Opinion ID: 1592017
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Conflict with Counsel, Self-Representation Assignments of Error 7-9

Text: In these assignments of error, the defendant argues that he repeatedly informed the court during pre-trial proceedings that he was not receiving effective assistance from appointed counsel, Craig Colwart, Chief of the Indigent Defender's Office, and that a conflict of interest existed. The defendant asserts the trial judge failed to protect his right to competent, conflict-free counsel or his alternative right of self-representation. La. Const. art. 1, § 13 provides in pertinent part that at each stage of the proceedings, every person is entitled to assistance of counsel of his choice, or appointed by the court if he is indigent and charged with an offense punishable by imprisonment. The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution likewise carries such a guarantee. In State v. Harper, 381 So.2d 468 (La.1980), this court explained: As a general proposition a person accused in a criminal trial has the right to counsel of his choice. State v. Leggett, 363 So.2d 434 (La.1978); State v. Mackie, 352 So.2d 1297 (1977); State v. Anthony, 347 So.2d 483 (La.1977). If a defendant is indigent he has the right to court appointed counsel. Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 83 S.Ct. 792, 9 L.Ed.2d 799 (1963); Argersinger v. Hamlin, [407 U.S. 25, 92 S.Ct. 2006, 32 L.Ed.2d 530 (1972)]; State v. Adams, 369 So.2d 1327 (La.1979); City of Baton Rouge v. Dees, 363 So.2d 530 (1978). An indigent defendant does not have the right to have a particular attorney appointed to represent him. State v. Rideau, 278 So.2d 100 (La.1973). An indigent's right to choose his counsel only extends so far as to allow the accused to retain the attorney of his choice, if he can manage to do so, but that right is not absolute and cannot be manipulated so as to obstruct orderly procedure in courts and cannot be used to thwart the administration of justice. State v. Jones, 376 So.2d 125 (La.1979); State v. Leggett, supra ; State v. Mackie, supra . Id., 381 So.2d at 470-471. The question of withdrawal of counsel largely rests with the discretion of the trial judge, and his ruling will not be disturbed in the absence of a clear showing of an abuse of discretion. State v. Bridgewater, XXXX-XXXX p. 21 (La.1/15/02), 823 So.2d 877, 896, cert. denied, 537 U.S. 1227, 123 S.Ct. 1266, 154 L.Ed.2d 1089 (2003). The defendant's arguments with regard to this issue of counsel has three parts, those being (1) claim of ineffective assistance; (2) conflict of interest; and (3) self-representation.