Opinion ID: 2966237
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The district court's dismissal of Hakala

Text: Next, we consider the district court's dismissal of Hakala after Woodard had waived her right to counsel. Woodard did not object when the district court excused Hakala from the courtroom. Accordingly, we review for plain error. Fed. R. Crim. P. 52(b). Woodard had no entitlement to Hakala or to any other attorney as standby counsel. A defendant has no right to hybrid representation. United States v. Nivica , 887 F.2d 1110, 1121 (1st Cir. 1989). Although a trial court may appoint standby counsel against a defendant's wishes, it is not required to do so. Kneeland , 148 F.3d at 13; see also United States v. Webster , 84 F.3d 1056, 1063 (8th Cir. 1996) (Appointment of standby counsel is within the discretion of the district court, and a pro se defendant does not enjoy an absolute right to standby counsel.) Woodard neither expressly asked for standby counsel nor objected to Hakala's dismissal. When the district court discussed Hakala's remaining in the courtroom, Woodard did not assent to using his services. Nor did she accept Hakala's assistance when the court suggested specific functions that he might perform. When the district court offered that Hakala could represent Woodard at trial while she handled the motion to suppress, Woodard did not answer directly, but rather restated her desire for different counsel. While initially Woodard agreed to let Hakala select the jury, she later decided to perform that task herself. Woodard contends that because the court had told her that one of her options was to represent herself with Hakala present, her decision to proceed pro se was rendered involuntary by the subsequent dismissal of Hakala. The record does not support this argument. There is no indication that Woodard's waiver of counsel, or any other action, was made in reliance on the court's assurance that standby counsel would be available. Indeed, as her approval of the standby counsel idea came only after Hakala had left and was unlikely to be available, it suggests that her aim was to frustrate the trial process, utilizing whatever argument was closest at hand at the moment. Still, we are troubled by the district court's dismissal of Hakala without further inquiry. Where a district court promotes the idea of a hybrid representation in which defendant and counsel divide duties, a defendant might plausibly claim to believe that declining counsel's services in one capacity does not necessarily mean dismissing him altogether. Regrettably, the court did not attempt to clarify the situation by consulting with Woodard before dismissing Hakala from the courtroom. Our misgivings do not rise to the level of reversible error, however, in light of the specific facts of this case and our standard of review.