Opinion ID: 1215322
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: December hearing

Text: In December 1983, at the trial setting conference on defendant's second penalty trial, the public defender who had represented defendant in the first trial asserted he was unable to continue representation because he had a conflict. He explained that, during defendant's first penalty trial, he (the public defender) had been informed by Plankington that Plankington planned to retain counsel on defendant's behalf, or to pay $25,000 to Attorney Roger Hanson, for defendant's representation. In return, Plankington wanted defendant to testify in a then-pending federal criminal trial that he (defendant) committed the Chicken Ranch arson. Thereafter, the public defender was subpoenaed and testified at the federal criminal trial, concerning the above mentioned conversation with Plankington. Defendant and Plankington testified at the same trial. The public defender explained that he believed his testimony at the intervening federal criminal trial had differed from Plankington's testimony at that trial. As a result, the public defender felt it was possible that he would be required to testify at defendant's second penalty trial, concerning Plankington's credibility. The public defender also stated there had been a total breakdown of the attorney-client relationship after the first trial. Neither Hanson nor defendant, both of whom were present at the conference, disputed the facts recited by the public defender. Defendant stated he did not want the public defender to represent him, and that he wished Hanson to be his attorney in the penalty retrial. Hanson noted that he was familiar with the case, and would accept an appointment. On the basis of these representations, the court relieved the Stanislaus County Public Defender, but declined at that time to appoint Hanson, and instead appointed the Monterey County Public Defender. [6]