Opinion ID: 883450
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Did the District Court abuse its discretion in denying Craig's request for new counsel?

Text: The question of whether the District Court abused its discretion in denying Craig's motion for new counsel is pivotal to the determination of the rest of Craig's claims. The Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article II, Section 24 of the Montana Constitution guarantee the fundamental right to assistance of counsel. State v. Langford (1994), 267 Mont. 95, 99, 882 P.2d 490, 492, cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 115 S.Ct. 1128, 130 L.Ed.2d 1090 (1995). Since Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), 372 U.S. 335, 83 S.Ct. 792, 9 L.Ed.2d 799, an indigent defendant in a state criminal prosecution is entitled to representation by appointed counsel at public expense. State v. Pepperling (1978), 177 Mont. 464, 472, 582 P.2d 341, 345; State v. Enright (1988), 233 Mont. 225, 228, 758 P.2d. 779, 781. The indigent's right to counsel includes the right to have effective assistance of counsel. Pepperling, 582 P.2d at 345 (quoting State v. McElveen (1975), 168 Mont. 500, 503, 544 P.2d 820, 821). If appointed counsel renders effective assistance, the defendant may not demand his appointed counsel's dismissal or substitution, nor may the defendant demand that certain counsel be appointed. Pepperling, 582 P.2d at 346. In other words, the right to assistance of counsel does not grant defendants the right to counsel of their choice. State v. Colt (1992), 255 Mont. 399, 404, 843 P.2d 747, 750. It is well settled in Montana that when appointed counsel is rendering effective assistance, the defendant has the choice of (1) continuing with counsel so appointed, or (2) having his counsel dismissed and proceeding on defendant's own, pro se.  Pepperling, 582 P.2d at 346, see also State v. Lange (1987), 226 Mont. 9, 13, 733 P.2d 846, 849; Enright, 758 P.2d at 781-82; State v. Zackuse (1991), 250 Mont. 385, 386, 833 P.2d 142. Nonetheless, if a defendant presents a seemingly substantial complaint about effective assistance of counsel, the district court should conduct a hearing to determine the validity of defendant's request for substitution of counsel. Enright, 758 P.2d at 782. Subsequently, upon a proper showing that failure to replace appointed counsel would substantially impair or deny the right to assistance of counsel, the district court should substitute appointed counsel. State v. Long (1983), 206 Mont. 40, 44, 669 P.2d 1068, 1071; Enright, 758 P.2d at 782. It is within the discretion of the district court to consider requests to appoint new counsel and the court's determination will be sustained absent an abuse of discretion. State v. Morrison (1993), 257 Mont. 282, 284, 848 P.2d 514, 516; Long, 669 P.2d at 1071. In Enright, we held that the district court's failure to consider Enright's seemingly substantial complaints regarding the effectiveness of counsel was reversible error. Enright, 758 P.2d at 782. If a district court does not address a defendant's complaints regarding effectiveness of counsel, the court may place a defendant in the untenable position of choosing between proceeding with ineffective counsel or proceeding pro se : Such a set of options is in essence no choice at all. Enright, 758 P.2d at 782. In the instant case, the District Court did not place Craig in such a position. Craig's first attempt to remove McGee as counsel was properly denied by the court. In response to Craig's motion to remove McGee as counsel, the court found that Craig had failed to allege any facts in support of his motion that would entitle him to relief, as required by § 46-13-101(4), MCA. Since Craig's motion failed to raise a seemingly substantial complaint about McGee's performance, no hearing on the motion was required. Subsequently, McGee informed the court that Craig refused to cooperate in his defense and the court conducted a hearing to give Craig the opportunity to present his request for substitution of counsel. In support of his position, Craig stated that there was no communication between me and my public defender. In addition, he alleged that: McGee refused to move for either discovery or change of venue; McGee failed to interview a witness and failed to suppress evidence; McGee advised him to enter a plea agreement; and, McGee had seen him only one time. In a similar situation where a defendant refused to cooperate and communicate with his appointed counsel and later claimed he had been denied assistance of counsel, we held that [l]ack of communication between defendant and defense counsel is not of itself basis for reversal on grounds of ineffective assistance of counsel. Long, 669 P.2d at 1072. In cases where the defendant refuses to cooperate in his own defense, we apply the general rule that a party who participates in or contributes to an error cannot complain of it. Long, 669 P.2d at 1072 (quoting State v. Lopez (1980), 185 Mont. 187, 193, 605 P.2d 178, 181). Thus, a defendant who refuses to cooperate in his own defense cannot complain of ineffective assistance of counsel. State v. Strandberg (1986), 223 Mont. 132, 136, 724 P.2d 710, 713; Long, 669 P.2d at 1072; State v. Miller (1977), 173 Mont. 453, 457, 568 P.2d 130, 132-33. At the substitution of counsel hearing, the deputy county attorney and McGee responded to Craig's allegations. Regarding Craig's assertion that McGee should move to suppress evidence, specifically a jacket seized from Craig's room at the Butte Pre-Release Center, the deputy county attorney explained that as a prison inmate and resident of the Pre-Release Center, Craig did not have an expectation of privacy to prevent a search. Additionally, Craig signed a document consenting to searches as a provision of his discharge to the Pre-Release Center. McGee had told Craig that filing a motion to suppress the admission of the jacket would be frivolous and would be rejected by the court. As to the witness Craig believed should be interviewed on his behalf, McGee pointed out that she had already given a statement to the police department which included the facts that Craig felt were important. Regarding discovery, the deputy county attorney responded that pursuant to the State's open file policy, McGee had been given the entire investigative file. Regarding McGee's visits with Craig, McGee testified that he had met with Craig at the county jail and also for an extensive visit at the State Prison. McGee stated that he discussed with Craig everything in his file and went over the strong and weak points of the case including the physical evidence. Craig's other allegations were likewise explained and countered by the deputy county attorney and McGee, resulting in the District Court's finding that McGee was providing effective assistance of counsel. Considering the court's inquiry into Craig's claims of ineffective counsel and Craig's lack of cooperation with counsel, we hold that the District Court did not abuse its discretion and, therefore, was correct in refusing to substitute counsel.