Opinion ID: 200778
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The trial and preceding events

Text: 6 On November 26, 2001, attorney Stephen Smith (Smith) was appointed to represent Reyes pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act. One week before trial, Reyes filed a motion requesting that Smith withdraw as counsel. The district judge held a hearing and denied the motion. After denying the motion, Reyes informed Smith and the trial judge that he would not attend his own trial. The district judge urged Reyes to attend the trial, but he refused. On the day of trial, the district judge again urged Reyes to be present and informed him of his constitutional right to confront witnesses. After Reyes again refused to attend, the district judge informed him he could change his mind at any time. Reyes did not change his mind and was not present at the trial. 7 One hour before the trial began, Reyes's co-defendant, Cruz, decided to testify against Reyes. Originally, Cruz had refused to testify against Reyes. Cruz testified that he changed his mind because he could get an additional two to four years added to his own sentence if he refused to testify.