Court Opinion

ID: 9477988
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 06:36:15.87111+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:46:09.276225
License: Public Domain

GEORGE C. PRATT, Circuit Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur in the per curiam opinion insofar as it reverses the order of the district court and remands the case, but I respectfully dissent from so much of the per curiam as directs the district court to modify the restraining order to permit Monsanto access to the restrained assets to pay his attorney's fees, as well as from that part of the per curiam that declares fees paid to Monsanto's defense counsel exempt from subsequent forfeiture.
With respect to some of the varying views expressed by some of my colleagues:

A.Counsel of choice.

I do not agree with Chief Judge Fein-berg, Judge Oakes, and Judge Kearse that the restraint of assets in Monsanto’s possession violates a right to counsel of choice under the sixth amendment. The predominant function of the sixth amendment is to guarantee an effective advocate for a criminal defendant, not to insure that the defendant will be represented by the lawyer he prefers. Wheat v. United States, — U.S. -, -, 108 S.Ct. 1692, 1697, 100 L.Ed.2d 140 (1988). Any qualified right to choose one’s own counsel is “circumscribed in several important respects.” Wheat v. United States, at -, 108 S.Ct. at 1697. For example, a defendant may not choose an advocate who is not a member of the bar, id., and multiple defendants may not be represented by the same counsel where such representation would entail a conflict of interest, Holloway v. Arkansas, 435 U.S. 475, 484, 98 S.Ct. 1173, 1178, 55 L.Ed.2d 426 (1978). Perhaps even more significantly, only those defendants who are “financially able” could enjoy this qualified right to counsel of choice. See Morris v. Slappy, 461 U.S. 1, 23, 103 S.Ct. 1610, 1622, 75 L.Ed.2d 610 (1983) (Brennan, J., concurring); see also Wheat v. U.S., — U.S. at -, 108 S.Ct. at 1697; United States ex rel. Davis v. McMann, 386 F.2d 611, 618 (2d Cir.1967); United States v. Friedman, 849 F.2d 1488 (D.C.Cir.1988).
B. Due process and a hearing.
I agree with the view expressed by Judge Cardamone, Judge Pierce, and Judge Mahoney that a hearing is necessary to meet constitutional due process standards for pretrial restraint of assets in a defendant’s possession. I also agree that authority for the hearing may be found in the constitutional need. I would also find authority for that hearing, however, in the discretionary language of the statute. Section 853(e)(1) states that “the court may enter a restraining order or injunction * * * or take any other action to preserve the availability of property * * * ” (emphasis added). In order to obtain the information necessary to determine whether or not to enter such a restraining order or injunction, the district court necessarily would have the authority to conduct such a hearing.
C. Defendant’s lawful expenditures.
I disagree with Judge Meskill, Judge Newman, and Judge Winter, who view the same discretionary term “may” as guaranteeing to defendant use of funds in his possession for “ordinary lawful expenditures” including legal counsel. See United States v. Monsanto, (Winter, C.J., concurring at 1408). I am unable to understand why principles of equitable jurisprudence even authorize, much less require, extension of the court’s equitable protection to a criminal defendant against whom the government has shown both a likelihood of conviction and a likelihood of proof that the property he possesses was illegally acquired. Where are the defendant’s “clean hands” normally thought to be a prerequisite to equitable protection?
D. Post-conviction forfeiture.
I agree with Judge Miner and Judge Altimari that the issue of post-conviction forfeiture under the statute is not ripe for review. Because there are so many open questions, I think it is unwise for this 'court to give an advisory opinion on the subject of post-conviction forfeiture of assets that might otherwise have been paid, or might yet be paid, to legal counsel. If the de*1421fendant is convicted and his property declared forfeited by the jury, would bona fide legal fees paid to counsel on appeal of the conviction also be exempt? If so, must they be paid before the forfeiture is decreed, i.e.: in advance of conviction? Or must the government’s seizure of the property it owns by virtue of this statute be made subject to all claims of counsel for future litigation fees? See United States v. Friedman, 849 F.2d 1488 (D.C.Cir.1988) (defendant proceeding in forma pauperis not entitled to release of assets that were declared forfeited after conviction solely for the purpose of retaining counsel to represent him on appeal). Does the protection sought to be accorded to bona fide attorney’s fees extend only to the particular case in which the forfeiture is ordered? Or would it extend to fees paid defending other criminal actions brought against the same defendant? Since the issue is inevitably complex and since whatever we say about it is dictum, I think we should refrain from expressing our views until it is necessary to do so in a proper case with a fully developed factual picture.