Court Opinion

ID: 9469559
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 02:43:56.680255+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:41:27.264492
License: Public Domain

JAMES C. HILL, Circuit Judge,
dissenting:
It is difficult to find fault with the reasoning of the majority opinion except that the syllogistic exercise reaches, in my opinion, the wrong result.
Mr. Dasher, a defendant in a criminal proceeding, is constitutionally entitled to be present at his trial, and, there, to confront his accusers. Pointer v. Texas, 380 U.S. 400, 85 S.Ct. 1065, 13 L.Ed.2d 923 (1965). That right may be waived, but as the majority states, “there was no waiver here.” No one disputes that Dasher protested being tried in absentia and none dispute that he was physically unable to attend the trial that was conducted.
I am aware of no precedent that permits accusing witnesses to be examined and cross-examined before the court and jury during the unwilling absence of the defendant. The majority finds some exceptions to the rule giving effect to confrontation rights. There are some proceedings in court involving the prosecution which may proceed without the defendant’s physical presence when no prejudice results therefrom. The majority permits these limited exceptions to gobble up the rule. It will not do to reason that, because a proceeding such as a pretrial conference may be conducted without the defendant’s presence, absent prejudice, the entire trial may be, as well. It is prejudice enough that a witness in a trial proceeding may accuse without looking at the defendant he accuses.1
*391It may be, under my view of the law, that the onset of disease may prevent the trial of an accused. But death also does, as does mental incapacity. Both the disease and the frustration of prosecution are to be regretted, but must be accepted.
I do not intend to suggest that a defendant may feign illness — or even voluntarily contract an illness — to escape prosecution. The court may inquire into the bona fides of the situation. Absence for such causes would be voluntary and would constitute a waiver of defendant’s right to be present.
No question has been raised as to the bona fide existence of Dasher’s physical infirmity. I would affirm the grant of the writ of habeas corpus.

. There are cases where an objective observer would correctly conclude that the presence of the defendant prejudices the defense, and voluntary absence would assist defense counsel. Yet, if the defendant wishes to attend, he has a constitutionally protected right to do so. A *391surreptitiously conducted trial in his absence could not, I apprehend, be validated by proof that the defendant stood a better chance of acquittal by jurors who did not see him than by those who did.