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Last Post 21 May 2007 03:52 PM by  lkoschney
R-06-0024 Rule 15 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure
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domanico
Posts:

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31 Oct 2006 11:53 AM
    R-06-0024

    PETITION TO AMEND THE RULE 15 OF THE RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

    TO CREATE NEW RULE 15.10, DEALING WITH EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS, PROCEEDINGS OR REQUESTS

    Petitioner:
    Philip J. MacDonnell, Chief Deputy
    Maricopa County Attorney's Office
    301 W. Jefferson, Suite 800
    Phoenix AZ 85003
    ph: 602 506-3800
    fax: 602 506-8102
    email: [email protected]
    Bar Number: 003813

    Filed October 31, 2006

    COMMENT PERIOD CLOSED AS OF MAY 21, 2007.
    PETITION REJECTED ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2007.
    Attachments
    spickard
    Posts:

    --
    10 May 2007 10:01 AM
    Committee on Superior Court
    Honorable James A. Soto, Chair
    Superior Court in Santa Cruz County
    P.O. Box 1929
    Nogales, Arizona 85628
    (520) 375-7730

    IN THE SUPREME COURT STATE OF ARIZONA

    )
    In the Matter of PETITION TO ) Supreme Court No. R-06-0024
    AMEND RULE 15 OF THE )
    ARIZONA RULES OF CRIMINAL ) COMMENT OF THE
    PROCEDURE ) COMMITTEE ON
    ) SUPERIOR COURT
    )
    )

    The Committee on Superior Court, through undersigned, files the following comment pursuant to Rule 28, Arizona Rules of the Supreme Court, to Petition R-06-0024, concerning amendments to Rule 15, Ariz.R.Crim.P., relating to ex parte communications, proceedings or requests.

    The Committee on Superior Court discussed the rule change petitions currently out for comment, including R-06-0024, during its February 16, 2007, public meeting. The Committee on Superior Court is of the opinion that the proposed amendment to Rule 15 should not be adopted.

    The proposed amendment would replace current Rule of Criminal Procedure 15.9. The current rule allows ex parte communications with the trial judge to address only the issues of appointment of investigators, expert witnesses and mitigation specialists in criminal cases. Requests for application of the current rule are virtually always from appointed counsel on behalf of indigent defendants. In contrast, defendants able to pay for their own defense attorneys do not require court approval or appointment of such individuals. A defendant who can afford to hire an expert witness may; therefore, do so without compromising or publicizing their trial strategy and their work product. The current rule allows indigent defendants the same protection. At the same time, the current rule permits the court to determine on a case-by-case basis whether expenditure of public funds to appoint such individuals is justified.

    The Proposed Rule would treat indigent defendants differently from those who can afford their own attorney. The changes would give prosecutors insight into the strategy of an indigent defendant that they would not have in other cases.
    The proposed rule change is based upon a case in Maricopa County wherein an issue raised in a Rule 15.9 hearing went outside the scope of the current Rule 15.9. Obviously, only issues within the scope of Rule 15.9 may be raised in such a hearing, and any violations should not be tolerated. However, the Committee on Superior Court does not feel that this isolated incident is sufficient to justify the proposed rule change. The current rule has worked very well to balance indigent defendants’ rights with the need to oversee the proper and necessary expenditure of public funds. The trial judge presiding over the case is in the best position to make such decisions. Trial judges do so on a regular basis without any problems whatsoever.

    The proposed rule gives prosecutors an advantage over indigent defendants they do not have with defendants who can afford to hire their own attorneys. The proposed rule adds unnecessary bureaucratic requirements that promote inefficiency and place an additional, and unnecessary, burden on presiding criminal judges and the criminal justice system. Because there are other remedies in extreme cases where the current rule is not followed, such as complaints to the Bar Association and Judicial Commission, there is no benefit from the proposed rule.

    RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED this 11th day of May 2007.

    COMMITTEE ON SUPERIOR COURT
    Honorable James A. Soto
    Committee on Superior Court Chair

    Electronically filed with the Clerk
    Of the Supreme Court of Arizona
    this 11th day of May 2007.

    By: Susan R. Pickard
    Attachments
    nasha
    Posts:

    --
    18 May 2007 11:23 AM
    Juanita Mann, President
    Arizona Association of Superior Court Clerks
    P.O. Box 668
    Holbrook, AZ 86025
    928-524-4176
    [email protected]
    Attachments
    lkoschney
    Posts:

    --
    21 May 2007 03:52 PM
    R-06-0024 Rule 15, Rules of Criminal Procedure

    Arizona Public Defender Association
    Dana Hlavac, President
    Mohave County Public Defender
    PO Box 7000
    316 North 5th Street
    Kingman, AZ 86402-7000
    Ph: 928-753-0734
    Attachments
    Topic is locked