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265 N.W.2d 691

State v. Jensen

North Dakota Supreme Court

Decided April 20, 1978

North Dakota Supreme Court · decided 1978-04-20

Cited by 4 later decisions — most recently September 1988

4 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1978-04-20

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PEDERSON, Justice,

¶1dissenting.

¶2The majority opinion appears to say that “abuse of discretion” is the standard which we apply in reviewing a trial court denial of a petition for appointed counsel and costs under Rule 44, NDRCrimP. It further appears to say that, in this case, the trial court did not abuse its discretion. Although I agree with both of those premises, they lead me to a conclusion opposite to that reached by the majority.

¶3I do not think that Rule 44 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure redefines rights under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, nor under Section 13 of the North Dakota Constitution. Certainly it does not amend Rule 44, NDRCrimP.

¶4The majority opinion requires Wells County to become a lending agency and invest in lands far beyond its borders, far beyond the borders of North Dakota, and far beyond the borders of the United States. Although there may be exceptions which authorize ownership of land by a governmental entity outside its borders (such as for garbage disposal), there is no exception broad enough to cover this case.

¶5The precedent established by the majority opinion will effectively require every county to finance the defense of every criminal case. I don’t think we are quite ready for that.

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