Opinion ID: 2100135
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Constitutional Implications of Defendant's Dismissal of Counsel

Text: A defendant's request to dismiss appointed counsel implicates two rights that are fundamental to our system of criminal justice: the defendant's right to counsel, and the defendant's right to self-representation. See Moten v. State, 339 Md. 407, 663 A.2d 593 (1995); Parren v. State, 309 Md. 260, 523 A.2d 597 (1987); Snead v. State, 286 Md. 122, 406 A.2d 98 (1979). See also McKaskle v. Wiggins, 465 U.S. 168, 104 S.Ct. 944, 79 L.Ed.2d 122 (1984); Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975); Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 83 S.Ct. 792, 9 L.Ed.2d 799 (1963). When a defendant indicates a desire to dismiss counsel, the defendant must request permission to obtain substitute counsel or to proceed pro se. The trial court's subsequent procedures depend on whether the defendant requests substitute counsel or self-representation. ([I]t is the relief requested (self-representation) and not the reasons underlying the motion (dissatisfaction with counsel) which governs the trial court's responsibilities when considering such motions.). If the defendant requests dismissal of counsel in order to obtain substitute counsel, the court must afford the defendant an opportunity to explain the reasons for the proposed dismissal. See United States v. Allen, 789 F.2d 90, 92 (1st Cir.1986), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 846, 107 S.Ct. 164, 93 L.Ed.2d 103 (1986); United States v. Welty, 674 F.2d 185, 190 (3d Cir.1982). While an indigent defendant is entitled to appointed counsel, the defendant is not entitled to choose a specific attorney. See Fowlkes, 311 Md. at 605-06, 536 A.2d at 1159; cf. Grandison v. State, 341 Md. 175, 199-204, 670 A.2d 398, 410-11 (1995). Instead, the defendant is entitled to the effective assistance of counsel, and may only obtain substitute counsel for good cause. [3] See Fowlkes, 311 Md. at 605-06, 536 A.2d at 1159. See also United States v. Gallop, 838 F.2d 105, 108 (4th Cir. 1988), cert. denied, 487 U.S. 1211, 108 S.Ct. 2858, 101 L.Ed.2d 895 (1988); Allen, 789 F.2d at 92. If the defendant requests dismissal of counsel in order to proceed pro se, and if the proposal to discharge counsel is timely and unequivocal, the court must ordinarily grant the request. Faretta, 422 U.S. at 833-34, 95 S.Ct. at 2540-41. By choosing self-representation, the defendant forgoes the right to counsel. Therefore, the court must conduct a waiver inquiry to ensure that any decision to waive the right to counsel is made with eyes open. Id. at 835, 95 S.Ct. at 2541 (quoting Adams v. United States ex rel. McCann, 317 U.S. 269, 279, 63 S.Ct. 236, 242, 87 L.Ed. 268 (1943)). The Sixth Amendment requires that the defendant's waiver of the right to counsel must be knowing and intelligent. Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 464-65, 58 S.Ct. 1019, 1023, 82 L.Ed. 1461 (1938). See also 1 AMERICAN BAR ASS'N, ABA STANDARDS ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE 6-38 to 6-41 (2d ed. 1986) (Special Functions of the Trial Judge Standard 6-3.6, Defendant's Election to Represent Himself or Herself at Trial). Although courts have recognized several exceptions to the Faretta rule, these exceptions have been narrowly construed to effectuate the defendant's right to self-representation. Cf. Leonard, 302 Md. at 127, 486 A.2d at 171. Absent a recognized exception, refusal to grant a timely, unequivocal request for self-representation is reversible error. See Snead, 286 Md. at 130, 406 A.2d at 102. See also McKaskle, 465 U.S. at 177 n. 8,104 S.Ct. at 950 n. 8; People v. Davis, 49 N.Y.2d 114, 424 N.Y.S.2d 372, 375-76, 400 N.E.2d 313, 317 (1979).