever had a heart attack. The court continued the matter until the next day, but refused an additional continuance when the physician said another twenty-four hours would be needed for testing. The presentence report contained a letter from Dr. Dale A. Hogan which stated in part:
“Throughout May during the period of this patient’s hospitalization it was felt that he did use symptoms of chest pain in a manipulative manner. During this time he had at least two court appearances scheduled for hearings on various matters and these were cancelled or postponed due to his physical complaints. The timing of his complaints seemed to be coincident with the scheduling of these hearings.

“It is my belief that this patient uses his physical problems, which are indeed very real, to manipulate those people around him and that he will use his physical complaints to manipulate legal and social difficulties in which he may be involved.”
The record does not reflect that Dr. Hogan’s medical opinion was known to the court at the time the motion for continuance was denied, but, as noted supra, the question here is whether the judge’s decision was accurate.
I would hold that the decision of the trial court did not exceed the bounds of reason under the circumstances. The court could reasonably conclude that the appellant contrived the absence and thus waived his right to be present. In other words the court did not commit an error of law under the circumstances. It did not abuse its discretion.
I would affirm this case on that basis, but I also do not believe that appellant was prejudiced even if the absence was due to a bona fide health problem. The instructions were “ready to go” before appellant left. As a practical matter, lawyers do not customarily consult with their clients while making a closing argument. The court’s answer to the jury questions was a simple reference to the statute. Judges do not customarily accept advice from the parties themselves in formulating answers to jury questions. I cannot see a single place at which appellant’s presence would have been of any moment in the result of this case.
The majority opinion inquires as to the effect of his absence on the jury. The court explained the reason for his absence to the jury. The most probable effect, if any, on the jury would be to evoke sympathy. The result would be favorable to appellant. It would explain the fact that the jury deliberated for a long period. I see no prejudice.
I would affirm.