Court Opinion

ID: 9513450
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:35:44.31647+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:05:51.830239
License: Public Domain

*413SANDSTROM, Justice,
dissenting.
[¶ 24] I agree with the majority, there is no constitutional right to standby counsel. But when a defendant’s decision to represent himself is induced by the court’s assurance he will have standby counsel to assist him throughout his trial, and the defendant is subsequently deprived of standby counsel, without his consent and through no fault of his own, the defendant has not knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to counsel.
[¶ 25] The defendant was unhappy with his court-appointed counsel and repeatedly asked the court to appoint another. The court told the defendant he could either be represented by counsel the court had appointed, or he could represent himself. When he said he did not understand the procedure and would need help with it, the court said it would appoint standby counsel to assist him: “Mr. Aaland will be available to ask questions of.” Only then did the defendant elect self-representation.
[¶ 26] Waiver of the right to counsel must be knowing and voluntary. See, e.g., Brewer v. Williams, 430 U.S. 387, 401, 404, 97 S.Ct. 1232, 51 L.Ed.2d 424 (1977); State v. Wilson, 488 N.W.2d 618, 620 (N.D.1992) (citing City of Fargo v. Christiansen, 430 N.W.2d 327 (N.D.1988)). The court must ensure the defendant understands the risks he will face. See State v. Haugen, 384 N.W.2d 651 (N.D.1986) (defendant can waive right to jury trial, but such waiver must be a voluntary, knowing, and intelligent decision, made with awareness of circumstances and possible outcomes). When he expressed concern about the procedure, he was not told he might be on his own; he was told he would have standby counsel to assist him.
[¶ 27] At crucial stages of the proceedings, standby counsel was absent, without the defendant’s consent and despite his protests. Standby counsel was absent during closing argument — a critical stage of the proceedings. See People v. Evans, 710 P.2d 1167, 1167-68 (Colo.Ct.App.1985) (“closing argument is ‘one of the most consequential parts of the trial’ ”); see also Fuhrman v. Fuhrman, 254 N.W.2d 97, 102 (N.D.1977) (closing argument in a bench trial is important); People v. McDonald, 168 Ill.2d 420, 214 Ill.Dec. 125, 660 N.E.2d 832, 849 (Ill.1995) (“A criminal defendant has a constitutional right to ... appear and participate in person and by counsel at all proceedings that involve his substantial rights.”).
[¶ 28] Standby counsel was absent when the jury sent out a question, and the defendant again protested standby counsel’s absence: “Well, Your Honor, I’m without counsel. I’d like to make an objection for the sake of the record, but I’ll lend you my feelings on it nevertheless.” The time when the jury sends out a question is a critical stage of the proceeding. See Coleman v. Alabama, 399 U.S. 1, 90 S.Ct. 1999, 26 L.Ed.2d 387 (1970) (counsel must be provided “at critical stages of the proceedings”); State v. Smuda, 419 N.W.2d 166, 167 (N.D.1988); People v. Harris, 294 Ill.App.3d 561, 229 Ill.Dec. 144, 691 N.E.2d 80, 85 (Ill.App.1998) (“Jury deliberations are a critical stage of trial and involve substantial rights.”).
[¶ 29] Standby counsel was absent at the time of sentencing. Although the defendant did not specifically raise the issue of absent counsel again, neither did the court inquire if there was any reason sentence should not be imposed at that time. The time of sentencing is a critical stage of the proceedings. State v. Nelson, 417 N.W.2d 814, 817 (N.D.1987) (quoting Commonwealth v. Knighton, 490 Pa. 16, 415 A.2d 9 (1980)) (“The sentencing decision is of paramount importance in our criminal justice system. At sentencing, the court seeks to vindicate society’s interest in imposing appropriate sanctions against those individuals determined to be criminally culpable.”).
[¶ 30] At the times standby counsel was absent, unless the defendant had agreed, the court needed to proceed in the same way it would if court-appointed counsel were absent. See State v. Poitra, 1998 ND 88, ¶ 7, 578 N.W.2d 121 (a criminal defen*414dant’s right to counsel is guaranteed by N.D. Const. art. I, § 12, and by the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution) (citing State v. Wicks, 1998 ND 76, ¶ 16, 576 N.W.2d 518; State v. DuPaul, 527 N.W.2d 238, 240 (N.D.1995)); see also United States v. Von Der Heide, 169 F.Supp. 560, 567 (D.D.C.1959) (trial cannot proceed without counsel unless privilege is waived).
[¶ 31] Because the defendant was misled by the court’s assurance he would have' standby counsel to assist him, his waiver of representation was not knowing and voluntary. I would reverse and remand for a new trial.
[¶ 32] Dale V. Sandstrom