Opinion ID: 1752541
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: issues regarding counsel

Text: Appellant envisions the right as an indigent criminal defendant to have appointed counsel actively defend him at trial while appellant retains the right to step in and take over or supplement appointed counsel's defense. He asserts that the court erred in forcing him to elect between defending by appointed counsel or pro se. Since the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution does not grant indigent criminal defendants the right to act as co-counsel with appointed counsel, McKaskle v. Wiggins, 465 U.S. 168, 184, 104 S.Ct. 944, 954, 79 L.Ed.2d 122 (1984), appellant bases his constitutional claim to hybrid representation on Article I, § 18(a) of the Missouri Constitution which guarantees that an accused shall have the right to appear and defend, in person and by counsel. He argues that the Missouri Constitution is not coextensive with the Sixth Amendment; rather, it was intended to secure the concurrent rights of self-representation and representation by counsel. Appellant's contention ignores Missouri courts' construction of the language of Article I, § 18(a), which confers discretion upon the trial court to permit joint representation, but does not grant a constitutional right to joint representation. State v. Turner, 623 S.W.2d 4, 12 (Mo. banc 1981), cert. denied, 456 U.S. 931, 102 S.Ct. 1982, 72 L.Ed.2d 448 (1982); State v. Velanti, 331 S.W.2d 542, 546 (Mo. banc 1960); State v. Burgin, 539 S.W.2d 652, 653-54 (Mo.App.1976). Alternatively, appellant argues that the court abused its discretion in not allowing joint representation. The record does not support appellant's contention. Appellant next asserts that the court erred in allowing Mr. Braun to act as standby counsel during pretrial hearings because of a conflict of interest. Appellant also asserts that the motion court clearly erred in overruling his Rule 29.15 motion alleging the conflict of interest. Appellant's assertions are incorrect. On April 5, 1990, Mr. Braun informed the court that he was running for St. Charles Prosecuting Attorney in the November election, and stated that appellant could request another attorney from the public defender's office. Appellant informed the court that he wanted to reserve his decision on Braun's replacement until after pretrial matters were resolved. After further discussion, the court found that no conflict of interest existed and allowed Braun to serve as one of appellant's two standby counselors. The court allowed Braun to withdraw from standby representation on September 13, 1990, almost two months prior to the election and three months prior to trial. To establish a Sixth Amendment violation, appellant must show that Braun had an actual conflict of interest that adversely affected his performance. Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 348, 100 S.Ct. 1708, 1718, 64 L.Ed.2d 333 (1980). A conflict of interest exists where a criminal defendant's attorney also acts as an assistant attorney general without his client's knowledge and assent. State v. Crockett, 419 S.W.2d 22, 28-30 (Mo.1967). A conflict does not exist where a defendant's attorney terminated his employment with a prosecutor's office three years before the defendant pled guilty. Davis v. State, 763 S.W.2d 345, 347-48 (Mo. App.1988). Here, Braun had no current or past affiliation with the prosecutor's office. Braun was only a candidate, and the election was two months distant when he withdrew from the case. He owed the prosecutor's office no commitment or loyalty while acting as appellant's standby attorney. No actual conflict of interest existed. Furthermore, Braun was one of two standby counselors. The other standby attorney knew of Braun's candidacy and was in a position to ensure appellant's interests were protected. See Commonwealth v. Wakeley, 433 Pa. 159, 249 A.2d 303, 304 (1969). Finally, appellant was offered the opportunity to request Braun's replacement after being informed of Braun's candidacy, but decided to withhold action. The court did not err.