In Re Andrew, Unpublished Decision (3-9-2007)
In Re Andrew, Unpublished Decision (3-9-2007)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} Andrew now argues that his adjudication and sentence violated the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment, specifically alleging that (1) the trial court failed to create a complete record of the proceedings; (2) because the trial court failed to provide counsel, his waiver of counsel was ineffective; and (3) because he was not present at the sentencing disposition, the trial court's sentence was invalid. Andrew's assignments of error are meritless, and we affirm the trial court's judgment.
{¶ 4} Under Juv.R. 37(A), the juvenile court shall make a record of adjudicatory and dispositional proceedings in delinquency cases. Failure to create the record required under Juv.R. 37(A) amounts to an abuse of discretion and warrants reversal.1 Andrew argues that the record is so incomplete that it prohibits us from determining whether he knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his right to counsel. *Page 3
{¶ 5} If the record of the trial proceedings is incomplete or unavailable, the appealing party is permitted to prepare a statement of the evidence or proceedings to permit proper appellate review.2 Where all or part of a transcript is unavailable, the burden is on the appellant to reconstruct the record with the required narrative prepared under App.R. 9(C).3 Andrew has failed to submit an App.R. 9(C) statement to correct or supplement the record. But even so, the record is not so incomplete that it renders Andrew's waiver unintelligible.
{¶ 6} "The Court: [W]hen I'm talking about representation, I'm talking about in terms of a lawyer to represent you. I know you've obviously had a number of contacts with the Juvenile Court before. It looks to me like you have typically had a public defender represent you in the past, so . . .
{¶ 7} "Defendant Andrew: (Inaudible).
{¶ 8} "The Court: So you don't want a lawyer?
{¶ 9} "Defendant Andrew: (Inaudible).
{¶ 10} "The Court: "Okay. We'll go ahead today without a lawyer, then."
{¶ 11} We hold that the record sufficiently shows that Andrew's waiver of counsel was knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently made.
{¶ 14} We overrule Andrew's assignments of error and affirm the juvenile court's judgment.
Judgment affirmed. SUNDERMANN and HENDON, JJ., concur.
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