Blair v. State

Douglas Hugh Blair did not appear for the second day of his trial for DUI with serious bodily injury. At the end of the first day of trial, the court instructed the jury and parties that court would reconvene the following morning at 9:30 a.m., but indicated that the attorneys were to be present at 8:45 a.m. When Mr. Blair failed to appear for trial on the following morning, the trial judge inquired regarding his absence. The court clerk indicated that she had not heard from Mr. Blair, and defense counsel said that although he called Mr. Blair’s phone, he got only a voicemail. The judge…