STATE OF OREGON v. BLOUNT, SR.
Supreme Court of Oregon
Argued September 22, affirmed November 18, 1953
petition for rehearing denied December 16, 1953
264 P. 2d 419
STATE OF OREGON v. BLOUNT, SR.
264 P. 2d 419
C. E. Luckey, District Attorney for Lane County, of Eugene, argued the cause for respondent. With him on the brief was W. Keith Rodman, Deputy District Attorney for Lane County, of Eugene.
LUSK, J.
Defendant was convicted of the crime of rape committed upon his minor daughter, and has appealed.
He assigns error (1) to the court‘s denial of his motion for postponement of the trial, and (2) to the
On a date not disclosed by the bill of exceptions Charles O. Porter, attorney for defendant, filed a motion for the issuance of two certificates in furtherance of the serving of summons on Tom Nicholson, principal of Moreno School, Moreno, California, and Mrs. Marvella Blount, with her son, Eugene Victor Blount, Jr. The motion recited that it was based on
“Marvella Blount was, until recently the wife of the defendant. Her son Eugene Victor Blount, Jr., according to testimony by the prosecutrix in the preliminary hearing, witnessed the alleged criminal act. Furthermore, the boy can testify as to his older sister‘s jealousy and her expressed wish to have the defendant sleep with her just as he did with Eugene, Jr., and Eugene‘s two year old sister. The presence of the little boy would only be needed for one day and transportation to Eugene, Oregon, could be arranged for him and his mother with
Joseph Blount 4174 Highland Place, Riverside, California.”
On March 16, 1953, the Hon. G. F. Skipworth, circuit judge, issued two certificates, as authorized by
“* * * Eugene Victor Blount, Jr., four or five years old, is a material witness in the above matter * * * His presence is required for one day, namely March 23rd, 1953. The Court is informed that said boy is now living with his mother, Marvella Blount, until recently the wife of the accused, at 511 Mission Boulevard, Riverside, California, and that she may still be working at Sheets Restaurant, 3847 Main Street, Riverside, California.
“Joseph Blount, 4174 Highland Place, Riverside, California, is a brother of the defendant, and it has been indicated that he may be able to bring the boy and his mother to the trial in the above matter, and that the defendant will be responsible for unreimbursed expenses of such a trip.”
The witnesses did not come, and, at the commencement of the trial on March 23, 1953, seven days after the issuance of the certificates, counsel for defendant moved for a continuance because of the absence of these witnesses. The motion was denied. Later in the trial, while the defendant was on the witness stand, counsel for defendant offered to prove that “We have made every attempt to get Gene Blount, Jr., and that we could not get him because we did not have the $200 necessary to bring him up here by order of the court, Riverside County.” The offer of proof was denied,
ON THE MERITS
The Uniform Act above referred to was enacted in 1937 and appears as
Section 26-1816, OCLA, provides:
“If a judge of a court of record in any state which by its laws has made provision for commanding persons within that state to attend and testify in this state certifies under the seal of such court that there is a criminal prosecution pending in such court, or that a grand jury investigation has commenced or is about to commence, that a person being within this state is a material witness in such prosecution, or grand jury investigation, and that his presence will be required for a specified number of days, upon presentation of such certificate to any judge of a court of record in the county in which such person is, such judge shall fix a time and place for a hearing, and shall make an order directing the witness to appear at a time and place certain for the hearing.
“If at a hearing the judge determines that the witness is material and necessary, that it will not cause undue hardship to the witness to be compelled to attend and testify in the prosecution or a grand jury investigation in the other state, and that the laws of the state in which the prosecution is pending, or grand jury investigation has commenced or is about to commence (and of any other state through which the witness may be required to pass by ordinary course of travel), will give to him protection from arrest and the service of civil and criminal process, he shall issue a summons, with a copy of the certificate attached, directing the witness to attend and testify in the court where the prosecution is pending, or where a grand jury investigation has commenced or is about to commence at a time and place specified in the summons. In any such hearing the certificate shall be prima facie evidence of all the facts stated therein. “If said certificate recommends that the witness be taken into immediate custody and delivered to an officer of the requesting state to assure his attendance in the requesting state, such judge may, in lieu of notification of the hearing, direct that such witness be forthwith brought before him for said hearing; and the judge at the hearing being satisfied of the desirability of such custody and delivery, for which determination the certificate shall be prima facie proof of such desirability may, in lieu of issuing subpoena or summons, order that said witness be forthwith taken into custody and delivered to an officer of the requesting state only after the tender of payment of the mileage and per diem herein provided for.
“If the witness, who is summoned as above provided, after being paid or tendered by some properly authorized person the sum of 10 cents a mile for each mile by the ordinary traveled route to and from the court where the prosecution is pending and five dollars for each day, that he is required to travel and attend as a witness, fails without good
cause to attend and testify as directed in the summons, he shall be punished in the manner provided for the punishment of any witness who disobeys a summons issued from a court of record in this state.”
Section 26-1817, OCLA, provides:
“If a person in any state, which by its laws has made provision for commanding persons within its borders to attend and testify in criminal prosecutions, or grand jury investigations commenced or about to commence, in this state, is a material witness in a prosecution pending in a court of record in this state, or in a grand jury investigation which has commenced or is about to commence, a judge of such court may issue a certificate under the seal of the county stating these facts and specifying the number of days the witness will be required. Said certificate may include a recommendation that the witness be taken into immediate custody and delivered to an officer of this state to assure his attendance in this state. This certificate shall be presented to a judge of a court of record in the county in which the witness is found.
“If the witness is summoned to attend and testify in this state he shall be tendered the sum of 10 cents a mile for each mile by the ordinary traveled route to and from the court where the prosecution is pending, and five dollars for each day that he is required to travel and attend as a witness. A witness who has appeared in accordance with the provisions of the summons shall not be required to remain within this state a longer period of time than the period mentioned in the certificate, unless otherwise ordered by the court. If such witness, after coming into this state, fails without good cause to attend and testify as directed in the summons, he shall be punished in the manner provided for the punishment of any witness who disobeys a subpoena issued from a court of record in this state.”
Section 26-1814, OCLA, which was enacted in 1915, reads:
“Whenever any person shall attend any court, grand jury, or committing magistrate, as a witness in behalf of the people of this state, or on behalf of any person accused of any crime, upon request of the district attorney, or upon subpoena, or by virtue of a recognizance for that purpose, and it shall appear that such person has come from any other state or territory of the United States, or from any foreign country, or that such person is poor, the court may, by an order to be entered in its minutes, direct the county treasurer of the county in which the court or grand jury may be sitting, to pay such witness such sum of money as shall, to said court, seem reasonable for his expenses and witness fees, and said order, so entered, shall be sufficient authority for the issuance and payment of any county warrant therefor.”
This section may be put out of view for it applies only to persons who have already attended upon the court or grand jury as witnesses, and even as to them the making of an order for the payment of their expenses and witness fees is discretionary with the court. The contention here is that the defendant has the right to an order of the court for an advance of the necessary moneys so that they can be tendered to a witness in another state in accordance with the requirement of the Uniform Act.
This was the conclusion reached in State v. Fouquette, 67 Nev 505, 221 P2d 404 (1950), cert. den. 341 US 932, 95 L ed 1361, 71 S Ct 799 (1951), 342 US 928, 96 L ed 691, 72 S Ct 369 (1952), the only case, so far as we are advised, in which the question has arisen. In a carefully considered opinion the court said:
“Although no case directly in point has been found, it is clear that this statute, providing, as it does, that specified sums for fees and mileage shall be paid or tendered to non-resident witnesses summoned to attend and testify in criminal prosecutions in this state, but not providing, either expressly or by implication, that such witnesses summoned on behalf of the defendant shall be brought in without expense to him, does not confer upon the courts of this state authority to procure the attendance and testimony of witnesses from without the state for the defendant in any case at the expense of the public.”
The suggestion is made that because the legislature has authorized payment by the state of fees and mileage of material witnesses for a defendant within the state, a public policy has been established which enables us to read into the Uniform Act a similar provision. The reference is to
In our opinion this legislation if it can be said to have any bearing on the question at all gives added emphasis to our view of the meaning of the Uniform Act; for the omission from that Act of any provision for subpoenaing out-of-state witnesses at the expense of the state, by contrast with express provisions of that kind in the statutes that deal with witnesses within the state, creates a strong inference, if any were needed, that the legislature did not intend to bestow any such gratuity in the case of the Uniform Act.
As to the argument, based upon an asserted public policy, we call attention to what is said by a recognized authority on statutory construction:
“What is called the ‘policy’ of the government, with reference to any particular legislation, is said to be too unstable a foundation for the construction of a statute. The clear language of a statute can be neither restrained nor extended by any consideration of supposed wisdom or policy. So long as a legislative enactment violates no constitutional provision or principle, it must be deemed its own sufficient and conclusive evidence of the justice, propriety and policy of its passage.” Endlich, Interpretation of Statutes, 8, § 5.
The policy of the state is determined by the legislature, not by this court, and the truth is that, up to 1937, when the Uniform Act was adopted, Oregon had no policy concerning witnesses subpoenaed in another state, for it had no legislation upon the subject. When the Uniform Act was passed the state was free to
We are also told that the Circuit Court can take upon itself the authority to order the state, or perhaps the county, to pay the expenses of out-of-state witnesses under the provisions of
“When jurisdiction is, by the organic law of this state, or by this Code or any other statute, conferred on a court or judicial officer, all the means to carry it into effect are also given; and in the exercise of the jurisdiction, if the course of proceeding be not specifically pointed out by this Code, any suitable process or mode of proceeding may be adopted which may appear most conformable to the spirit of this Code.”
This is a purely procedural provision authorizing the courts of this state to adopt a “suitable process or mode of proceeding * * * which may appear most conformable to the spirit of this Code“, in order to enable the courts to exercise a power conferred where the mode of doing so has not been otherwise indicated by statute. The provision is a part of the Code of Civil Procedure adopted in 1862 as a complete act. See General Laws 1862, p 223, § 911; Deady, General
“* * * This section only applies where jurisdiction is conferred on a court or judicial officer. The section cannot itself be the source of jurisdiction, for it is only available to carry jurisdiction into effect after jurisdiction has first been conferred by the Constitution or some statute.”
There is nothing in the two cases cited in support of the defendant‘s position (Kelley v. Kelley, 183 Or 169, 191 P2d 656 (1948); Aiken v. Aiken, 12 Or 203, 6 P 682 (1885)) which is inconsistent with this view.
We take up the defendant‘s claim that his constitutional rights have been invaded.
The reason for the inclusion of the guaranty of compulsory process in the Bills of Rights of the
The defendant has certainly not been injured nor deprived of any constitutional right by a statute which enables him, through the voluntary cooperation of California, to compel the attendance of a witness from that state at the defendant‘s expense. Without the statute he could not compel the witness to come at all. Neither the requirements of compulsory process nor of the
Obviously, if the Uniform Act were to be declared unconstitutional because it does not provide for the subpoenaing of witnesses for the defendant at the expense of the state, the case of the defendant here would not be made any better, because in that event there would be no law at all under which he could have compelled the attendance of the California witnesses. We do not understand that the defendant seeks a ruling of that kind, but rather that he would have this
But even though we should assume that in the case of an indigent defendant there exists a right which the Uniform Act does not grant and a power in the court which it does not confer, the exercise of that power would necessarily be conditioned upon the defendant‘s invoking it and producing evidence in the form of affidavit or otherwise from which the court could find the fact of poverty. There is nothing of the kind here. As the motion for the certificates, the affidavit in support thereof, and the certificates issued by the judge, disclose, the defendant, so far from asking the court to order the state to pay the expenses of the California witnesses, and so far from producing proof of his own inability to do so, represented to the court that he himself would be responsible for those expenses.
It is urged that upon the trial the defendant did prove his poverty by his sworn testimony in support of his motion for a continuance. That may be conceded, but it must be manifest that we cannot say that the circuit judge erred because he did not make an order which he was not asked to make on the basis of evidence which was not before him at the time he made the very order which the defendant sought.
No affidavit in support of the motion was filed as required by
The requirements for such an affidavit are thus stated in 17 CJS 262, Continuances § 94:
“The affidavit for a continuance asked for on the ground of absent evidence should set forth the substance of the testimony or evidence expected to be obtained, where this is possible, so that the adverse party may have an opportunity to admit that such evidence would be given and thus avoid the necessity for a continuance. The statement of facts should be clear, definite, and direct, and mere conclusions as to what the absent witnesses would testify are insufficient. * * *
“The affidavit must state the ground on which affiant bases his expectation that the absent witnesses, if present, would testify as stated therein.”
To the last sentence is cited Taylor v. Nelson, 139 Or 155, 5 P2d 707, 8 P2d 1089 (1932). That case and North American Securities Co. v. Cole, 61 Or 1, 118 P 1032 (1911), and Cole v. Willow River Company, 60 Or 594, 117 P 659 (1911), 118 P 176, 1030 (1911), support the text. The general rules found in CJS are also stated in 12 Am Jur 474, 475, Continuances §§ 34, 35.
The affidavit of Mr. Porter falls far short of these requirements. It does not state that either Tom Nicholson or Eugene Victor Blount, Jr., would, if called as witnesses, testify to anything, and it is not even possible to determine from the affidavit that their testimony would be favorable to the defendant. The instrument consists entirely of conclusions, and leaves one in the dark as to whether any testimony that either of these proposed witnesses might give would be material. It does not disclose any ground of the affiant‘s belief that either of them would give material testimony. A showing of that kind would be particularly important as to Eugene Victor Blount, Jr., who was a four-year-old boy at the time of the trial. Under our statute children under ten years of age “who appear incapable of receiving just impressions of the facts respecting which they are examined, or of relating them truly” are not competent witnesses.
These considerations apply with equal force to an affidavit in support of an application to secure the attendance of witnesses under the Uniform Act. Before issuing such a certificate the court must find that the person sought to be subpoenaed is a “material witness“.
The requisite finding of materiality can only be made on the basis of an affidavit or other competent evidence setting forth the facts to which the proposed witness would testify. Cf. Application of Stamler, 111 NYS2d 313, 279 App Div 908 (1952). The materiality of the evidence must appear from those facts. The showing should be no less definite and direct than in the case of a motion for a continuance. For the reasons already stated the affidavit of Mr. Porter does not measure up to these requirements and is insufficient as a basis for the statutory finding. Even assuming, therefore, that the court had the asserted power to order the state to pay the fees and mileage of the California witnesses, it would not have been warranted in making
such an order in this case. It was not warranted indeed in issuing the certificates at all, for on any construction of the statute the affidavit was insufficient.
We hold that under the Uniform Act no power is conferred upon the court to order the payment by the state of the fees and mileage of witnesses subpoenaed on behalf of the defendant in a criminal action, that in this case no constitutional right of the defendant was invaded, that the showing made in support of the application for certificates to secure the attendance of witnesses in California on behalf of the defendant was insufficient, and that no error was committed in denying the defendant‘s motion for a continuance.
For these reasons the judgment is affirmed.
LATOURETTE, C. J., specially concurring.
I am in accord with the result reached in the majority opinion but disagree with the pronouncement that the trial court has no authority to make an order for the advance of witness fees and mileage for out-of-state witnesses in a criminal case. The court‘s position in this respect is set forth in the following language:
“The Uniform Act contains no provision authorizing the court to make such an order. It is silent as to the source of the money which must be paid or tendered to a witness, and nowhere in the Act is there any language conferring upon the court authority to make an order for the payment of the fees and mileage by the state. We cannot read into the statute such a provision without indulging in judicial legislation.
“* * * * * *
“* * * It [the Uniform Act] did not choose to provide that such witnesses, whether for the state or for the defendant, should be compelled to
come without advancing witness fees and expense of transportation. It did not choose to provide that such advances should be made to witnesses for the defendant, or for the state for that matter, at the expense of the state. The Uniform Act is complete within itself, and by its own terms establishes the policy of the state with respect to its subject matter.”
I am of the opinion that the trial court has implied authority to make such an order, and especially in view of
“When jurisdiction is, by the organic law of this state, or by this Code or any other statute, conferred on a court or judicial officer, all the means to carry it into effect are also given; and in the exercise of the jurisdiction, if the course of proceeding be not specifically pointed out by this Code, any suitable process or mode of proceeding may be adopted which may appear most conformable to the spirit of this Code.”
The above section was considered in the early case of Aiken v. Aiken, 12 Or 203, 208, 6 P 682, where it is said:
“* * * There need, therefore, be no failure of justice, under the jurisprudence of this state, in consequence of the mode of proceeding pointed out being inadequate to afford a remedy in a particular case, as any remedy in such case may be adopted, subject to the qualification mentioned. It is beyond the scope of legislative wisdom to prescribe a specific remedy for every class of cases that may arise in the complication of human affairs, and it was not attempted; but ample provision was made to prevent a party from being left remediless in case of an infringement upon his legal rights, and the courts must of necessity recognize the provision and carry it out when a proper case is presented.”
“When the legislature creates a new right and renders available a remedy for the infraction of the right, or when legislation creates an additional remedy for the transgression of an existing right,
§ 13-715 , just quoted, invests the court to which jurisdiction is given over the subject of the new legislation with all judicial power essential to carry into effect the legislative purpose in adopting the new act. * * *”
This statute, adopted in 1862, is simply a legislative declaration of an ancient elementary rule of law that every grant of express power carries with it the incidental or implied power necessary to make the exercise of the express power effective. It is claimed in the majority opinion that this statute is a part of the Civil Code and has no application in criminal proceedings. In answer to this, we have heretofore expressly applied this statute in a criminal case involving a charge of rape. State v. Chase, 106 Or 263, 269, 211 P 920.
It is true, as stated in the majority opinion, that the above enactment was adopted as a part of the Civil Code. However, it clearly appears on its face that its application was not confined to that code. From the language, “When jurisdiction is, by the organic law of this state, or by this Code or any other statute, conferred on a court or judicial officer,” it clearly appears that the enactment embraces not only the provisions of the Civil Code but also the organic (constitution) law which no one would argue was part of the Civil Code and “any other statute” which obviously would be exclusive of the Civil Code and would of necessity in-
The Uniform Act provides, among other things, that when a judge of a court of record in this state certifies that there is a criminal prosecution pending in his court and that a person, being within another state which has a Uniform Act relating to witnesses, is a material witness in such prosecution and that his presence will be required for a specific number of days, upon presentation of such certificate to a judge of a court of record in the county in which such person is, such judge in the other jurisdiction shall fix a time and place for hearing and shall make an order directing such witness to appear before him. If such outside judge determines that the witness is material and necessary and will not cause him any undue hardship to be compelled to testify in the prosecution, he shall direct the witness to attend and testify in the court where the prosecution is pending. The law further provides:
“If the witness is summoned to attend and testify in this state he shall be tendered the sum of 10 cents a mile for each mile by the ordinary traveled route to and from the court where the prosecution is pending, and five dollars for each day that he is required to travel and attend as a witness. * * *”
And if he fails to so appear he shall be punished for contempt.
It is obvious that if such witness’ expenses be not tendered, the witness is under no obligation to respond, and this applies not only to the state‘s witnesses, but to defendant‘s as well.
Under
It may be seen from the foregoing that not only does the law provide a schedule of tendered fees and expenses for out-of-state witnesses and a fund from which such fees and expenses shall be paid but also it empowers the court to make such an order as is necessary in the exercise of its jurisdiction to carry into effect the legislative purpose.
The majority opinion quotes from the “carefully considered” opinion in State v. Fouquette, 67 Nev 505, 221 P2d 404, being the only case in which the question before us was considered. A careful reading of that opinion discloses that the only question presented was a constitutional one. The court said:
“The ‘Uniform Act to Secure the Attendance of Witnesses from Without the State in Criminal Cases,’ * * * is not cited by appellant.” 221 P2d 404, 410.
The court in that case then went on briefly to state that since the Uniform Act did not provide expressly or by implication for the payment by the state of
It appears to me that the legislature, in enacting the Uniform Act, clearly intended that the state should advance the out-of-state witness expenses, and, in the absence of any legislation authorizing any particular person to advance such expenses, it was the plain duty of the court to direct such disbursement. If this were not so, an unwilling witness could not be compelled to attend the trial and the law would become meaningless and inoperative. A poor man, who was unable to advance his witnesses’ expenses, might be convicted although innocent, or a guilty man might go free, and the Uniform Act would indeed be emasculated, if not totally destroyed.
TOOZE, J., concurs in this opinion.
PERRY, J., specially concurring.
I concur in the result reached in the majority opinion as the trial court did not err in its denial of the motion of the defendant for the postponement of the trial, the showing for that purpose being wholly insufficient.
However, I am unable to agree with the majority in their construction of the Uniform Act to secure the attendance of witnesses from without the state in criminal proceedings (
The majority opinion relies upon and cites the case of State v. Fouquette, 67 Nev 505, 221 P2d 404, 410, where in reference to the uniform act it was said:
“Although no case directly in point has been found, it is clear that this statute, providing, as it does, that specified sums for fees and mileage shall be paid or tendered to non-resident witnesses summoned to attend and testify in criminal prosecutions in this state, but not providing, either expressly or by implication, that such witnesses summoned on behalf of the defendant shall be brought in without expense to him, does not confer upon the courts of this state authority to procure the attendance and testimony of witnesses from without the state for the defendant in any case at the expense of the public.”
The above statement cites as authority Greene v. Ballard, 174 Ky 808, 192 SW 841, and other authorities, which when examined are all to the effect that the general rule “seems to be well settled that the
This statement would at first glance seem determinative of the issue before us, but in examining the cases pertinent thereto, we discover that this statement as applied, with the exception of State v. Waters, 39 Me 54, means no more than that where no provision has been made for the payment of defendant‘s witnesses, although they are compelled to attend the trial, they cannot look to the state for payment. Bennett v. Kroth, 37 Kan 235, 15 P 221; State v. Graves, 13 Wash 485, 43 P 376. The obligation still rests upon the defendant to pay his witnesses for the services they have rendered, unless their attendance has prior approval of the trial court. Pittman v. State of Florida, 51 Fla 94, 41 So 385, 8 LRA NS 509; Bennett v. Kroth, supra; State v. Grimes, 7 Wash 445, 35 P 361.
That the above interpretation is correct is attested to by the statement in Greene v. Ballard, supra, relied upon in the case of State v. Fouquette, supra, which on page 845 reads as follows:
“‘A poor person residing in this state may be allowed by a court to prosecute or defend action therein without paying costs, whereupon he shall have any counsel that the court may assign him and from all officers all needful services and process without any fees, except such as may be included in the costs recovered from the opposite party.’
“The exemption from costs allowed by this section to a poor person has been held to apply to a criminal prosecution against such person, and to
the right of appeal from a judgment of conviction; but it will be observed that neither in this section nor elsewhere is it provided that the costs incurred by such poor person in the prosecution or defense of his case shall be paid by the commonwealth.”
However, the payment of the witnesses does not become important unless it is necessary to enforce the attendance of a material witness. The specific question at this point, therefore, is: Does a defendant under
“In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall have the right to public trial by an impartial jury in the county in which the offense shall have been committed; to be heard by himself and counsel; to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him, and to have a copy thereof; to meet the witnesses face to face, and to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor; * * *” (emphasis mine)
We need not go into the abuses practiced under English criminal procedure that led to this constitutional enactment (which provision appears in substantially the same form in the Constitution of the United States and the other states of this Union) as it is self-evident from the enactment thereof that its primary purpose was to avoid abuses that had heretofore been practiced, and that “The right, when guaranteed by constitutional provision, is a real, substantive, and absolute one * * * of which he [a defendant] may not be deprived by the court, jury,
In 8 Words and Phrases perm ed 470, “compulsory process“, as used in this declaration of rights, guarantees the accused the right to invoke the aid of law to compel the personal attendance of witnesses at the trial. Greene v. Ballard, supra; Graham v. State, 50 Ark 161, 6 SW 721; Freeland v. State, 34 Ala App 313, 40 So2d 339. In the command of “due process of law” the “aid of law” to compel personal attendance of witnesses, as I understand it, is the usual and customary means provided within a jurisdiction for bringing a witness before the court in which the proceedings are had under the statutory authority granted that court.
As previously stated, whether or not a witness is paid by the state or some authorized subdivision thereof, or by the defendant, or not at all, is unimportant unless such payment is necessary under the laws of the particular jurisdiction to coerce the witness to attend upon the trial. In fact, were it not for provisions of statute, a witness would not be entitled to any compensation for his services rendered in giving evidence at a criminal trial. Morin v. Multnomah County, 18 Or 163, 22 P 490; Daly v. Multnomah County, 14 Or 20, 12 P 11.
Some states provide that one in poverty may cast the burden of payment for the services of his witnesses upon the state by complying with the state‘s required regulations; others, regardless of the financial status of the defendant (as in this state) limit in number and as to materiality witnesses for the defendant at the state‘s expense. The United States leaves to the discretion of the court the number of
These are wholesome regulations where it is proposed by the defendant, or provided by statute, that this burden of expense is to be placed upon the public treasury, and are held not to violate the due process requirement of the constitution. See State v. Nathaniel, 52 LA Ann 558, 26 So 1008, relied upon by the state; also, note, 8 LRA NS 509.
From the case of Willard v. Santa Barbara County Sup. Ct., 82 Cal 456, 3 Rice on Evidence 270, we read:
“‘One further proposition should be stated. . . The state owes equal and exact justice to those under its authority in all proceedings against them. It can have no higher justifiable right as to witnesses than the defendant. Nor should nor does it ask any higher right in this regard. If anything, it should be content with an inferior right. It holds the lists and appoints the president thereof, in which the contest between the people and the defendant on trial is waged. And the defendant might truly say that equal justice has not been done, when the state can compel the attendance of a witness to prove his guilt, and the defendant cannot compel the attendance of a witness in like circumstances to establish his innocence. Justice, as Lord Coke says, should be free, full, and speedy; free, because nothing is more unjust than justice which has to be bought; full, because justice ought not to halt or be maimed; and speedy, because delay is to some extent a denial of justice. See Coke, Inst. pt. 2, p. 55.‘”
“The constitution guarantees to an accused person the right to have compulsory process to compel the attendance of witnesses in his own behalf, without the advancement of money or fees to secure this right. But it cannot be that the measure of the constitutional requirement would be filled by the mere issuance of a subpoena by the clerk, leaving to the accused the burden of making service and paying fees and mileage. Such a construction would be to give the shadow and withhold the substance; and we think the constitution can only be satisfied by the production of the witness in court without the payment of fees or mileage in advance.”
Speaking on this subject, that eminent jurist Chief Justice Marshall said: “The right of an accused person to the process of the court to compel the attendance of witnesses seems to follow, necessarily, from the right to examine those witnesses; and, wherever the right exists, it would be reasonable that it should be accompanied by means of rendering it effectual. (emphasis mine) * * * The genius and character of our laws and usages are friendly, not to condemnation at all events, but to a fair and impartial trial; and they, consequently, allow to the accused the right of preparing the means to secure such a trial. * * *” The constitution and laws of the United States will now be considered for the purpose of ascertaining how they bear upon the question. The eighth amendment to the constitution gives to the accused, “in all criminal prosecutions, a right to a speedy and public trial, and to compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor.” The right, given by this article, must be deemed sacred by the courts, and the article should
The statutes of this state applicable to secure the attendance of witnesses within the jurisdiction of the circuit courts in criminal cases are as follows:
“§ 26-1801. Subpoena defined. The process by which the attendance of a witness before a court or magistrate is required is a subpoena.”
“§ 26-1804. Issuance by district attorney for witnesses at trial. The district attorney may in like manner issue subpoenas for not to exceed five witnesses within the state, in support of an indictment to appear before the court at which it is to be tried; provided, however, that the court or judge thereof may, upon good cause shown, make an order allowing subpoenas to issue for a greater number of witnesses.” (emphasis mine)
“§ 26-1805. Issuance by clerk for witnesses for defendant. The clerk of a court in which a criminal action is pending for trial must at all times, upon the application of the defendant, issue in blank subpoenas, under the seal of the court, and subscribed by him as clerk, for not to exceed five witnesses, within the state, at the expense of the state; provided, however, that the court or judge thereof may, upon good cause shown, make an order allowing subpoenas to issue for a greater number of witnesses; and provided, further, that any defendant may have subpoenas issued for any number of witnesses at his own expense without an order of the court.” (emphasis mine)
“§ 26-1806. Proceeding to obtain subpoenas for more than five witnesses. If either party in a criminal action shall desire more than five witnesses, as in this act above provided, application therefor shall be made to the court or judge thereof by motion for an order directing the clerk to issue subpoenas for such additional witnesses, which motion shall be supported either by the statement of
the district attorney in writing, or by the affidavit of the defendant, which statement and affidavit shall state the names of such witnesses, their places of residence, and the facts expected to be proven by each of them; and if it shall appear from such statement or affidavit that the witnesses, or either of them, therein named, are necessary and material, the court or judge thereof shall make an order directing the clerk to issue subpoenas for such witnesses, or so many of them as shall appear to be necessary and material to a fair, full, and impartial trial.” (emphasis mine)
It is quite apparent in the reading of these provisions of statute that so far as this state is concerned its policy is a rule of equal justice to all, rich or poor, in the criminal courts; all, including the state, stand upon equal ground. No constitutional or statutory provision is made in this state whereby one in poverty can by the showing of such unfortunate circumstances gain a greater right than one of wealth in obtaining compulsory attendance of witnesses; likewise stands the prosecution (the state); for none have greater rights than the other. All necessary material witnesses are paid by the state.
It must now be noted under the provisions of the above statutes that the right to subpoena under compulsory process and at the expense of the state, both as to the state and the defendant, is limited to “witnesses within the state“, for at the time of the passage of these acts [1864] the territorial jurisdiction of the courts for such a purpose was circumscribed by the boundaries of the state. In 1937 the legislature passed the “Uniform Act to secure attendance of witnesses from without the state“. This act reaches only witnesses whose presence are required in criminal pro-
“If a person in any state, which by its laws has made provision for commanding persons within its borders to attend and testify in criminal prosecutions, or grand jury investigations commenced or about to commence, in this state, is a material witness in a prosecution pending in a court of record in this state, or in a grand jury investigation which has commenced or is about to commence, a judge of such court may issue a certificate under the seal of the county stating these facts and specifying the number of days the witness will be required. Said certificate may include a recommendation that the witness be taken into immediate custody and delivered to an officer of this state to assure his attendance in this state. This certifi-
cate shall be presented to a judge of a court of record in the county in which the witness is found. “If the witness is summoned to attend and testify in this state he shall be tendered the sum of 10 cents a mile for each mile by the ordinary traveled route to and from the court where the prosecution is pending, and five dollars for each day that he is required to travel and attend as a witness. A witness who has appeared in accordance with the provisions of the summons shall not be required to remain within this state a longer period of time than the period mentioned in the certificate, unless otherwise ordered by the court. If such witness, after coming into this state, fails without good cause to attend and testify as directed in the summons, he shall be punished in the manner provided for the punishment of any witness who disobeys a subpoena issued from a court of record in this state.”
No one would contend that the legislature in passing the act was making idle gesture. It was attempting by agreement with sister states to extend the previously circumscribed limits of its powers of compulsory subpoena in the interest of ascertaining the truth or falsity of a criminal assertion; and it is to be noted that the state itself has fixed the payment to be made or tendered and the provisions that there can be no coercion of the witness if fees are not paid or tendered.
While the statute itself does not say who shall advance the fees, little is the doubt that this court, or any court, would say that, should the state require the attendance of a witness on behalf of the prosecution, this statute implied the state could advance the fees it has required to be paid. Yet the statute in relation to the rights of prosecuting attorneys to subpoena witnesses (
The power of compulsory process having been extended beyond the borders of the state in compact with sister states by legislative enactment should not be permitted to fail of its purpose. The stated policy of this state as expressed by the legislature granting to all the equal protection of its laws includes the payment of fees of material witnesses, “or so many of them as shall appear to be necessary and material to an impartial trial“.
As expressed by Justice Cardozo in Van Beeck v. Sabine Towing Co., 300 US 342, 81 L ed 685, 57 S Ct 452:
“* * * It would be a misfortune if a narrow or grudging process of construction were to exemplify and perpetuate the very evils to be remedied. There are times when uncertain words are to be wrought into consistency and unity with a legislative policy which is itself a source of law, a new generative impulse transmitted to the legal system.”
But should such a construction as I have placed upon the words “within the state” be disregarded, still
In 21 CJS 136, Courts, § 88, it is stated:
“While a court may be expressly granted the incidental powers necessary to effectuate its jurisdiction, a grant of jurisdiction, in the absence of prohibitive legislation, implies the necessary and usual incidental powers essential to effectuate it, and, subject to existing laws and constitutional provisions, every regularly constituted court has power to do all things that are reasonably necessary for the administration of justice within the scope of its jurisdiction, * * *”
Had the legislature intended that the processes of the court must be carried out by the party requesting the process, it would have so provided; its silence upon the matter, after having required payment in advance to a witness in order to enforce its demands, is significant. In view of the stated policy affecting witnesses in criminal actions, “a statutory grant of a power or right carries with it, by implication, everything necessary to carry out the power or right and make it effectual and complete, * * *” 82 CJS 633, Statutes, § 327.
For the above reasons I cannot concur fully in the majority opinion.
Charles O. Porter, of Eugene, and Ulysses G. Plummer, Jr., of Portland, for the petitions.
C. E. Luckey, District Attorney for Lane County, and W. Keith Rodman, Deputy District Attorney for Lane County, of Eugene, contra.
LUSK, J.
The defendant has filed two petitions for rehearing. In one the court is charged with committing 21 errors in its opinion, the first of which is as follows:
“That the Court erred in stating that the third assignment of error was abandoned. The electronic record will show that counsel stated he did not intend to use any of his time for oral argument with respect to this assignment.”
The third assignment of error reads:
“The court erred in refusing to authorize the use of county funds to pay for defendant‘s Transcript herein.”
The transcript referred to is the transcript of testimony. As the defendant secured such a transcript and made it a part of the bill of exceptions in this case, it is manifest that there could have been no merit in the assignment of error. Counsel for defendant recognized this on the oral argument, but apparently his memory of all that he said upon the subject is faulty. During the course of his rebuttal argument, as a transcription thereof shows, he was asked from the bench whether he was standing upon the third assignment of error. He stated that “The transcript is here” and that “the defendant is not prejudiced here.” He was
The other alleged errors set forth in the petition all call for a reconsideration of questions which were deliberately decided after mature consideration. Some of these relate to our interpretation of the Uniform Act to Secure the Attendance of Witnesses from Without a State in Criminal Proceedings. Upon this question three of the justices were and still are of a different view from that taken by the majority. But we are all agreed that neither upon that question nor any of the others raised in the petition will any good purpose be served by a rehearing.
In the other petition (which is over the name of counsel who has come into the case since our decision was rendered), it is asserted “That the court erred in failing to note palpable error appearing in the record.” The alleged error relates to testimony given by a police officer respecting statements made to him by the defendant after his arrest. It is claimed that the officer, testifying to what in effect was a confession, stated not what the defendant said, but what he thought. The fact is, as the record shows, that the officer testified that while he and the defendant were talking about the crime with which the latter was charged the defendant said: “I done it.” The officer‘s testimony may have been weakened on cross-examination, but there is nothing in the record to justify the claim that he admitted that he had related what the defendant thought except as those thoughts were communicated to the witness by words. No motion to strike the testimony was made, and no exception was taken to an instruction which
It should be added that there is no provision in our rules authorizing the filing of two petitions for rehearing. We think that one is enough. Frequently it is too many.
The petitions are denied.
ROSSMAN, J., concurring.
I concur in the opinion written by Mr. Justice LUSK.
The original majority opinion stated that
The power given to the courts by
Apart from
“* * * Under our system all Courts have certain inherent powers to be exercised for the purpose of methodically disposing of all cases brought before them. They can establish such rules in relation to the details of business as shall best serve this purpose, having proper regard for the rights of parties litigant as guaranteed and recognized by the Constitution and the laws. This principle is recognized in 3 Binney, 417, and 2 Sergeant & Rawle, 253, the decisions in which cases are approvingly referred to in 2 Reed‘s Blackstone, 439-40. We cannot discover that it conflicts with any provision of our Code.”
“It may, then, be safely affirmed, in the absence of any legislative authority, that the supreme court has the inherent right to prescribe rules for the orderly conduct of its business not contrary to law. But if this were questionable, the authority of ‘every court of justice to provide for the orderly conduct of proceedings before it,’ is expressly conferred by the statute. (Civil Code, sec. 884, sub. 3.)
“The rule under consideration is one of practice, is not unreasonable, nor repugnant to law, and is within the legitimate and unquestioned power of the court to establish. Like all other rules, it has been entered upon the records of this court and published in the Oregon Reports, that every one may read and know them.
“The question then occurs, what effect is to be given to this rule? Does it have the force of law, and is it equally binding on the courts and litigants?
“* * *
“It is not material whether the power of the court, to make rules for the orderly conduct of its business, is derived from the statute, or from the inherent power which the courts possess for that purpose, as in either case, the rule, to be valid, must not be in conflict with any constitutional provision or legislative enactment. But when deliberately made and promulgated, and not repugnant to law, the decisions are uniform that such rules have the force and effect of law, and are equally binding upon the court and litigants. The court may modify, change, or rescind any of its rules, or it may reserve the exercise of discretion for particular cases, but while they are in force, and without any such qualification reserved, they must be applied to all cases coming within their provisions. As none of these petitions were filed within the time prescribed by the rule, it follows that the rehearing cannot be granted.”
In this state, where no provision has been adopted conferring upon the courts general rule-making power, the regulations which they write, as in the Chase case, generally go no further than to fill in the interstices found in legislation governing judicial procedure.
In concurring in the majority opinion, and in the present opinion which denies a rehearing, I subscribe to no view which weakens the authority of State v. Chase, supra, or construes its holding as lessening a trial judge‘s inherent powers to prescribe all needed rules and regulations.
