Case Name: Timothy G. EVANS v. STATE of Arkansas
Court: Arkansas Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Arkansas
Decision Date: 1996-07-15
Citations: 325 Ark. 414
Docket Number: CR 96-649
Parties: Timothy G. EVANS v. STATE of Arkansas
Judges: NEWBERN and ROAF, JJ., join this concurrence.
Reporter: Arkansas Reports
Volume: 325
Pages: 414–415

Head Matter:
Timothy G. EVANS v. STATE of Arkansas
CR 96-649
925 S.W.2d 428
Supreme Court of Arkansas
Per Curiam Opinion delivered July 15, 1996
Concurring Opinion delivered July 15, 1996

Opinion:
Tom GLAZE, Justice,
concurring. To my recollection, this court has never allowed appointed counsel to withdraw because the defendant filed some type of complaint against counsel either in another court or with the Professional Conduct Committee. Obviously, to permit withdrawals in these circumstances fosters the filing of frivolous complaints against attorneys that will result in delays in direct appeals. Defendants have postconviction remedies available for serious complaints concerning an attorney's ineffectiveness. We should not start authorizing such counsel withdrawals, especially, as here, where the defendant has filed a civil action, alleging grounds having no merit for disqualifying counsel from representing defendant in the direct appeal. If the court granted this withdrawal, it could expect many more such motions in the future, and the court would be obliged to grant them. That would be a mistake.
For the foregoing reasons, I would deny counsel's motion.
NEWBERN and ROAF, JJ., join this concurrence.