Opinion ID: 895744
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Right to Proceed Pro-Se

Text: [¶ 14] Foster also contends he was denied his right to represent himself. As a corollary to the right to be provided with counsel under the Sixth Amendment, a party has the right to represent himself in a criminal proceeding. Adoption of J.S.P.L., J.J.L., and J.W.L., 532 N.W.2d 653 (N.D.1995). However, an indigent defendant has no right to appointed counsel of his choosing. State v. DuPaul, 527 N.W.2d 238 (N.D.1995). Absent a showing of good cause to justify defendant's request for substitution of counsel, a trial court's refusal to grant such a request is not an abuse of discretion. Id. Simple dissatisfaction with or distrust of appointed counsel is not sufficient to secure a substitution. DuPaul at 243. [¶ 15] During the hearing on November 14, 1994, Foster expressed his dissatisfaction with the appointment of Mottinger after Johnson withdrew. Foster told the court he would proceed by [him]self, if that need be ... if [he] ha[d] to have him for a lawyer. Foster also requested attorney Johnson be reassigned to the case or a different attorney be appointed to replace Mottinger. The court properly viewed this as a request for substitution of counsel, and told Foster he [didn't] get [his] choice of lawyers. At the end of the hearing, Foster agreed to give his file to Mottinger, consenting to his representation. Foster's mere dissatisfaction with Mottinger and the statement that he would represent himself unless another attorney was provided to him were justifiably not interpreted by the court as a knowing and voluntary request to proceed pro se, but as a request for substitute counsel. Foster did not assert his right to represent himself at any other point during these proceedings, and at the end of the November 14, 1994 hearing, agreed to have attorney Mottinger represent him. The trial court's denial of Foster's request in this case was not an abuse of discretion nor was it a contravention of his Sixth Amendment rights.