Opinion ID: 1882225
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Substitute Attorney

Text: Worthy and McKinnis also contend that the trial court abused its discretion when it refused to appoint substitute attorneys for them on the morning of trial. The right to counsel includes a fair opportunity to secure an attorney of choice, but an indigent defendant does not have the unbridled right to be represented by the attorney of his choice. State v. Gassler, 505 N.W.2d 62, 70 (Minn.1993) (stating that defendant must accept the court-appointed attorney); Vance, 254 N.W.2d at 358. A court will grant an indigent's request for different counsel only if exceptional circumstances exist and the demand is timely and reasonably made. Vance, 254 N.W.2d at 358. Neither requirement was met in this case. Though Worthy and McKinnis first informed the trial court of their dissatisfaction with their court-appointed attorneys on the morning of trial, they assert that their request was timely under the circumstances of this case. They point out that Worthy's trial was originally set for June 4, 1996, but the trial court ordered that the consolidated trial would take place on May 15, 1996. The defendants' first court appearance after the scheduling of the consolidated trial was the trial itself, at which time the defendants told the court they wanted a new attorney. However, what Worthy and McKinnis neglect to point out is that both defendants requested that the trial be consolidated against the advice of McKinnis's attorney. In fact, McKinnis's attorney told the court that McKinnis desired a consolidated trial to avoid the risk of being the first to be tried. In addition, Worthy and McKinnis both made speedy trial demands, though McKinnis eventually requested to withdraw his demand. Under these facts the request for a substitute attorney was not timely. Worthy and McKinnis also fall short of demonstrating the requisite exceptional circumstances. They told the trial court they wanted new counsel because they felt they were not being properly represented. According to McKinnis, his attorney told him that he was not going to win the case. McKinnis's attorney explained that he and Worthy's attorney told McKinnis and Worthy that the evidence against them was quite strong and that their chances for success at trial were not good, but also told them that they were ready, able, and willing to try their cases. General dissatisfaction or disagreement with appointed counsel's assessment of the case does not constitute the exceptional circumstances needed to obtain a substitute attorney. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to appoint substitute attorneys for Worthy and McKinnis.