Opinion ID: 2599880
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Marsden Claim (Oliver)

Text: Oliver challenges the denial of his pretrial motion to replace counsel under Marsden, supra, 2 Cal.3d 118, 84 Cal.Rptr. 156, 465 P.2d 44. He claims a Sixth Amendment violation as an additional legal consequence of the court's ruling. No error occurred. Replacing counsel lies within the court's discretion. The court does not abuse its discretion in denying the motion unless the defendant has shown that a failure to replace counsel would substantially impair the defendant's right to assistance of counsel. ( People v. Smith (2003) 30 Cal.4th 581, 604, 134 Cal.Rptr.2d 1, 68 P.3d 302.) In September 1991, after Oliver withdrew one of his many Faretta motions, the trial court appointed Charles Lloyd and William Turner to represent him. A short time later, in October 1991, the court learned that Oliver might wish to replace counsel under Marsden. Oliver had apparently sent the court a letter requesting a Marsden hearing, but then indicated that his motion was premature and withdrew it for the time being. The same issue was broached in June 1992, but Oliver denied wanting to file a Marsden motion. Eventually, on December 9, 1992, Oliver moved to replace counsel. This motion occurred between his last Faretta motion, which he made on November 19, 1992, and the start of trial, which occurred on January 6, 1993. Oliver and Turner attended the Marsden hearing. In that hearing, Oliver complained of counsel's inattentiveness, lack of loyalty, and inadequacy of trial preparation. Specifically regarding the first point, Oliver asserted that counsel did not visit him in jail. Turner replied that he visited Oliver at least weekly in jail, but that in the last two weeks they didn't have the personnel to bring him down because Mr. Oliver has to be escorted by 10 other subjects. Oliver acknowledged that Turner was correct about the frequency of his visits to him in jail, but that he still wanted him relieved because he was not preparing my case properly. The court asked Oliver for examples as to what Turner had not done in preparing for the guilt trial. Oliver said only that Turner had promised to withdraw. Also, the court asked Turner about Lloyd's preparation for the penalty trial. Turner reported that Lloyd had tried to contact witnesses, and that Oliver was not cooperating in the matter. Regarding loyalty, Oliver questioned counsel's loyalty to him based on their failure to honor an alleged promise to withdraw from representing him. The trial court denied the motion as to Turner, and deferred it as to Lloyd. On December 16, 1992, Oliver withdrew his Marsden motion as to Lloyd without explanation. On appeal, Oliver contends that the trial court denied him an adequate opportunity to make a showing that he was entitled to replace counsel under Marsden. He primarily faults the court for not asking Turner either to defend his own trial preparation or to address the state of their relationship. The record does not support the foregoing claim. Oliver had a full and fair opportunity to voice his objections about counsel's performance. Oliver offered no specific information to which either Turner or the trial court could meaningfully respond. Indeed, given the timing and nature of the motion, it appears to have been made primarily to delay the trial. In any event, since Oliver declined to elaborate on his complaints about counsel, the court had no duty to inquire still further. (See, e.g., People v. Lucky (1988) 45 Cal.3d 259, 280-283, 247 Cal.Rptr. 1, 753 P.2d 1052 [no Marsden violation where, among other things, defendant declined to criticize counsel].) Oliver also asserts that the trial court violated his Marsden rights when it refused to let him subpoena records of the frequency of visits by Lloyd. He claims a related violation of his due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. However, the court agreed to accept Oliver's version of events without seeing the records. Thus, Oliver was not deprived of any information needed to support his Marsden claim.