Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. William BIRTHA
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 2012-02-10
Citations: 81 So. 3d 649
Docket Number: No. 2010-OK-2526
Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. William BIRTHA.
Judges: VICTORY and CLARK, JJ., would deny.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Third Series
Volume: 81
Pages: 649–649

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana v. William BIRTHA.
No. 2010-OK-2526.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Feb. 10, 2012.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
| granted in part. This case is remanded to the district court for further proceedings. The district court is directed to appoint counsel to represent relator and to conduct an evidentiary hearing on his interrelated claims that he was constructively denied the representation of counsel when the trial court appointed counsel on the morning of trial to try the case on that day after relator's retained counsel failed to appear, and that appointed counsel then rendered ineffective assistance by pressing relator to plead guilty to four felony counts. In all other respects, the application is denied.
VICTORY and CLARK, JJ., would deny.