Opinion ID: 220344
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Extent of conflict between attorney and client preventing an adequate defense

Text: The extent of the conflict between Defendant and counsel was significant, and this factor weighs in Defendant's favor. Although the record should have been better developed, the record that does exist reveals a complete breakdown of the attorney-client relationship. See, e.g., United States v. Jennette, 387 Fed.Appx. 303, 307-08 (4th Cir.2010) (finding an abuse of discretion, where district court denied a motion to substitute counsel two weeks before sentencing in the face of a breakdown in communication between lawyer and client). This is evident from Defendant's statements to the district court, [1] as well as those of his then-attorney. [2] The magnitude of the conflict is further evidenced by Defendant's decision to entirely forgo representation rather than be represented by his then-counsel, even though Defendant was admittedly ignorant of the law and desired a lawyer. See United States v. Lagunas, 48 F.3d 1229 (9th Cir.1995) (table) (finding an abuse of discretion, where court denied substitution even though the evidence established a breakdown in communication that made an adequate defense highly improbable, if not impossible). Although Defendant was permitted the opportunity to consult his former counsel as standby counsel at trial and sentencing, this is at most marginally relevant to the present issue. Defendant was not permitted any choice in the selection of his standby counsel, nor does the record suggest that Defendant and standby counsel had a meaningful or productive relationship. They instead continued to have a conflicted relationship compelled by the district court.