Court Opinion

ID: 9618245
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 05:09:29.467182+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:04:26.698411
License: Public Domain

URBIGKIT, Justice,
specially concurring.
Appellate court persuasion in many continuance-denied decisions is to criticize the attorney and condemn the interest of the litigant. Unquestionably, the justice-system requirement to maintain progress and organized process comes into conflict with the need of the litigant to be given a fair shake and a reasonable call upon his right to justice. Ungar v. Sarafite, 376 U.S. 575, 84 S.Ct. 841, 11 L.Ed.2d 921, reh. denied 377 U.S. 925, 84 S.Ct. 1218, 12 L.Ed.2d 217 (1964). In the interest of the individuals in whose names the justice system exists, rights to malpractice protestation should not be simplistically substituted for process flexibility. Cf. Hochhalter v. Great Western Enterprises, Inc., Wyo., 708 P.2d 666 (1985); Thomason, A Plea for Absolute Immunity for Errors in Trial Judgment, 14 Willamette LJ. (1978). Litigation management also should not be substituted for the litigant’s right to a fair trial; nor should Wyoming’s changeable weather deny justice.
I separately concur in this case, since no appellate record is here provided which would afford a basis for contended trial-court abuse of discretion in denial of a trial continuance to obtain the presence of an important witness. Not only were the requirements of § 1-9-101, W.S.1977 not followed with filed affidavit, but nothing is recorded as to alternative travel arrangements that may have been explored, including, as noted by appellee, by moving “to reopen appellant’s case in order to accommodate Dr. Bryan's testimony later in the proceedings.” Flexibility in trial arrangement is required only as flexibility is demonstrated in adaptation by counsel who requests the delay or moves for the continuance. United States v. Burton, 584 F.2d 485 (9th Cir.1978), cert. denied 439 U.S. *13911069, 99 S.Ct. 837, 59 L.Ed.2d 34 (1979). A contrary view could properly be stated if a documented effort had been made to provide travel for the witness by car, or to have him come as soon as possible and then reopen at some time prior to the time that testimony was concluded.
Without a discernible appellate record on the claimed trial error, I cannot evaluate contentions of abuse of discretion. Feaster v. Feaster, Wyo., 721 P.2d 1095 (1986); Nicholls v. Nicholls, Wyo., 721 P.2d 1103 (1986).