Opinion ID: 1611086
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Attorney Issues

Text: In these interrelated assignments of error, the defendant complains that he was unconstitutionally denied counsel of his choice when the trial court removed nonlocal counsel, who represented him at his first trial through an agreement with the local indigent defender board, and reinstated originally appointed counsel, the local chief public defender, for his retrial. This replacement occurred after non-local counsel requested the court's involvement to secure reimbursement of expenses incurred in the defense of Reeves in the first trial, and to locate funding for expert assistance and attorney expenses for the retrial. The defendant additionally asserts the removal of non-local counsel resulted in representation by counsel who had an actual conflict of interest and who was so overburdened as to be constitutionally ineffective. The defendant maintains these actions resulted in structural error in his retrial, necessitating reversal of his conviction and sentence.