Opinion ID: 2621486
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Appointment of Standby Counsel

Text: [¶ 30] We review May's claims regarding the district court's refusal to appoint different standby counsel under an abuse of discretion standard. While a trial court has the power in its discretion to appoint substitute counsel, its refusal to do so is not error unless an abuse of discretion is shown. Allen v. State, 2002 WY 48, ¶ 27, 43 P.3d 551, ¶ 27 (Wyo.2002) (quoting Bell v. State, 994 P.2d 947, 951 (Wyo.2000)). May argues that his Sixth Amendment right to counsel was violated when the trial court refused to appoint new standby counsel to replace the attorney originally appointed to represent him. [¶ 31] After May's arrest in May of 1998, an attorney from the public defender's office was appointed to represent him. On January 11, 1999, May sent a letter to the trial judge stating that he had seen appointed counsel only twice since his incarceration eight months earlier. May also stated in the letter that counsel had failed to inform him about court dates, refused to accept his phone calls, and failed to respond to his letters. May's letter to the court was followed a few days later by a motion requesting to proceed with the trial pro se. On January 21, a hearing was held on May's motion. Appointed counsel was not present due to an automobile accident, and another attorney from the public defender's office appeared on May's behalf. [¶ 32] During the hearing, the trial court inquired into May's understanding of the implications of representing himself and reviewed with May the charges filed against him and possible penalties. The court also discussed with May the complexities of his case and risks involved in self representation and recommended that May proceed with counsel. Despite the court's recommendation, May stated that he wished to proceed pro se. May also asked the court to appoint standby counsel other than his appointed public defender. The court stated that standby counsel would be required and that generally the selection of counsel is not left to the defendant. The court granted May's motion to proceed pro se but indicated that standby counsel would be the attorney already appointed to represent May. The court directed May to contact that attorney to discuss his concerns and told May that if another hearing was needed to address the issue, the court would consider it. May responded that all he could do to contact counsel was write her a letter and that she did not respond to his letters and phone calls. The attorney from the public defender's office indicated he, too, would contact May's attorney. Consistent with the court's rulings at the hearing, an order was entered on January 26, 1999, granting the request to proceed pro se with standby counsel to be present to assist at trial. [¶ 33] On February 16, 1999, May filed a motion to dismiss standby counsel and for appointment of other counsel. In support of the motion, May asserted that he and appointed counsel had been unable to establish an amenable relationship. A hearing was held on the motion on February 18, 1999, at which time May asserted that appointed counsel had hardly spoken to him since his arrest and they had not established any relationship. The court reminded May that he had asked to proceed pro se, that he was responsible for representing himself at trial, and that the only function of standby counsel would be to answer questions, assist with legal technicalities, and provide minimal guidance where needed. Finding no basis for concluding that appointed counsel would be unable to provide such guidance, the court denied May's motion. May proceeded to trial on April 12 with appointed standby counsel present throughout all of the proceedings. [¶ 34] Citing United States v. Anderson, 189 F.3d 1201, 1210 (10th Cir. 1999), May argues that his right to counsel was violated because the trial court in this case failed to fulfill its duty to inquire into his reasons for requesting substitute counsel. The constitutional right to have counsel appointed does not include a right to demand that a particular attorney be appointed by the court. Irvin v. State, 584 P.2d 1068, 1070 (Wyo.1978). The same rule applies where a defendant asks for the substitution of a particular attorney. Id. While a trial court has the power in its discretion to appoint substitute counsel, its refusal to do so is not error unless an abuse of discretion is shown. A factual showing of good cause for the appointment of substitute counsel is essential to the demonstration of an abuse of discretion, and good cause is to be found in incompetence, commitment to a position or an interest which would conflict with the furnishing of an effective defense to the accused, or other good reason to conclude that appointed counsel is unable to furnish effective assistance. Id. at 1071. Trial courts are under a duty to make formal inquiry into the defendant's reasons for dissatisfaction with present counsel when substitution of counsel is requested. Johnson v. Gibson, 169 F.3d 1239, 1254 (10th Cir.1999). [¶ 35] This case is similar to Bell v. State, 994 P.2d 947, 951 (Wyo.2000), wherein the defendant and counsel had differing opinions regarding case strategy and had difficulty communicating. Citing Morris v. Slappy, 461 U.S. 1, 13-14, 103 S.Ct. 1610, 75 L.Ed.2d 610 (1983), we said in Bell that the Sixth Amendment does not guarantee a meaningful relationship with appointed defense counsel. Rather, the purpose of providing assistance of counsel is to ensure that criminal defendants receive a fair trial. Wheat v. United States, 486 U.S. 153, 159, 108 S.Ct. 1692, 100 L.Ed.2d 140 (1988). In evaluating Sixth Amendment claims, the appropriate inquiry focuses on the adversarial process, not on the accused's relationship with his lawyer. Id. [¶ 36] Once May asserted his right to represent himself, the court had no duty to appoint counsel for him. Van Riper v. State, 882 P.2d 230, 235 (Wyo.1994). The appointment of standby counsel is not mandatory; standby counsel is appointed to a defendant simply through the goodwill of the trial judge. Id. We have held that failure to appoint standby counsel is not an abuse of discretion. Id. We, therefore, fail to see how refusing to appoint alternate standby counsel could be an abuse of discretion. [¶ 37] Applying these principles, we are unable to find that the trial court abused its discretion in denying May's motions for substitute standby counsel. The issue of substitute counsel was addressed by the trial court, and by May, at two separate hearings. May was heard on the issue of his dissatisfaction with appointed counsel. After discussing the matter with May and appointed counsel, the trial court confirmed the appointment of standby counsel. In doing so, the court reminded May of his right to retain private counsel, to proceed entirely on his own, or to make use of standby counsel to assist him during the trial. Upon May's motions for substitute counsel, the trial court concluded, based upon all the facts and circumstances before it, that appointing a different attorney to act as standby counsel was not warranted. Under these circumstances, we find no abuse of discretion in the denial of May's motions for appointment of substitute standby counsel.