Opinion ID: 754305
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Effectiveness of waiver

Text: 13 A criminal defendant has a Sixth Amendment right to a conflict-free attorney. See, e.g., United States v. Mett, 65 F.3d 1531, 1534 (9th Cir.1995). Trial courts may allow an attorney to proceed despite a conflict if the defendant makes a voluntary, knowing, and intelligent waiver. Garcia v. Bunnell, 33 F.3d 1193, 1195 (9th Cir.1994). Whether a defendant has made a valid waiver of his Sixth Amendment rights depends upon the particular facts and circumstances surrounding that case, including the background, experience, and conduct of the accused. Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477, 482, 101 S.Ct. 1880, 1883-84, 68 L.Ed.2d 378 (1981). In making such a determination, the court must indulge every reasonable presumption against the waiver of fundamental rights. United States v. Allen, 831 F.2d 1487, 1498 (9th Cir.1987) (citation omitted). 14 In Garcia v. Bunnell, the Ninth Circuit held that a criminal defendant waived his attorney's conflict where the record showed 15 a defendant who was well aware of his interests, his right to an unbiased counsel, his right to seek outside legal advice, and his right to discuss with the court any dissatisfaction with his appointed counsel.... [A]fter the court explicitly discussed with him the possible conflict, [he] was articulate and forthright in declaring his desire to proceed with [his attorney]. 16 Garcia, 33 F.3d at 1197. Here, the district court informed Martinez that he was entitled to a conflict-free attorney, that he could receive outside legal advice about waiving the conflict, and that he could ask questions. Martinez stated that he wished to retain Roark despite the conflict. It appears that Martinez understood the court and was not coerced. We find that Martinez's waiver of his right to conflict-free counsel was valid and that it applied to all conflicts foreseeable at the time of the hearing, including the possibility that Martinez could be called to testify against Cervantes. A properly advised criminal defendant is not free to intelligently and knowingly make or approve of a tactical choice and then later abandon it when it seems convenient. Martinez waived Roark's conflict. 17