Opinion ID: 686506
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Defendant's Motion for Substitution of Counsel

Text: 53 Finally, Goad argues that the district court abused its discretion when it denied his motion for substitution of counsel. Goad based his motion on his alleged hostile relationship with Stokes, which originated during Goad's plea negotiations for his 1990 bank fraud conviction, and was bolstered by Stokes's allegedly ineffective performance of his duties before Goad's revocation of supervised release hearing. 17 54 We review the denial of a motion for substitution of counsel only for abuse of discretion, provided that the defendant has been given an opportunity to explain the reasons for his request. United States v. Hillsberg, 812 F.2d 328, 333 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1041, 107 S.Ct. 1981, 95 L.Ed.2d 821 (1987). Unless there is a demonstrated conflict of interests or counsel and defendant are embroiled in an 'irreconcilable conflict' that is 'so great that it resulted in a total lack of communication preventing an adequate defense,' there is no abuse of discretion in denying a motion for new counsel. United States v. Morris, 714 F.2d 669, 673 (7th Cir.1983), quoted in United States v. Cole, 988 F.2d 681, 683 (7th Cir.1993). On review, we consider several factors, including the adequacy of the court's inquiry into the substitution of counsel motion, the timeliness of the motion, and whether the conflict between the defendant and his counsel was so great that it resulted in a total lack of communication preventing an adequate defense. United States v. Zillges, 978 F.2d 369, 372 (7th Cir.1992). 55 The record reflects that Judge Shabaz made a detailed inquiry into Goad's reasons for seeking the appointment of new counsel. In response, Goad emphasized not any potential or existing conflict with Stokes, but his confusion regarding the Sentencing Guidelines. Judge Shabaz attempted to clarify Goad's exposure under the Sentencing Guidelines, and Goad expressed no further concerns with Stokes's performance. From this record, we are convinced that the district court conducted an adequate inquiry into Goad's reasons for the filing of his motion requesting substitution of counsel. 56 Goad's initial claim that the Probation Department's recommendation of Stokes for Goad's appointed attorney created a conflict is without merit. The Probation Department recommended Stokes because he had previously represented Goad during Goad's 1990 prosecution for bank fraud. Stokes was familiar with Goad's conviction, the terms of his supervised release, and had an existing working relationship with Goad. The district court could have elicited this same information from Goad; the fact that the Probation Department provided it for the court is of no consequence. 57 Goad failed to present any evidence of conflict, either potential or actual, that would preclude Stokes from providing him with an adequate defense. Goad claimed that a long-term documented hostile relationship existed between Goad and Stokes, which prevented the presentation of an adequate defense. The origin of this dissonant relationship was allegedly Stokes's representation of Goad during his 1990 plea negotiations which resulted in a bank fraud conviction. Goad filed a motion for substitution of counsel during that proceeding as well. After an ex parte hearing with both Goad and Stokes, the magistrate ruled that Goad had failed to present sufficient reasons to justify the replacement of Stokes. Goad presented no additional evidence to the district court to call into question the magistrate's decision; therefore we will not revisit here Stokes's 1990 representation of Goad. 58 Goad also claims that Stokes did not cooperate with him in his preparation for the revocation hearing and, as a result, Goad was unprepared for that hearing. An attorney is required to consult with the defendant on important decisions and to keep the defendant informed of important developments in the course of the prosecution. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 2065, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). Goad asserts that Stokes failed to meet the Strickland standard, in that he failed to apprise him of the basis of the revocation petition, the evidence the government intended to present against him, and the sentencing implications of the allegations. The record does not support Goad's allegations. All of the proceedings before the district court reflect a civil and cooperative, albeit reserved, relationship between Goad and his appointed counsel. At Goad's probable cause bail hearing on April 1, 1993, Stokes advised the district court that he had had a brief opportunity to discuss the nature of the petition for revocation with Goad. Later, when Goad requested new counsel, Goad stressed his confusion over the Sentencing Guidelines to the court, not any dissatisfaction with his counsel. Goad consented to the district court's appointment of Stokes as standby counsel. Obviously Goad would not have agreed to Stokes's assistance had there been any irreconcilable conflict or total breakdown in communication between them. Goad conferred with Stokes on numerous occasions during his revocation hearing and never once voiced any displeasure regarding the advice he received. Moreover, Goad admitted in his summation that he had met with Stokes the evening before the hearing for one or two hours to review what we [sic] had said. 18 This record falls far short of demonstrating an irreconcilable conflict or total lack of communication between the accused and his appointed counsel. 59 This court has held that the denial of a motion to substitute alleging only ethereal distrust of counsel is not reversible error. Morris, 714 F.2d at 673. Nor do personality conflicts and disagreements over trial strategy constitute grounds for reversal. Hillsberg, 812 F.2d at 333-34 (quoting United States v. Davis, 604 F.2d 474, 479 (7th Cir.1979)). As a criminal defendant, Goad had a right to appointed counsel, but he had no right to select his own appointed counsel. See Slappy, 461 U.S. at 13-14, 103 S.Ct. at 1617-18. This was not a complex legal proceeding, such as a trial or difficult motion hearing, where a defendant might be prejudiced by a lack of legal knowledge. The only questions relevant to this proceeding were the credibility of the witnesses and the strength of the evidence against the accused. As Judge Shabaz noted, [t]he Court is not aware of that law which would be applicable in this case other than the general law which has been provided to [Goad] by the Court at the previous hearing, and the Court further is of the opinion that the key to this matter is the testimony which has been provided which has gone unrebutted without any refutation whatsoever. Goad had standby counsel to assist him with any legal question that arose. We agree with the district court that Goad's appointed attorney met the Strickland standard, and, that even had the defendant's counsel done what the defendant apparently believes would have been appropriate, the result would not have been any different. 60 Finally, Goad's delay in making his motion for substitution of counsel deserves comment. Goad waited eighteen days--from April 1, 1993, the day of his arraignment, until April 19, 1993, the day of his scheduled revocation hearing--to make his motion for substitution of counsel. The court refused to appoint a new attorney, but allowed Goad to proceed pro se and went so far as to give him an additional three days to prepare and then to give him standby counsel. Once again, Goad waited until the last possible moment--at his rescheduled revocation hearing--to abandon his request to proceed pro se and renew his request for appointed counsel. Goad's tactics are a common illustration of the procedural manipulation district courts face time and time again in trying to effectively render justice in the most efficient and judicious manner while attempting to manage overburdened caseloads. The problem is, savvy criminal defendants have learned to manipulate the system by withdrawing requests for self-representation at the eleventh hour ... in order to cause delay. United States v. Tolliver, 937 F.2d 1183 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 919, 112 S.Ct. 329, 116 L.Ed.2d 269 (1991); see also United States v. Studley, 892 F.2d 518, 522 n. 4 (7th Cir.1989) ([e]xperienced trial judges are well aware that ... [a] request for a new appointed counsel after earlier requesting to proceed pro se ... is frequently nothing more than a stalling tactic ... [that] should be treated as such by the trial court). The untimeliness of Goad's motion for substitution of counsel also supports the district court's decision to deny his request. We are convinced that the district court did not abuse its discretion in refusing Goad's motion for substitution of counsel.