State v. Robbins

                                                 PJo.        83-317

                 I N THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE O F MONTANA

                                                             1985




STATE O F MONTANA,

                     P l a i n t i f f and R e s p o n d e n t ,

    -vs-

TERRY LEE ROBBINS,

                     D e f e n d a n t and A p p e l l a n t .




APPEAL FROM:         D i s t r i c t C o u r t of t h e S i x t h J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t ,
                     I n and f o r t h e C o u n t y of S w e e t G r a s s ,
                     T h e H o n o r a b l e T h o m a s A. O l s o n , Judge p r e s i d i n g .


COUNSEL OF RECORD:


         For A p p e l l a n t :

                 T e r r y Lee Robbins,                  p r o s e , D e e r L o d g e , Montana


         F o r Respondent:

                 H o n . Mike G r e e l y , A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l , H e l e n a , Plontana
                 G. T h o m a s B i g l e n , C o u n t y A t t o r n e y , B i g T i m b e r ,
                 Montana




                                                 S u b m i t t e d on B r i e f s :   June 13, 1 9 8 5
                                                                           Decided:   S e p t e m b e r 23,   1985



Filed:      $EP    2 A 1985

                                                         f
                                     /. t
                                      . -
                                      4      -
                                            L /,
                                                   ',/
                                                     -.A&,&-&$#,
                                                                   @   .:.w-?

                                                                                -
                                                                                -
                                                 Clerk                 2
                                                                       -
Mr. Justice John Conway Harrison delivered the Opinion of the
Court.

        This is an appeal of a conviction from the District
Court of the       Sixth Judicial District, Sweetgrass County.
Following a jury trail, Terry Lee Robbins was found guilty of
two counts of burglary in violation of            §    45-6-204, MCA, and
one count of felony theft in violation of S 45-6-301, MCA.
He was sentenced to ten years in the Montana State Prison
under each of the burglary counts, to run consecutively, and
to ten years under the felony theft count, to be                       served
concurrently with the sentence for burglary.                  Defendant was
designated a dangerous offender.           We affirm.
        Robbins    and   a    companion,    James      Weaver,    travelled

together in a westerly direction across southern Montana in
late July, 1982.     They arrived in Rig Timber the afternoon of
August 3, 1982, and checked in as guests at the Grand Hotel.
They w e e subsequently charged with burglarizing the game
room in the hotel        and a nearby sport shop in the early
morning hours of August 4, 1982.            The coin doors of various
game    machines    in   the    hotel     had   been    pried    open     and
forty-seven pistols were missing from the sport shop.
        The suspects were arrested by police in Twin Falls,
Idaho, on August 6, 1982.               Weaver pleaded guilty to the
offenses    charged.          Robbins     resisted     extradition,      but
eventually was extradited to Montana and appeared in Sweet
Grass    County    District    Court     September      20,    1982.      The
Honorable Jack Shanstrom, District Judge, appointed James
Tulley defendant's counsel and a trial date was set.                   Tulley
filed a motion for substitution of judge September 27, 1982.
Consequently the trial date was vacated.
      On       September   30,     1982,     Robbins      moved     pro     se   for
dismissa 1     of   Tulley.        In    the meantime,          Judge     Shanstrom
disqualified        himself      and    Judge     W.    W.      Lessley    assumed
jurisdiction over the cause.               During the month of October
Robbins filed numerous pro se motions, although at least one
of those motions indicated he still considered Tulley to be
acting as his counsel.             The court acted on Robbins' motion
for dismissal of counsel November 8, 1982.                   Prior to Tulley's
dismissal. however, Robbins pleaded not guilty to an amended

information.
      On       November    15,    1982,     the    court        ordered    Robbins
transferred to the custody of Missoula County authorities to

answer     theft    charges      against     him       there.       Counsel      was
appointed for Robbins in Missoula, who negotiated with the
Sweet Grass County Attorney regarding a plea bargain on the
Missnula County charges.                During the time Robbins was in
custody in Missoula County, Judge Lessley retired and the
Honorable Thomas Olson, newly elected District Judge, assumed
his duties January 1, 1983.              On January 6, 1983, Judge Olson
ordered Robbins returned from Missoula County to Big Timber
for a hearing on pending motions.                 Mr. Karl Knuchel assumed
the duties of counsel for Robbins January 7, 1983.                         A trial
date was set for February 23, 1983.                     Robbins, through his
counsel, filed a motion to dismiss for lack of a speedy
trial, which the court dismissed.
      Robbins raises three issues on appeal:
         (1) Whether he was denied his constitutional right to
counsel.
         (2)   Whether     he     received      effective        assistance      of
counsel.
          (3)     Whether h e was a f f o r d e d h i s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l                     right

t o a speedy t r i a l .

          R o b b i n s a r g u e s h e was d e n i e d h i s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t

to counsel.               He    contends          n o c o u n s e l was          a p p o i n t e d f o r him

p r i o r t o h i s a r r a i g n m e n t November 8 ,                   1982, and t h e r e q o r e he

was     denied       his        right        to    assistance             of     counsel          during     a

c r i t i c a l stage of            t h e p r o c e e d i n g s a g a i n s t him.            The r e c o r d

shows t h i s i s n o t t h e c a s e .                 Mr.    James T u l l e y was a p p o i n t e d

c o u n s e l September 20,               1982.         Although Robbins f i l e d a motion

t o d i s m i s s c o u n s e l o n S e p t e m b e r 3 0 , 1 9 8 2 , it was n o t a c t e d o n

u n t i l November 8 , 1982.                  F u r t h e r a s u b s e q u e n t m o t i o n f i l e d by

Robbins       October          6,     1982,       stated      h e was r e p r e s e n t e d         by M r .

Tulley.           Mr.          Tulley        was        present          with       Robbins        at     his

a r r a i g n m e n t November 8 .             R o b b i n s a c k n o w l e d g e d h e was c a p a b l e

of    entering        a    plea         and       did    enter       a     plea       of    not    guilty.

Tulley      registered              no o b j e c t i o n ,    with t h e understanding                    the

c o u r t a l l o w Robbins t o f i l e whatever subsequent motions might

be necessary.              Even i f M r .           T u l l e y had b e e n d i s m i s s e d b e f o r e

K o b b i n s e n t e r e d a p l e a , t h e r e c o r d i n d i c a t e s R o b b i n s made a n

i n t e l l i g e n t and informed p l e a .                  I n any e v e n t ,          no p r e j u d i c e

resulted        from t h e claimed absence o f c o u n s e l .                              Robbins p l e d

n o t g u i l t y t o a l l of t h e c h a r g e s and d i d n o t f o r f e i t a n y o f

his     rights.           In     any       critical          stage       of     the    proceedings           a

d e f e n d a n t may q u e s t i o n f a i l u r e t o p r o v i d e c o u n s e l o n l y w h e r e

potential        substantial               prejudice          inheres          in     the     absence      of

counsel.         Cadena v .           Estelle        (5th. Cir.           1 9 8 0 ) , 6 1 1 F.2d        1385.

S e e a l s o U n i t e d S t a t e s v. Lacy ( 5 t h C i r .                 1 9 7 1 ) , 4 4 6 F.2d     511.

A c r i t i c a l s t a g e i s a n y s t e p of t h e p r o c e e d i n g where t h e r e i s

potential        substantial              prejudice           to   the         defendant.            United

S t a t e v. Wade ( 1 9 6 7 ) , 388 U.S.                 218, 87 S . C t .          1 9 2 6 , 1 8 L.Ed.2d

1149;      State      v.       Dieziger            (Mont.      1982),           650    P.2d       800,     39
St.Rep.       1734.       Robbins h a s n o t shown, n o r c o u l d h e show h e

was    prejudiced         in     a n y way     a t the       time    of     his    arraignment

November 8.

         C o u n s e l was n o t a p p o i n t e d f o r Robbins b e f o r e September

20 b e c a u s e h e was i n I d a h o f i g h t i n g e x t r a d i t i o n t o Montana.

C o u n s e l was a p p o i n t e d f o r him a t h i s f i r s t c o u r t a p p e a r a n c e

September 20.             Robbins c l a i m e d a c o n f l i c t o f i n t e r e s t on t h e

p a r t o f c o u n s e l and on September 30 f i l e d a m o t i o n f o r h i s

dismissal.          The r e c o r d shows c o u n s e l had d o n e a " s u b s t a n t i a l

amount" o f i n v e s t i g a t i v e work p r i o r t o h i s d i s m i s s a l November

8.     I n o t h e r words,        Robbins was r e p r e s e n t e d by c o u n s e l from

September         20 u n t i l    November       8.        The c o u r t d i d n o t      find     a

conflict of          interest,       b u t d i s m i s s e d c o u n s e l b e c a u s e Robbins

asked     that      he be        dismissed.           On   November       15,      Robbins was

transferred         t o Missoula         County where h e was r e p r e s e n t e d              by

c o u r t a p p o i n t e d c o u n s e l on t h e t h e f t c h a r g e s p e n d i n g t h e r e .

T h i s c o u n s e l was a c t i n g on R o b b i n s ' b e h a l f on t h e Sweet G r a s s

County c h a r g e s by a t t e m p t i n g t o have t h e c h a r g e s d i s m i s s e d a s

p a r t o f a p l e a b a r g a i n on t h e M i s s o u l a County c h a r g e s .

         When Robbins was r e t u r n e d from M i s s o u l a , K a r l Knuchel

was    appointed          counsel      and     immediately          filed      a   motion       for

discovery.         Mr.    Knuchel had s i x and o n e - h a l f           weeks t o p r e p a r e

f o r t h e t r i a l s c h e d u l e d t o b e g i n F e b r u a r y 23.      Adequate t i m e

to    prepare       for    trial      is essential            to    the     S i x t h Amendment

guarantee of e f f e c t i v e representation of counsel.                              There i s

nothing      to    indicate        h e had i n s u f f i c i e n t t i m e a d e q u a t e l y t o

prepare.          Had c o u n s e l been       a p p o i n t e d e a r l i e r i t would have

been d i f f i c u l t t o p r e p a r e f o r t r i a l w i t h Robbins i n M i s s o u l a .

Finally,       t h e r e i s no e v i d e n c e Robbins was p r e j u d i c e d by t h e

l a t e appointment o f counsel.
          The       delay        in     appointment          of     Mr.     Knuchel         was     not

intentional.                 After Mr.        T u l l e y had b e e n d i s m i s s e d ,    Robbins

was t r a n s f e r r e d t o M i s s o u l a County.              J u d g e L e s s l e y , who had

assumed         jurisdiction,                retired        and     Judge      Olson         assumed

jurisdiction over t h e case.                       Mr.    Knuchel began w o r k i n g on t h e

case     within          a     day      or     two    after       Robbins       returned           from

Missoula.

          It        is         clear         that     Robbins         was       afforded            his

constitutional                rights    t o counsel          a t a l l c r i t i c a l stages of

t h e p r o c e e d i n g s a g a i n s t him and any c l a i m e d d e n i a l o f c o u n s e l

f o r a n y p e r i o d o f t i m e d i d n o t r e s u l t i n p r e j u d i c e t o him.

Finally,          " [ a ] ny    error,        defect,       irregularity,           or      variance

which d o e s n o t a f f e c t s u b s t a n t i a l r i g h t s s h a l l b e d i s r e g a r d e d

[on a p p e a l ]   ," $       46-20-702,          MCA.     Robbins h a s f a i l e d t o show

violation          of    his      right       to     counsel      during      the       proceedings

a g a i n s t him and t h e r e f o r e h i s c l a i m i s d e n i e d .

          Robbins a r g u e s h e d i d n o t h a v e e f f e c t i v e a s s i s t a n c e o f

counsel.           This contention,                 however,      i s c o n t r a d i c t e d by t h e

record.           The    right         to    counsel       i s guaranteed          by     the     Sixth

Amendment t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n and by A r t .                  11,

S 2 4 o f t h e Montana C o n s t i t u t i o n .             The c o u r t h a s i n t e r p r e t e d

these     guarantees             to    mean       effective       assistance of             counsel,

S t a t e v. Bubnash ( 1 9 6 1 ) , 139 Mont.                 517, 366 P.2d          1 5 5 , and h a s

adopted t h e "reasonably e f f e c t i v e a s s i s t a n c e " test s t a t e d a s

follows:            "Persons           accused       of    crime     are     entitled        to     the

effective assistance of                       counsel a c t i n g within            t h e range of

competence demanded o f a t t o r n e y s i n c r i m i n a l c a s e s . "                       State

v.    Rose        (1980),        187    Mont.        74,    86,     608     P.2d     1074,        1081.

Challenging             the     affective           assistance       of     counsel       places      a

burden       on     a    defendant           to     show    "that     the    error        allegedly

committed          by     a     lawyer        resulted       in    prejudice         to     him     and
stemmed from n e g l e c t o r i g n o r a n c e r a t h e r t h a n                  from i n f o r m e d

professiona 1 deliberation.                   "    S t a t e v.      Morigeau         (Mont. 1982) ,

6 5 6 P.2d     1 8 5 , 1 8 9 , 39 St.Rep.           2311, 2317.

          Robbins'         specific       allegations of                 various        failures        of

appointed counsel simply do n o t w i t h s t a n d s c r u t i n y .                          There i s

no    evidence        i n t h e record            counsel refused               t o c a l l defense

witnesses.             There        is   no       evidence          that       even    had         certain

w i t n e s s e s b e e n c a l l e d t h e y would h a v e been more t h a n " a f t e r

the     fact"        witnesses.            That         is,    the        relevance           of     their

t e s t i m o n y a s t o f a c t s s u r r o u n d i n g t h e commission o f t h e c r i m e

would h a v e b e e n minimal a t b e s t .                    The r e c o r d d o e s n o t show

appointed         counsel         opened          the    door       to        evidence        of     other

crimes.        Nor d o e s t h e r e c o r d s u p p o r t t h e need f o r a c h a n g e o f

venue.          Defense        counsel        argued          lack       of    corroboration            of

a c c o m p l i c e Weaver's        testimony,           and h e moved            for a directed

verdict        for    lack of        corroboration of                accomplice testimony.

The      record        shows       corroborative              evidence           was      presented.

Robbins'       c h a r g e t h a t c o u n s e l f a i l e d t o move f o r s u p p r e s s i o n

o f c e r t a i n e v i d e n c e b o r d e r s on t h e r i d i c u l o u s .          The p r i m a r y

e v i d e n c e was t h e s t o l e n g u n s , which w e r e s e i z e d p u r s u a n t t o a

properly issued search warrant.                          Robbins a c t u a l l y v o l u n t e e r e d

t o a r r e s t i n g o f f i c e r s t h a t h e had a gun on h i s p e r s o n .                  There

w e r e no i r r e g u l a r i t i e s i n R o b b i n s ' a r r e s t .        I n f a c t , defense

c o u n s e l ' s d e c i s i o n n o t t o move t o s u p p r e s s i s i n d i c a t i v e o f

sound      professional             judgment,           not     ineffective              assistance.

          A l l e g a t i o n s o f i n e f f e c t i v e a s s i s t a n c e o f c o u n s e l "must

be    grounded        on    f a c t which a p p e a r i n o r a r e e a s i l y deduced

from     the     record       and     which        go beyond         . .       . mere     conclusory

allegations.                 There        must          be      a        showing         of        actual

ineffectiveness             on    the     part      of       counsel."           S t a t e v.       Lewis
(1978),          177 Mont.        474,      485,    5 8 2 P.2d      346,     353.          See a l s o

D i G i a l l o n a r d o v. B e t z e r    ( 1 9 7 3 ) , 163 Mont.      1 0 4 , 515 P.2d       705.

          Robbins          did   not       demonstrate        the       alleged       errors      and

o m i s s i o n s o f h i s c o u n s e l r e s u l t e d i n p r e j u d i c e t o him.       He i s

unable       to        support     his      allegations          with      specific          factual

instances.               Rather,       the      allegations             reveal       his     counsel

e x e r c i s e d p r o f e s s i o n a l judgment o f o n e who z e a l o u s l y d e f e n d e d

his    client.             Nor   did       Robbins meet          t h e Morigeau            standard,

supra, o r t h e reasonably e f f e c t i v e a s s i s t a n c e test.

          The U n i t e d S t a t e s Supreme C o u r t r e c e n t l y a d d r e s s e d t h e

issue       of     ineffective             assistance       of     counsel,          applying      an

o b j e c t i v e standard of reasonableness.

                  A       convicted            defendant' s          claim        that
                  c o u n s e l ' s a s s i s t a n c e was s o d e f ~ c t i v ea s
                  t o require             reversal of             a conviction
                  . ..           h a s two components.                 First, the
                  defendant             must        show       that       counsel ' s
                  p e r f o r m a n c e was d e f i c i e n t .   This r e q u i r e s
                  showing           that       c o u n s e l made e r r o r s s o
                  s e r i o u s t h a t c o u n s e l was n o t f u n c t i o n i n g
                  a s t h e "counsel" guaranteed t h e defendant
                  by t h e S i x t h Amendment.                      Second, t h e
                  d e f e n d a n t must show t h a t t h e d e f i c i e n t
                  performance p r e j u d i c e d t h e defense.                  This
                  r e q u i r e s showing t h a t c o u n s e l ' s e r r o r s
                  were         so      serious         as     to    deprive        the
                  d e f e n d a n t o f a f a i r t r i a l , a t r i a l whose
                  result is reliable.                       Unless a defendant
                  makes b o t h s h o w i n g s , it c a n n o t b e s a i d
                  t h a t t h e conviction          ...           r e s u l t e d from
                  a breakdown i n t h e a d v e r s a r y p r o c e s s t h a t
                  renders t h e r e s u l t unreliable.

S t i c k l a n d v.    Washington          (1985),              U.S.            I   at           104



          Robbins          has     failed          to   demonstrate           his          counsel's

p e r f o r m a n c e was s o s e r i o u s l y d e f i c i e n t t o c o n c l u d e he was n o t

f u n c t i o n i n g a s t h e c o u n s e l g u a r a n t e e d by t h e S i x t h Amendment.

He    has    f a i l e d t o show h i s c o u n s e l ' s p e r f o r m a n c e p r e j u d i c e d

h i s d e f e n s e t o t h e e x t e n t h e was d e n i e d a             fair trial.            To

show p r e j u d i c e :
                  The d e f e n d a n t must show t h a t t h e r e i s a
                  reasonable probability                 that,  but    for
                  counsel 's           unprofessiona 1      errors,    the
                  r e s u l t o f a p r o c e e d i n g would h a v e been
                  d i f f e r e n t . A reasonable probability i s a
                  probability             sufficient      to   undermine
                  c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e outcome.

Strickland,             104 S.Ct.            a t 2068,       80 L.Ed.2d          a t 698.          Robbins

h a s n o t done t h i s .             H e h a s n o t shown t h e outcome o f h i s t r i a l

would b e         d i f f e r e n t had        counsel performed d i f f e r e n t l y .                 The

test of effective assistance i s not acquittal.

           Finally,           Robbins          contends        he       was     not     afforded         his

constitutional                right       to    a     speedy       trial        guaranteed         by    the

S i x t h Amendment               t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n and A r t .

11,    S    24     of       the      Montana         Constitution.               In    analyzing         the

validity          of    a    claim of           lack of        a    speedy t r i a l ,         t h e Court

investigates                and     balances         four     factors           set    forth       by    the

U n i t e d S t a t e s Supreme C o u r t i n B a r k e r v.                    Wingo        ( 1 9 7 2 ) , 407

U.S.       514,        92    S.Ct.       2182,       33     L.Ed.2d        101:        (1) l e n g t h     of

delay;        (2)       reason           for     the       delay;         (3)     the        defendant's

a s s e r t i o n o f h i s r i g h t t o a speedy t r i a l ;                  and    (4)      prejudice

t o t h e defendant.                  Length o f d e l a y i s o f primary importance.

Unless       it i s         sufficiently             long t o be           deemed       presumptively

p r e j u d i c i a l t o t h e defendant,                 t h e r e i s no need t o c o n s i d e r

the other factors.                     What l e n g t h w i l l b e deemed p r e s u m p t i v e l y

prejudicial             depends         on     the    facts        in    each     individual          case.

S t a t e v. Worden            ( 1 9 8 0 ) , 188 Mont.        94, 611 P.2d             185.

           The     Sixth           Amendment          has     no        application           until      the

p u t a t i v e d e f e n d a n t i n some way becomes a n a c c u s e d .                        Until. a

c i t i z e n becomes an a c c u s e d h e s u f f e r s no r e s t r a i n t s on h i s

l i b e r t y and i s n o t t h e s u b j e c t o f p u b l i c a c c u s a t i o n .               United

States       v.     Marion           (1971),         404    U.S.        307,    92     S.Ct.      455,     30

L.Ed.2d       468.           Robbins a r g u e s t h a t t h e t i m e s h o u l d b e g i n t o

r u n when t h e a r r e s t was made,                     August 6 ,          1982.      I n S t a t e v.
Smith (Mont. 1983), 670 P.2d 96, 100, 40 St.Rep. 1533, 1537,
we   said    the    clock   begins    to   run when       the defendant is
arrested or when the complaint is filed.              This is consistent
with State v. Larson (Mont. 1981), 623 P.2d 954, 957-58, 38
St.Rep. 213, 215, where we said once a person is accused and
subject to criminal prosecution that accusation may be by
arrest, the        filing of a       complaint, or by        indictment or
information.        It is at this time the person is afforded the
constitutional protection of a speedy trial.                 See also State
v. Ackley (Mont. 1982), 653 P.2d 851, 39 St.Rep. 2091.

        The real issue, however, is whether Robbins or the
State should be charged with the time Robbins was in Idaho
resisting extradition to Montana.            Robbins argues this time
should be weighed against the State because he was being held
on a Montana warrant and therefore was subject to Montana's

jurisdiction.        The State argues this time should not be
weighed against the State because Robbins was not subject to
Montana's in personam jurisdiction.           We agree with the State.
During the forty-five days from Robbins' arrest August 6 in
Twin Falls, Idaho, until his appearance in                   court in Big
Timber, Montana, he was resisting extradition to Montana.
That time is attributable to him and he therefore waives any
right       to     complain    of     lack    of      a     speedy   trial.
". . .   [D]elay[s] in bringing a defendant to trial caused or
consented to by        defendant are considered to constitute a
waiver of the right to be tried within the time fixed by
statute or required by the constitution."                 State v. Talmadge
(Idaho 1983), 658 P.2d         920, 924.      See also State v. Balla
(Idaho 1976) , 544 P. 2d 1148, where the Idaho court decided
extradition tolls the calculation of the length of the delay.
             P r e v i o u s h o l d i n g s on t h i s i s s u e a r e i n c o n f l i c t .          In

State        v.    Ackley,         supra,      even       though          the   defendant        waived

extradition,             t h e t i m e between h i s a r r e s t i n Oregon and h i s

initial           appearance          in     Missoula         County,           Montana,      weighed

against           him.        In    State       v.     Smith,       supra,        however,        where

defendant           resisted extradition,                  p r o c e e d i n g s which c o n t i n u e d

f o r n e a r l y s i x t y d a y s a l s o weighed a g a i n s t t h e d e f e n d a n t .            In

S t a t e v.       Armstrong         (Mont.        1 9 8 0 ) , 616 P.2d          341,    37 St.Rep.

1 5 6 3 , t h e C o u r t i s c l e a r , when computing l e n g t h o f d e l a y it

d o e s n o t i n c l u d e t h a t t i m e i n which t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d o e s

n o t have j u r i s d i c t i o n      t o engage i n proceedings l e a d i n g t o a

t r i a 1.

             Diligent         prosecution            includes         a     timely       demand      for

extradition of                a defendant,           and e x t r a d i t i o n p r o c e e d i n g s a r e

s u f f i c i e n t r e a s o n f o r d e l a y i f t h e S t a t e h a s been d i l i g e n t .

S t a t e v.      Smith,       supra.         The r i g h t o f a d e f e n d a n t t o r e s i s t

formal e x t r a d i t i o n ,       however,        cannot be charged t o t h e S t a t e

when computing t h e l e n g t h o f d e l a y f o r s p e e d y t r i a l ,                     i f the

S t a t e i s a c t i n g i n good f a i t h .           Balla, supra.             The r i g h t o f a

defendant           to    a    speedy       trial      commences when              h e becomes        an

accused.               Marion,     Smith,       Larson,         and       Ackley,       supra.       The

court        t h e n must      acquire        in     personam         jurisdiction         over      the

a c c u s e d t o engage i n p r o c e e d i n g s l e a d i n g t o a t r i a l .               I f the

a c c u s e d i s o u t o f s t a t e , t h e S t a t e must a c t d i l i g e n t l y and i n

good     f a i t h t o acquire jurisdiction.                          A t t h e same t i m e ,       the

accused has a r i g h t t o resist e x t r a d i t i o n .                      When h e d o e s s o ,

however,          he     loses     t h o s e d a y s he r e s i s t s from c o m p u t a t i o n o f

length of delay.                 When an a c c u s e d d o e s n o t r e s i s t , t h o s e d a y s

s h o u l d n o t b e weighed              a g a i n s t him when t h e S t a t e i s a c t i n g

d i l i g e n t l y and i n good f a i t h .            For t h i s reason, i n c l u s i o n o f

t h o s e d a y s i n computing t h e l e n g t h o f d e l a y , a s was done i n
Ackely,       will     no    longer        be      the     rule.        Only     those       days    an

accused a c t i v e l y resists e x t r a d i t i o n w i l l be included.                         Days

i n which t h e c o u r t d o e s n o t o r c a n n o t ,               through t h e S t a t e ' s

e f f o r t s , a c q u i r e j u r i s d i c t i o n over an accused w i l l be counted

a g a i n s t t h e a c c u s e d and w i l l n o t b e i n c l u d e d i n computing t h e

l ength of delay.

         When a p p l y i n g t h e B a r k e r t e s t , i t i s f i r s t n e c e s s a r y t o

c o n s i d e r whether      t h e d e l a y which o c c u r r e d             i s presumptively

prejudicial         t o Robbins.              201 d a y s e l a p s e d between             the t i m e

Robbins       was     arrested         August        6,    1982 and           the    time     he    was

brought t o t r i a l ,           February 23,            1983.        During f o r t y - f i v e    of

t h e s e d a y s Robbins was i n I d a h o r e s i s t i n g e x t r a d i t i o n .                As

n o t e d e a r l i e r t h e s e d a y s c a n n o t b e weighed a g a i n s t t h e S t a t e ,

and w i l l n o t b e i n c l u d e d i n computing t h e d e l a y .                  Therefore,

156 d a y s     elapsed        from t h e          time    of     Robbins'          initial       court

a p p e a r a n c e i n B i g Timber September 20,                   1982, u n t i l h i s t r i a l

began      February         23,     1983.          During       this      period       there       were

further delays,             some o f which w e r e                c a u s e d by Robbins.            On

September 2 7 , he d i s q u a l i f i e d Judge S h a n s t r o m , which c a u s e d a

delay.         On    September          30,     he       attempted        to    disqualify          his

counsel       and    began         f i l j - n g motions        both     as     though      he     were

r e p r e s e n t i n g himself      and      as    though        he w e r e    represented          by

counsel.         Some o f t h e s e m o t i o n s w e r e r e s p o n d e d t o a s t h o u g h

he    were      representing            himself.             On      November         15     he     was

transferred          to     Missoula          County       to      answer       charges        there,

resulting i n a further delay of fifty-two                                 days.       This delay

should      not     weigh         against       the       State,       consistent          with     our

holding       in    Armstrong.             Even       if    the     entire          delay    between

September 27 and November 15 d o e s n o t weigh a g a i n s t R o b b i n s ,

t h e r e i s a d e l a y o f o n l y 104 d a y s , which i s w e l l w i t h i n t h e

C o u r t ' s g u i d e l i n e s f o r a c c e p t a b l e l e n g t h of d e l a y , and i s n o t
presumptively         prejudicial          t o Robbins.           Therefore         the other

three    factors       of    the     Barker t e s t       need     not     be    considered.

Robbins c a n n o t complain h e was n o t g r a n t e d                 a speedy t r i a l .

        The c o n v i c t i o n o f t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t i s a f f i r m e d .




W e concur:           M




    ilyl i h   8 &$xLL,h
    P
Just ces                        I


Boost your productivity today

Delegate legal research to Cetient AI. Ask AI to search, read, and cite cases and statutes.