ROBERT T. DONNELLY, Judge This is prohibition. On April 16, 1987, Relator Carl Turner appeared for arraignment intending to enter a plea of guilty to the charge of escape. He was taken to a conference room at the Missouri State Penitentiary that was designated as a courtroom of the Circuit Court of Cole County. This conference room was ""hooked-up"" to the Cole County Courthouse by use of electronic equipment involving video cameras, microphones, and monitors. Relator could see and hear the Judge and activity in the courtroom. The Judge and prosecutor could see and hear relator and defense counsel and activity occurring in the conference room. Employees of the Department of Corrections were present along with relator and defense counsel in the conference room. Relator's request to plead in person before the court at the Cole County Courthouse was denied. Objecting to the electronic procedure, relator stood mute at his arraignment and the court entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf and set his case for trial.
