Christian v. United States

• Decision Date: 25 July 1968
• Docket Number: No. 9873.,9873.
• Citation: 398 F.2d 517
• Parties: Vernon George CHRISTIAN, Appellant, v. UNITED STATES of America, Appellee.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Tenth Circuit

398 F.2d 517 (1968)

Vernon George CHRISTIAN, Appellant, v. UNITED STATES of America, Appellee.

No. 9873.

United States Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit.

July 25, 1968.

Stan P. Doyle, Tulsa, Okla., for the appellant.

Hubert H. Bryant, Asst. U. S. Atty., (Lawrence A. McSoud, U. S. Atty., and Robert P. Santee, Asst. U. S. Atty., with him on the brief) for the appellee.

Before MURRAH, Chief Judge, BREITENSTEIN and HILL, Circuit Judges.

MURRAH, Chief Judge.

Following a trial to the court the appellant was found guilty of violating 18 U.S.C. § 2312 (Dyer Act) and received a two year sentence. His appeal from that judgment and sentence concerns the interpretation and implementation of subsection (e) of the Criminal Justice Act of 1964 which provides for the appointment and payment of experts and investigators to assist defense counsel.¹ This provision has been infrequently utilized,² and, so far as we can find, has not been subjected to judicial interpretation.

Appellant was arrested on July 10, 1967. Counsel was immediately appointed and interviewed the appellant. On July 20, 1967, counsel filed motions for a mental examination, a bill of particulars and authorization for the appointment of an investigator pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(e). In support of his motion for the authorization of an investigator, counsel alleged that the defendant was being held in Tulsa County Jail and was unable to investigate the facts relating to the charges pending against him. Counsel urged that an investigation should be made immediately to locate and preserve facts for presentation to the court upon trial of the cause. The court granted the motion for a bill of particulars and ordered the defendant be sent to the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners at Springfield, Missouri, to undergo a complete mental examination. The court denied the motion for appointment of an investigator pending determination of the appellant's mental capacity to stand trial.

Following his return from Springfield where he had been found capable to assist counsel in his defense, Christian appeared before the trial court and, on September 26, 1967, entered a plea of not guilty. Counsel made a second request for the authorization of an investigator and the motion was granted at that time. Appellant urges this court to set aside his conviction and sentence on the sole ground that the trial court erred in denying the July 20 motion for authorization of an investigator to assist appointed counsel.

The purpose of the Criminal Justice Act of 1964, as proclaimed in its preamble is "To promote the cause of criminal justice by providing for the representation of defendants who are financially unable to obtain an adequate defense in criminal cases in the courts of the United States." In support of the proposed legislation Attorney General Kennedy emphasized that "justice is not done when poverty prevents a person from securing effective legal representation for his defense against a criminal prosecution which places his personal liberty, or even his life, in jeopardy. This legislation is designed to bring the scales of justice into balance in such cases."³

While every criminal defendant who is financially unable to obtain counsel is entitled to the appointment of counsel at government expense, not every similarly situated defendant is entitled to appointment of an investigator or for other expert services. The commissioner or court, before appointing counsel, need only be satisfied "that the defendant is financially unable to obtain counsel,"⁴ but the court, before authorizing subsection (e) services, must also find "after appropriate inquiry in an ex parte proceeding that the services are necessary * * *."⁵

When counsel requests court authority for the employment of an investigator or experts, he should point out with specificity the reasons such services are necessary. Although counsel has the primary responsibility to determine if subsection (e) services will be necessary,⁶ the proper and effective administration of the Act requires the trial judge to satisfy himself that such services are necessary and to articulate the reasons therefore.

Where the defendant satisfactorily establishes the need for subsection (e) services the district court has a duty to authorize such services for the proper preparation of defendant's case.⁷ This duty can only be discharged by the authorization of subsection (e) services at such a time and under such circumstances which insure the giving of effective aid in the preparation and trial of a case and obviate the likelihood of prejudice from delay which could prevent a fair trial.⁸ Cf. Powell v. State of Alabama, 287 U.S. 45, 71, 53 S.Ct. 55, 77 L.Ed. 158 (1932).

In this case, the district judge authorized the employment of an investigator after the defendant returned from Springfield. Since the propriety of the authorization is not challenged, we will assume that the trial judge was satisfied that the services were necessary. The narrow question before us then is whether the trial court erred in refusing to authorize employment of an investigator prior to completion of the mental examination.

Where, as here, the charges are relatively uncomplicated and the delay is not unduly extended,⁹ prejudice will not be presumed. If prejudice has in fact occurred, the appellant must so establish by clear and convincing evidence. Appellant made no allegation that witnesses became unavailable or evidence lost. His assertion that the prompt authorization for the employment of an investigator was necessary for the location and preservation of evidence is "subjective rationalization and doesn't probe a fact."¹⁰ The trial court's decision to delay authorization of investigative assistance until the...