{ "id": 6140928, "name": "Carolyn Jean MURDOCK v. STATE of Arkansas", "name_abbreviation": "Murdock v. State", "decision_date": "1986-07-09", "docket_number": "CA CR 86-15", "first_page": "228", "last_page": "234", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "18 Ark. App. 228" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "712 S.W.2d 321" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark. Ct. App.", "id": 13370, "name": "Arkansas Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "271 Ark. 616", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1756098 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "defendant must be offered a reasonable opportunity to obtain counsel, but once counsel is obtained, any request for a change must be considered in the context of the public's interest in a reasonably prompt and competent dispensation of justice" }, { "parenthetical": "defendant must be offered a reasonable opportunity to obtain counsel, but once counsel is obtained, any request for a change must be considered in the context of the public's interest in a reasonably prompt and competent dispensation of justice" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/271/0616-01" ] }, { "cite": "276 Ark. 62", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1751562 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "the granting of a continuance rests in the sound discretion of the trial court, and a defendant cannot be permitted to use a change of lawyers as a device to delay a scheduled trial" }, { "parenthetical": "the granting of a continuance rests in the sound discretion of the trial court, and a defendant cannot be permitted to use a change of lawyers as a device to delay a scheduled trial" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/276/0062-01" ] }, { "cite": "265 Ark. 822", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1664816 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "828" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/265/0822-01" ] }, { "cite": "704 S.W.2d 608", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 8719184 ], "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/288/0237-02" ] }, { "cite": "288 Ark. 237", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8719184, 8719130 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "248" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/288/0237-02", "/ark/288/0237-01" ] }, { "cite": "17 Ark. App. 86", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark. App.", "case_ids": [ 6650620 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark-app/17/0086-01" ] }, { "cite": "262 Ark. 447", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1675846 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1977, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/262/0447-01" ] }, { "cite": "18 Ark. App. 166", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark. App.", "case_ids": [ 6139751 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ark-app/18/0166-01" ] }, { "cite": "704 S.W.2d 608", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 8719184 ], "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/288/0237-02" ] }, { "cite": "288 Ark. 237", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8719184, 8719130 ], "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/288/0237-02", "/ark/288/0237-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 560, "char_count": 9606, "ocr_confidence": 0.925, "pagerank": { "raw": 5.0011153170616546e-08, "percentile": 0.31402043130699897 }, "sha256": "9b5fa5a7105259f832c31ab9968449990a0143c03e27a646f10dc3698cdb4945", "simhash": "1:92fba29a758248f8", "word_count": 1643 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:17:44.845649+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Cooper, Corbin and Glaze, JJ., dissent." ], "parties": [ "Carolyn Jean MURDOCK v. STATE of Arkansas" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Melvin Mayfield, Judge.\nAppellant, Carolyn Jean Mur-dock, was charged in Pulaski County on February 11, 1985, with theft by receiving, and on May 15, 1985, with theft of property. The last charge also alleged that previously she had been convicted of more than one but less than four felonies and that her sentence should be enhanced under Ark. Stat. Ann. \u00a7 41-1001 (Supp. 1985). From the transcript of proceedings that occurred in open court and the documents in the record on appeal, we are informed of the facts set out in this opinion.\nOn June 25, 1985, the appellant appeared in court with her retained attorney, John Achor, and entered a plea of not guilty; she also waived trial by jury, and a trial was set for September 23, 1985. This trial date was passed at her attorney\u2019s request and, on his statement that a plea of guilty would be made, the case was set for October 17,1985. However, when appellant again requesteda trial by the court, the case was reset for October 28, 1985.\nOn October 28,1985, the appellant and Mr. Achor appeared in court. Earlier that morning, Mr. Achor had advised the court that the appellant had dismissed him as her attorney, and when this case was called, the appellant told the court she had employed Larry Carpenter to represent her, but she said he was unable to be there that day. The judge excused Mr. Achor, told the appellant she was going to trial, and suggested that she call Mr. Carpenter while the court was taking care of some other business. Later, the judge advised the appellant that Mr. Carpenter had sent word that he did not represent her. The judge told her that she would have to go to trial anyway, but took a recess for lunch and told appellant she could use that time to get a lawyer to represent her. Mr. Achor was still in the courtroom and was again told he was excused; however, the judge said whether he represented the appellant or not was up to her.\nAfter lunch, the case proceeded to trial over the appellant\u2019s objection to being tried without an attorney and over her request for time to obtain one. She was found guilty on both charges, but the court reduced the theft by receiving charge to a misdemeanor. Appellant was sentenced to one year in the county jail and ten years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. On appeal, the appellant argues, by counsel, that she was denied the right to have an attorney at trial in violation of the sixth and fourteenth amendments to the United States Constitution.\nAppellant concedes that the granting of a continuance lies within the sound discretion of the trial court and that we will not reverse the trial court\u2019s decision absent a clear abuse of discretion amounting to a denial of justice. Russell v. State 262 Ark. 447, 559 S.W.2d 7 (1977); Phillips v. State, 17 Ark. App. 86, 703 S.W.2d 471 (1986). It is argued, however, that the trial court abused its discretion in this case by excusing appellant\u2019s attorney of record and forcing her to trial without counsel and without giving her time to obtain one. In support of her argument appellant relies on the recent Arkansas Supreme Court case of Philyaw v. State, 288 Ark. 237, 704 S.W.2d 608 (1986).\nIn that case, Charles Philyaw was charged with attempted capital murder. His attorney of record, Gene Harrelson, had recently represented him in a robbery trial. On the date of his trial for attempted murder, appellant consented to Harrelson\u2019s withdrawal. However, on appeal, he argued that Harrelson had actually resigned because appellant would not accept an arranged plea bargain and because Harrelson had not been paid. The trial judge allowed Harrelson to withdraw and, although Philyaw requested counsel several times, the judge refused to appoint one because he believed the request was simply an attempt to delay the trial.\nThe Arkansas Supreme Court did not think the record supported the trial court\u2019s conclusion. The appellate court noted that Philyaw was not provided with an affidavit of indigency by the trial court as required by Rule 18 of the Uniform Rules for Circuit and Chancery Courts as a prerequisite for appointing counsel; that appellant was ignorant of the system and his power to force Harrelson to defend him even though Harrelson desired to withdraw; that Philyaw was incarcerated for several months preceding trial; and that he was unable to obtain retained counsel under the impossible conditions in which he found himself. In reversing Philyaw\u2019s conviction, the court held:\nWhen an accused appears with retained counsel, the trial judge should not allow the attorney of record to withdraw until:\n(1) new counsel\" has been retained; or\n(2) a showing of indigency has been made and counsel has been appointed; or\n(3) a voluntary and intelligent waiver of the right to counsel is established on the record.\n288 Ark. at 248.\nWhile at first glance Philyaw might seem to be dispositive of the case at bar, after careful consideration, we believe the present case presents a different situation. In Tyler v. State, 265 Ark. 822, 828, 581 S.W.2d 328 (1979), the court said:\nIt is widely recognized that the right to choose counsel may not be manipulated or subverted to obstruct the orderly procedures of the court or to interfere with the fair, efficient and effective administration of justice, particularly when a change of choice is made on the eve of trial, primarily for the purpose of delay, and without making any effort to obtain substitute counsel. (Citations omitted.) It has been appropriately said that the right to counsel cannot be used to play a \u201ccat and mouse game with the court,\u201d and held that, when it is, there is a waiver of the right and the court does not abuse its discretion in denying a continuance to permit employment of a new lawyer. (Citations omitted.)\nSee also Collins v. State, 276 Ark. 62, 632 S.W.2d 418 (1982) (the granting of a continuance rests in the sound discretion of the trial court, and a defendant cannot be permitted to use a change of lawyers as a device to delay a scheduled trial); Leggins v. State, 271 Ark. 616, 609 S.W.2d 76 (1980) (defendant must be offered a reasonable opportunity to obtain counsel, but once counsel is obtained, any request for a change must be considered in the context of the public\u2019s interest in a reasonably prompt and competent dispensation of justice).\nIn the instant case, appellant had been represented by Mr. Achor on at least three prior occasions when she had pled guilty to the offenses charged; she was familiar with the court system and aware of her right to counsel; there is no indication in the record that appellant was indigent or unable to have retained counsel in court on the day of trial, nor did she suggest she desired appointed counsel; appellant had been free on bond from June 3,1985, until her trial on October 28, 1985; she had obtained at least two continuances from the court by changing her plea from \u201cnot guilty\u201d to \u201cguilty\u201d and to \u201cnot guilty\u201d again; and finally, but we think very importantly, she fired her own retained counsel six days before her trial.\nAlthough appellant said she had hired Larry Carpenter to represent her and she needed only a week\u2019s continuance for him to prepare, Mr. Carpenter denied to the court that he had even agreed to represent her. Mr. Achor, who had represented appellant on various criminal charges since 1976, was available in court and indicated that he was willing to continue as appellant\u2019s counsel but she did not accept his services.\nUnder all the circumstances in this case, we hold that the court did not abuse its discretion in refusing appellant\u2019s request for a continuance, and that her constitutional rights under the sixth and fourteenth amendments to the United States Constitution were not violated.\nAffirmed.\nCooper, Corbin and Glaze, JJ., dissent.", "type": "majority", "author": "Melvin Mayfield, Judge." }, { "text": "James R. Cooper, Judge,\ndissenting. I respectfully dissent from the majority\u2019s opinion because I believe that this case is controlled by Philyaw v. State, 288 Ark. 237, 704 S.W.2d 608 (1986). The majority attempts to distinguish Philyaw by stating that there was no indication in the record that the appellant was unable to have retained counsel in court on the day of trial, nor that she desired appointed counsel, nor that she was indigent. It is true that the record does not indicate any of those situations, but the absence of such information does not, I submit, satisfy Philyaw\u2019s requirement that the trial judge determine whether the defendant has new retained counsel; is indigent and counsel has been appointed; or that there has been a voluntary and intelligent waiver of counsel.\nFurther, I cannot find any meaningful distinction between the case at bar and Suire v. State, 18 Ark. App. 166, 712 S.W.2d 317 (1986), which this Court reversed for failure to comply with Philyaw\u2019s requirements.\nAs a final note, although the issue was not raised at the trial court level or on appeal, the appellant was not sentenced in accordance with Arkansas law. She was ordered to serve consecutive sentences for a misdemeanor and a felony. Under Ark. Stat. Ann., Section 41-903(3)(a) (Repl. 1977), such sentences must run concurrently, with both sentences being satisfied by service of the sentence for the felony. This would appear to be a proper subject for a petition under Rule 37.\nCorbin and Glaze, JJ., join in this dissent.", "type": "dissent", "author": "James R. Cooper, Judge," } ], "attorneys": [ "Grant & Berry, by -^Sandra T. Berry, for appellant.", "Steve Clark, Att\u2019y Gen., by: William F. Knight, Asst. Att\u2019y Gen., for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Carolyn Jean MURDOCK v. STATE of Arkansas\nCA CR 86-15\n712 S.W.2d 321\nCourt of Appeals of Arkansas En Banc\nOpinion delivered July 9, 1986\nGrant & Berry, by -^Sandra T. Berry, for appellant.\nSteve Clark, Att\u2019y Gen., by: William F. Knight, Asst. Att\u2019y Gen., for appellee." }, "file_name": "0228-01", "first_page_order": 250, "last_page_order": 256 }