Court Opinion

ID: 8641923
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-24 20:15:31.658519+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:56:08.103108
License: Public Domain

DeFORD, Judge,
dissenting:
I am unable to agree with the majority’s stated disposition of this case.
Here, as I read the majority opinion, it is stated that during a post-trial interview, as reported in the post-trial review, the appellant asserted “that his defense counsel didn’t care enough or try hard enough in his behalf.” This statement, the majority concludes, is sufficient to determine that: (1) the appellant demonstrated his lack of confidence in his counsel; (2) that this manifestation of lack of confidence placed an affirmative duty on the Government to inquire of the appellant concerning whether he desired a replacement counsel; and (3) that, in the absence of a showing of such an inquiry, the appellant had a legal right to a replacement counsel in order to accomplish the review mandated by United States v. *787Goode.1 I am deeply concerned over the consequence of this last statement as in my view, the majority is saying that any time an appellant objectively manifests an opinion which could be interpreted to express lack of confidence in his counsel and there yet remains a substantial aspect of the pretrial, trial or post-trial proceeding, that appellant is legally entitled to a new counsel within the meaning of Article 38(b) of the Code.2
Article 38(b) of the Code3 guarantees an accused the right to be represented in his defense before a general or special court-martial by civilian counsel if provided by him, or by military counsel of his own selection if reasonably available, or defense counsel detailed to him pursuant to Article 27.
In addition, it has long been mandated that this right continues during all critical stages of the proceedings.4
The case law pertaining to the severance of the attorney-client relationship once established appears to be based upon good cause shown.5
In United States v. Walker6 the Court determined that an accused is entitled to an attorney of reasonable competence whether that attorney is one of his own selection or appointed for him.7
Further, the burden is on the appellant to establish that he was not represented by counsel of reasonable competence8 and a mere statement of inadequacy unsupported by an affirmative factual basis is insufficient to set aside an otherwise valid conviction.9
The foregoing authorities only establish the legal framework in which to consider the appellant’s remark during the post-trial interview and its impact on this case.
The staff judge advocate reported that the appellant claimed he had been framed and made the following synopsis in the post-trial interview: “. . . he feels that there could have been several more helpful witnesses (PFC Miller and Private Brown) who were not called for the trial. These witnesses were hard to locate before trial and he feels that his defense counsel didn’t care enough or try hard enough in his behalf. He would like to have had a civilian lawyer but couldn’t afford one.”
From the foregoing statement it is difficult to ascertain whether the appellant’s complaint was grounded upon his dissatisfaction with (1) the fact that the two soldiers were not called as witnesses, (2) his appointed counsel, or (3) the results of his trial. In addition, the record doesn’t advise us whether the staff judge advocate or his staff inquired into this matter.
The defense counsel in this case was not only a member of The Judge Advocate General’s Corps but also an attorney at law. As such, he was an officer of the court-martial exercising a privilege or franchise to the enjoyment of which he has been admit*788ted, not as a matter of right, but upon proof of fitness, through evidence of his possession of satisfactory legal attainments and fair private character.10 Every attorney is entitled to the presumption that he is acting in the best interests of those to whom he is appointed or employed to represent.11
We have no indication that the two witnesses mentioned were even relevant to the case.12 Finally, the appellant did not request a replacement counsel nor is there any indication that he disagreed with the actions taken by his attorney during the Goode review.
Accordingly, I am convinced that the appellant has not shown good cause which would warrant a severance of the attorney-client relationship nor has he or his appellate counsel established any evidence that he was not competently represented at trial much less a sufficient showing to overcome the presumption set forth above. I view his statement as only an expression of his dislike of his then current status, i. e., sour grapes. I would affirm his sentence.

. 23 U.S.C.M.A. 367, 50 C.M.R. 1, 1 M.J. 3 (1975).

. Article 38(b), Uniform Code of Military Justice.

. Id. See also paragraph 46 and 48, Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, 1969 (Revised edition).

. United States v. Wade, 388 U.S. 218, 87 S.Ct. 1926, 18 L.Ed.2d 1149 (1967); United States v. Tellier, 13 U.S.C.M.A. 323, 32 C.M.R. 323 (1962). See also United States v. Nichols, 8 U.S.C.M.A. 119, 23 C.M.R. 343 (1957); United States v. Gunnels, 8 U.S.C.M.A. 130, 23 C.M.R. 354 (1957).

. See United States v. Tellier, supra; United States v. Timberlake, 22 U.S.C.M.A. 117, 46 C.M.R. 117 (1973). These cases deal with Govemmental action which effectively sever the attorney-client relationship.

. 21 U.S.C.M.A. 376, 45 C.M.R. 150 (1972).

. Id. at 152. See also United States v. Schroder, 47 C.M.R. 430 (A.C.M.R. 1973); United States v. Gaillard, 49 C.M.R. 471 (A.C.M.R. 1974). The military rule with regard to adequacy appears to parallel the prevailing Federal rule. See authorities cited in United States v. Walker, supra and 74 A.L.R.2d 1390.

. United States v. Zuis, 49 C.M.R. 150, 158 (A.C.M.R. 1974).

. In re Parker, 423 F.2d 1021 (8th Cir. 1970).

. It would have been unethical behavior for a defense counsel to allude to any matter that he had no reasonable basis to believe would be relevant. See DR 7-106(c)(l), Code of Professional Responsibility, American Bar Association. In addition, I note that had the defense desired these witnesses all they were required to do was make a request and show their materiality. United States v. Willis, 3 M.J. 94 (C.M.A.1977).

. In re Fisher, 7 Cir., 179 F.2d 361, certiorari denied, Kerner v. Fisher, 340 U.S. 825, 71 S.Ct. 59, 95 L.Ed. 606. See also Volume IX, Section 2534, Wigmore on Evidence; United States v. Zuis, supra.

. See Article 27, UCMJ; In re Durant, 80 Conn. 140, 67 A. 497.