Case Name: Glynn Edward SCOTT, Petitioner-Appellant, v. E.K. MCDANIEL, Warden, Respondent-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2005-08-29
Citations: 146 F. App'x 877
Docket Number: No. 04-17516; D.C. No. CV-97-00213-RAM
Parties: Glynn Edward SCOTT, Petitioner—Appellant, v. E.K. MCDANIEL, Warden, Respondent—Appellee.
Judges: Before PREGERSON, KLEINFELD, and HAWKINS, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 146
Pages: 877–879

Head Matter:
Glynn Edward SCOTT, Petitioner—Appellant, v. E.K. MCDANIEL, Warden, Respondent—Appellee.
No. 04-17516.
D.C. No. CV-97-00213-RAM.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted Aug. 11, 2005.
Decided Aug. 29, 2005.
Glynn Burroughs Cartledge, Law Offices of Glynn Burroughs Cartledge, Reno, NV, for Petitioner-Appellant.
Heidi E. Nagel, AGNV—Office of the Nevada Attorney General (Las Vegas), Las Vegas, NV, for Respondent-Appellee.
Before PREGERSON, KLEINFELD, and HAWKINS, Circuit Judges.
This panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Glynn Edward Scott, a Nevada state prisoner, appeals the district court's denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas petition after an evidentiary hearing on remand from this court. Before his state trial on three charges of attempted murder with the use of a deadly weapon, Scott sought to have his court appointed attorney, Mark Blaskey, removed as counsel. Scott alleged that he and Blaskey were involved in an irreconcilable conflict and could not communicate. The trial court denied the motion for substitution and Scott was ultimately convicted on the lesser-included offenses of battery with the use of a deadly weapon. Scott's habeas petition challenges his conviction on the ground that a conflict between him and Blaskey resulted in the constructive denial of Scott's Sixth Amendment right to counsel. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253, and we affirm.
To prevail, Scott must establish that an actual conflict existed between him and Blaskey that was sufficiently disruptive to amount to a constructive denial of his Sixth Amendment right to counsel. Schell v. Witek, 218 F.3d 1017, 1026 (9th Cir.2000). If the relationship between Scott and Public Defender Blaskey deteriorated to such an extent that it resulted either in a total lack of communication or in a state of irreconcilable conflict, this may—depending upon the seriousness of the conflict—amount to a constructive denial of Scott's Sixth Amendment rights. See id.
The record does not support a finding that Scott and Blaskey were so embroiled in a conflict that the two were not able to communicate or that Blaskey was unable to effectively represent Scott. While Scott vehemently argues that he and Blaskey suffered from an irreconcilable conflict, his specific testimony suggests that there was nevertheless an exchange of information between Scott and his appointed public defender. Scott testified that he was able (1) to relate to Blaskey the events surrounding the crime charged, at least up to a point where he said he encountered an unknown knife-wielding man; (2) to discuss witnesses with Blaskey and/or his investigator; (3) to send Blaskey's investigator to interview certain witnesses; (4) to discuss trial strategy, including Scott's claim of self-defense; (5) to discuss whether it was prudent for Scott to testify given the lack of corroborating evidence, Scott's prior felony conviction for assault with a deadly weapon, and possible juror bias; and (6) to discuss whether to remove a particular juror who knew Scott.
Nor is it true that Blaskey was unable to advise his client, Scott, regarding his right to testify and whether it was prudent to do so. At the evidentiary hearing, Scott gave a detailed account of his conversation with Blaskey. According to Scott, during his trial, he and Blaskey discussed the self-defense strategy and the problems with Scott testifying. Scott said that Blaskey told him that if he testified his prior felony conviction for battery with a deadly weapon would come in and the jury would not believe he acted in self-defense. Blaskey advised Scott that "seven or eight" witnesses would testify that the bar fight started after Scott entered the bar and stabbed someone. Blaskey also pointed out that the prosecution would use Scott's testimony and words against him. When Scott acknowledged that while his testimony would contradict the prosecution's witnesses, his testimony would be "standing alone because there was nothing to corroborate it," Blaskey agreed, saying that "all it would be is contradictory testimony, and the jury won't believe you with a prior." All of this testimony suggests that the two had a dialogue regarding the evidence and theory of self-defense, i.e., that they were actually able to communicate despite arguing over strategy and factual disputes.
Because Scott has not established that any conflict between him and Blaskey adversely affected the adequacy of representation, Scott must demonstrate prejudice to obtain relief. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 692, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). This he cannot do. Although the jury convicted Scott of battery with a deadly weapon, Blaskey was able to secure an acquittal on the substantially more serious attempted murder charges. Given the weight of the evidence against Scott (in particular the statements from three witnesses regarding Scott's stated intent to go home, get a knife, and then return to kill everyone at the bar), this result strongly suggests that Scott was not prejudiced by a communication problem with his defense counsel.
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
. Scott also testified to his version of the events during the preliminary hearing. Bias-key had and reviewed a copy of the transcript of that hearing.
. Scott points to Blaskey's testimony (1) that the two "butted heads a lot," and (2) that Blaskey "tried" to communicate with Scott. To Scott, Blaskey's testimony supports a finding that the two suffered a complete communication breakdown. However, this ignores Blaskey's further testimony that he and Scott discussed Scott's self-defense theory, potential witnesses, and that his investigator met with these witnesses and that Blaskey spoke with some of them before they testified.
. This testimony also undercuts Scott's assertion that he did not speak to Blaskey during the trial. ER 827.
. This conclusion is borne out further in Scott's testimony regarding his decision not to testify. According to Scott, he "decided not to testify," because there was no corroborating testimony to support his account, be cause Blaskey had told him the prosecutor would twist his words and that the jury would not believe him given his prior felony conviction, and because Blaskey had failed to impeach the prosecution witnesses. More importantly, Scott stated that his "principal" reason for not testifying was "Blaskey's advice." It is unclear why, if his relationship with Blaskey was so deteriorated, he would have placed such a high value on Blaskey's advice as to give up his right to testify.