Opinion ID: 3058682
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Pro Se Motion to Substitute Counsel

Text: After filing PSI objections, but before the sentencing hearing, Alvarado filed a pro se motion asking the district court to appoint new counsel to represent him at his sentencing. In the motion, Alvarado stated that his trial counsel: (1) did not spend enough time discussing Alvarado’s case or let Alvarado fully relay his side of the events that had transpired; (2) failed to review discovery with 7 Alvarado; (3) did not investigate leads or witnesses that would have shown Alvarado’s innocence; (4) did not take Alvarado’s phone calls; and (5) behaved in an unprofessional and belligerent manner when Alvarado “expressed [his] feelings on [counsel’s] defense tactics.” Alvarado’s trial counsel then filed a motion for leave to withdraw as appointed counsel. In his motion, Alvarado’s trial counsel stated that Alvarado had accused him of unethical and unprofessional conduct, which could possibly give rise to an actual conflict of interest, and noted that “the attorney/client relationship is not only incompatible, but apparently non-existent.”