Opinion ID: 1295265
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Purported Failure to Appoint Substitute Postconviction Counsel, Interpreter, and Inmate Legal Aide.

Text: Bao finally contends that the district court erred in refusing his requests for substitute postconviction counsel, for an interpreter, and for an inmate legal aide to accompany him at the hearing on his motion for reconsideration. After the district court denied Bao's motion for postconviction relief, Bao filed a motion on July 25, 2003, for appointment of substitute counsel. At an October 16 hearing, the court denied Bao's motion for substitute counsel. The court noted that Bao was filing pro se pleadings and attempting to act as his own attorney. The court then gave Bao the option of continuing pro se or being represented by his then-existing court-appointed attorney. Bao chose to continue being represented by the court-appointed attorney. The attorney then withdrew the motion for reconsideration. On October 21, Bao filed a pro se request to reinstate the motion for reconsideration, and the request was denied on October 22. On October 29, the court granted the court-appointed attorney's motion to withdraw as counsel, and Bao elected to proceed with the present appeal pro se. [12] Under the Nebraska Postconviction Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 29-3001 through 29-3004 (Reissue 1995), it is within the discretion of the trial court as to whether counsel shall be appointed to represent the defendant. State v. Al-Zubaidy, 263 Neb. 595, 641 N.W.2d 362 (2002). We have stated that when the assigned errors in a postconviction petition before the district court contain no justiciable issue of law or fact, it is not an abuse of discretion to fail to appoint counsel for an indigent defendant. State v. Gonzalez-Faguaga, 266 Neb. 72, 662 N.W.2d 581 (2003). In the present case, Bao requested substitute counsel after the court had overruled his postconviction petition and he therefore was seeking counsel to represent him with respect to his motion for reconsideration. We regard Bao's situation at the time he requested substitute counsel to be similar to a situation where a postconviction petition contains no justiciable issue of law or fact. Because we have concluded above that the court did not err in its rejection of Bao's postconviction claims, we determine that there was no justiciable issue of law or fact with respect to Bao's motion for reconsideration and that, therefore, appointment of counsel was not indicated. Furthermore, we note that at the October 16 hearing, Bao agreed to continue being represented by his existing court-appointed counsel. We therefore conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion when it did not appoint substitute counsel. [13] Bao also argues on appeal that the court erred in failing to appoint an interpreter and an inmate legal aide to assist him in the hearing on his motion for reconsideration. The record reflects that Bao made no request to the court for either an interpreter or an inmate legal aide, and therefore the court made no rulings denying such requests. Absent plain error, an issue not raised to the trial court will not be considered by this court on appeal. State v. Thomas, 268 Neb. 570, 685 N.W.2d 69 (2004). We see no plain error. With respect to an interpreter, the record reflects that at the October 16, 2003, hearing, and in earlier proceedings, Bao spoke with the court in English and appeared to understand the proceedings. See State v. Topete, 221 Neb. 771, 380 N.W.2d 635 (1986) (where record satisfactorily demonstrates that defendant had sufficient command of English language to understand questions posed and answers given, there has been no abuse of discretion in refusing to appoint interpreter). With respect to the inmate legal aide, Bao cites no authority to the effect that he was entitled to the presence of an inmate legal aide at the hearing on the motion for reconsideration, and we see no basis to declare the existence of plain error. We conclude that the district court did not err in relation to the appointment of counsel issues.