Opinion ID: 777371
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Denial of Substitute Counsel.

Text: 9 Barrow argues the district court erred in denying his repeated requests for a third appointed counsel. Appointment of new counsel is warranted only when the defendant demonstrates justifiable dissatisfaction with his appointed attorney. United States v. Swinney, 970 F.2d 494, 499 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 1011, 113 S.Ct. 632, 121 L.Ed.2d 563 (1992), and 507 U.S. 1007, 113 S.Ct. 1650, 123 L.Ed.2d 271 (1993). We review a claim of improper denial for abuse of discretion. See United States v. Armstrong, 112 F.3d 342, 345 (8th Cir.1997). 10 An assistant federal defender represented Barrow at his initial arraignment and advised the court that his client agreed to pretrial detention. Magistrate Judge John A. Jarvey entered an order appointing a federal defender on October 31, 2000. Four weeks later, Barrow moved pro se for appointment of new counsel, claiming he was unable to communicate effectively with his appointed attorney. When that attorney transferred to a different federal defender office, Barrow's motion was denied as moot and the court appointed a second federal defender to represent him. Barrow later complained that his first attorney waived a detention hearing without Barrow's consent. Magistrate Judge Jarvey immediately held a detention hearing and ordered Barrow detained because he had been convicted of several felonies, was on probation for a drug crime at the time of the instant offense, and had no ties to the community. 11 On January 30, 2001, seven days before trial, Barrow again moved for appointment of substitute counsel, arguing counsel had pressured him to plead guilty and had not provided copies of unspecified documents. After a hearing, Magistrate Judge Jarvey denied the motion, finding that Barrow had not expressed justifiable dissatisfaction with his second attorney and reminding Barrow that counsel was obliged to advise him of plea agreements that may be available. Barrow appealed this ruling to the district court. At a hearing on February 2, Barrow stated that he wanted new counsel because he distrusted the federal defender's office due to the detention hearing issue, had not been provided certain documents, and suspected that counsel had informed him of possible plea agreements because she was unwilling to try the case. Defense counsel told the court she was ready to try the case but advised that Barrow had refused to meet with her since filing the motion for substitute counsel. Judge Melloy denied the motion, explaining to Barrow that counsel was obliged to present any plea agreement offered by the government, which Barrow had a right to refuse, and that none of his reasons warranted appointment of substitute counsel. 2 The court also suggested that Barrow start talking to counsel because the case was going to trial. 12 When faced with a motion to appoint substitute counsel, the district court must balance several factors, including the need to ensure effective legal representation, the need to thwart abusive delay tactics, and the reality that a person accused of crime is often genuinely unhappy with an appointed counsel who is nonetheless doing a good job. Hunter v. Delo, 62 F.3d 271, 274 (8th Cir.1995). The court must conduct an adequate inquiry into the nature and extent of an alleged breakdown in attorney-client communications. Id. at 275. The focus of the justifiable dissatisfaction inquiry is the adequacy of counsel in the adversarial process, not the accused's relationship with his attorney. See Wheat v. United States, 486 U.S. 153, 159, 108 S.Ct. 1692, 100 L.Ed.2d 140 (1988). Last minute requests to substitute defense counsel are not favored. United States v. Klein, 13 F.3d 1182, 1185 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 512 U.S. 1226, 114 S.Ct. 2722, 129 L.Ed.2d 846 (1994). 13 Barrow moved for substitute counsel with his trial less than a week away. A court does not abuse its discretion by denying such a request if it would require a continuance. See Armstrong, 112 F.3d at 345; Swinney, 970 F.2d at 499. Moreover, both Magistrate Judge Jarvey and Judge Melloy granted Barrow hearings on his pretrial motions for new counsel; both jurists determined that none of his complaints rose to the level of justifiable dissatisfaction. We agree. Justifiable dissatisfaction includes an irreconcilable conflict or a complete breakdown in communication. Hunter, 62 F.3d at 274. But it does not include a defendant's frustration with counsel who does not share defendant's tactical opinions but continues to provide zealous representation. Swinney, 970 F.2d at 499. Thus, a defendant has no right to an attorney who will docilely do as she is told, Hunter, 62 F.3d at 275, or to a meaningful relationship with appointed counsel, Swinney, 970 F.2d at 499. As Barrow's motions failed to demonstrate any deficiency in appointed counsel's representation, the district court properly concluded there was no total breakdown in communication, only an unwillingness on Barrow's part to communicate with counsel. In these circumstances, the court did not abuse its discretion in denying Barrow's pretrial motions for substitute counsel. 3 14 The judgment of the district court is affirmed.