Opinion ID: 1154894
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Right to assistance of counsel at critical stages

Text: 1. Right to counsel at the hearing on Defendant's motion to continue On the eve of trial, Defendant filed a pro se motion to continue, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. Although the trial court was not required to consider this pro se motion of a defendant represented by counsel, it did. At the hearing, Defendant called his attorneys as witnesses. He did not request additional counsel to represent him during the hearing and none was appointed. The trial court denied the motion. Relying on an alternative holding by the majority in United States v. Wadsworth, 830 F.2d 1500, 1510 (9th Cir.1987) (2-1 decision), Defendant argues that he was denied his right to assistance of counsel. Wadsworth is inapposite. In Wadsworth, at a hearing on a motion to change counsel, defense counsel took a position adverse to the defendant. In the present case, Defendant  represented by counsel  filed a pro se motion that the court actually considered. At the hearing on that motion, Mr. Phillips, one of Defendant's attorneys, appeared, represented Defendant's interests, protected Defendant's rights, and took no position adverse to Defendant. Thus, we find no error. See United States v. Weaver, 882 F.2d 1128, 1143 n. 9 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 968, 110 S.Ct. 415, 107 L.Ed.2d 380 (1989). 2. Defendant's motion to substitute counsel Claiming a lack of trust and confidence, Defendant moved pro se to remove his lead attorney, making several claims of that attorney's purported inaction. The trial court denied the motion. On appeal, Defendant claims the denial was error. Although an indigent criminal defendant has a Sixth Amendment right to competent counsel, this right does not include counsel of choice. See State v. LaGrand, 152 Ariz. 483, 486, 733 P.2d 1066, 1069. Nor does this right guarantee a `meaningful relationship' between an accused and his counsel. Morris v. Slappy, 461 U.S. 1, 14, 103 S.Ct. 1610, 1617, 75 L.Ed.2d 610 (1983). Although irreconcilable conflict is not permitted, conflict between counsel and a criminal defendant is but one factor a court should consider in deciding whether to substitute counsel. See LaGrand, 152 Ariz. at 486-87, 733 P.2d at 1069-70. A mere allegation of lost confidence in counsel does not require appointing substitute counsel. See State v. Crane, 166 Ariz. 3, 11, 799 P.2d 1380, 1388 (Ct.App. 1990). We review the trial court's decision for an abuse of discretion. LaGrand, 152 Ariz. at 487, 733 P.2d at 1070. The record reveals disagreement among the defense team, particularly regarding whether to file a special action on the DNA issues. Defendant and his lead attorney also disagreed on some defense strategy. The trial court, however, found that virtually none of the relevant allegations in Defendant's pro se motion were supported. The record does not demonstrate an irreconcilable conflict between Defendant and his attorneys. As the trial court correctly summarized: What this all boils down to is that there is some disagreement as to tactics and strategy among the defendant and the investigator and counsel, maybe even some feelings of not getting along so well together. .... I look strictly at whether the defendant will have adequate representation of counsel in this case. My finding is that he will. Thus, the record shows that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Defendant's motion. LaGrand, 152 Ariz. at 487, 733 P.2d at 1070.