Pfeiffer v. State, 69472

• Decision Date: 29 January 1985
• Docket Number: No. 69472,69472
• Citation: 326 S.E.2d 562,173 Ga.App. 374
• Parties: PFEIFFER v. The STATE.
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

Page 562

326 S.E.2d 562

173 Ga.App. 374

PFEIFFER v. The STATE.

No. 69472.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

Jan. 29, 1985.

Gregory W. Pfeiffer, pro se.

Gayle B. Hamrick, Sol., Michael C. Eubanks, Asst. Sol., for appellee.

BEASLEY, Judge.

Police officers observed appellant Pfeiffer back his automobile through a stop sign onto Wrightsboro Road. They followed him for a short distance whereupon he stopped. As the officers approached, Pfeiffer got out and, according to testimony, "just about fell down." As the officers tried to talk with him, Pfeiffer leaned on his car, seeming to steady himself, his eyes appeared "real bloodshot," his clothes were "unkempt," he was unshaven, and the "odor of alcohol on his breath was overwhelming."

A state court jury returned a verdict of guilty for the offenses of driving under the influence and improper backing, and Pfeiffer was sentenced to pay a $600 fine, serve 12 months' probation, take a driver improvement course and perform 80 hours of community service. Held:

1. Pfeiffer challenges the jurisdiction of the court to adjudicate the offenses charged. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and improper backing are misdemeanors. OCGA §§ 40-6-391 and 40-6-240. State courts have jurisdiction to try misdemeanors. OCGA § 15-7-4. The State Court of Richmond County was a proper forum in which to try Pfeiffer.

Pfeiffer further disputes jurisdiction by claiming that he cannot be prosecuted for the offenses charged because they were not crimes under the common law and because there was no victim. The General Assembly has by statute made criminal the acts of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (OCGA § 40-6-391) and improperly backing a vehicle (OCGA § 40-6-240). This enumeration of error is without merit.

2. Pfeiffer challenges the State's right to restrict his driving privilege by what are commonly known as the uniform rules of the road. In order to use the highways of this state, a license must be obtained from the state. OCGA § 40-5-20. The state, through the elected representatives of the people, have enacted the laws which appellant was convicted of violating and have declared that "It is unlawful ... for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this chapter [Chapter 6 of Title 40]." OCGA § 40-6-1. Appellant has shown no basis for his challenge.

3. Pfeiffer contends that he was erroneously denied counsel of his own choosing during his trial. Although the sixth amendment of the United States Constitution, which appellant invokes, guarantees every defendant aid of an attorney, that attorney need not be counsel of defendant's choosing. Kesler v. State, 249 Ga. 462, 474(12), 291 S.E.2d 497 (1982).

Appellant requested the appointment of counsel and the court granted this request. The record clearly indicates that throughout the trial of this case, Pfeiffer's court-appointed attorney represented him competently. In addition, Pfeiffer was permitted to personally assist in his own representation even to the extent of performing cross-examination of witnesses. There is no evidence in the record that Pfeiffer ever intended, or indicated to the court an intent, to employ licensed counsel of his own selection, nor at any point in the trial proceedings did he request substitute licensed counsel. Pfeiffer insists that he should have been afforded the right to have a non-attorney, i.e., a friend, as his counsel at trial. While it is certainly true that a defendant may proceed to defend himself without counsel (See, Rogers v. State, 156 Ga.App. 466, 274 S.E.2d 815 (1980); Shaw v. State, 163 Ga.App. 615, 294 S.E.2d 676 (1982)), he may not expand the right to counsel to include representation by someone else unauthorized to practice law. See, OCGA § 15-19-51; U.S. Const.Amend. VI; Ga. Const. Art. 1, § 1, Par. 14; United States v. Bertolini, 576 F.2d 1133 (5th Cir.1978); United States v. Anderson, 577 F.2d 258 (5th Cir.1978). The trial court did not err in refusing Pfeiffer's request to be represented by a non-attorney other than himself.

4. The record indicates that the appellant, on his own behalf, filed numerous pretrial motions. Among Pfeiffer's complaints is the charge that these motions were ruled on out of his presence. The record reflects that Pfeiffer was indeed present at the motions hearing, and that the court overruled such motions in chambers after taking them under advisement following the hearing and permitting the submission of subsequent briefs. We are unaware of any authority to support a right of a defendant to be present when a judge commits his decision to writing or instructs counsel to prepare an order; state court practice and procedure permits the judge to hear motions, enter interlocutory orders, and perform judicial acts and conduct proceedings, other than trials on the merits, in chambers. OCGA § 15-7-42.

Pfeiffer further maintains that he did not know of the court's ruling on the motions until the time of trial. At trial there was no indication whatsoever that the defense was not ready to proceed and no continuance was sought. The record reflects that the ruling on the motions had been filed earlier with the clerk of the court, apparently over a...