Opinion ID: 483595
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Denial of Request for New Counsel

Text: 25 Hillsberg next asserts error in the trial court's denial of his request at the beginning of the trial for a different defense counsel. Provided that defendant is given an opportunity to state his reasons for the request, denial of a motion for substitution of counsel constitutes reversible abuse of discretion only if there exists a demonstrable conflict of interests or if counsel and defendant are so at odds as to prevent presentation of an adequate defense. United States v. Morris, 714 F.2d 669, 673 (7th Cir.1983). Thus, denial is not reversible error where defendant abruptly states that he does not trust his attorney but gives no grounds for that distrust, id., or where defendant and counsel have personality conflicts and disagreements over trial strategy. United States v. Davis, 604 F.2d 474, 479 (7th Cir.1979). 26 In this case, Hillsberg and his appointed counsel had disagreed on a matter of trial strategy, whether Hillsberg should testify. Counsel willingly followed the strategy proposed by Hillsberg and he testified at trial. Beyond this issue Hillsberg expressed only a general dissatisfaction with his counsel. Since the conflict did not hamper, let alone prevent, the defense's presentation of its case, we find no abuse of discretion in denying the request for different counsel.