Court Opinion

ID: 9531469
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:11:45.014717+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:28.496865
License: Public Domain

*445Dissent
Jackson, J.
I agree, in part, with the conclusions reached in the majority opinion.
I am, however, compelled to dissent to the majority opinion for the reason that appellant was denied his constitutional rights herein by the failure of the court to appoint counsel for him prior to compelling him to plead to the charges on which he was arrested and tried, i.e. “affidavit No. 8856” count one of which charged automobile banditry [Acts 1929, ch. 54, §3, p. 136, being §10-4710, Burns’ 1956 Replacement], and count two of which charged second degree burglary [Acts 1941, ch. 148, §4, p. 447, being §10-701, Burns’ 1956 Replacement].
The record of the arraignment as brought up by the Public Defender reads in pertinent part as follows:
“Q. 3 You are entitled to an attorney if you want one.
“A. Well, I would appreciate an attorney.
“MR. SNYDER: Aren’t you working?
“A. No sir.
“MR. SNYDER: Don’t you own your car or trailer or something?
“A. No, they are financed.
“Q. 4 Do you have the funds with which to employ an attorney?
“A. No sir.
“MR SNYDER: Wouldn’t you prefer to hire your own attorney?
“A. Yes, but I would have to borrow the money.
“MR. SNYDER: Well, can you borrow the money?
“A. I don’t know: it depends on whether I can make a telephone call or not.
“MR. SNYDER: Well, I think the Sheriff will let you use the telephone.
“Q. 5 How do you plead, guilty or not guilty?
*446“A. Well, I have got to plead not guilty because I am not guilty.
“MR. SNYDER: I would like to have about $2,500 bond on this Judge.
“Q. 6 All right, the bond will be $2,500.”
The fact that appellant was denied counsel at the very first opportunity he had to ask for it, at the arraignment, and after he indicated he desired the court to appoint counsel for him, constituted such a violation of his constitutional rights as to vitiate all proceedings thereafter. Art. 1, §13, Constitution of Indiana; Monroe v. State (1961), 242 Ind. 14,175 N. E. 2d 692.
Other questions raised by the appellant are, in my opinion, well taken, but need not be here discussed as the failure to provide counsel at arraignment after request, as shown by the record produced by the public defender in response to the show cause order issued by this court, requires the remand of this cause to the trial court with instructions to grant appellant’s motion for a new trial.
Note. — Reported in 204 N. E. 2d 357.