Court Opinion

ID: 9684217
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 13:50:56.532728+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:54.123716
License: Public Domain

R. L. Kaczmarek, J.
(concurring in part and dissenting in part). 1 join in parts hi, iv, and v of the majority opinion. As in People v Durfee, 215 *674Mich App 677; — NW2d — (1966), we are here considering the case of an appellant whose trial counsel was appointed by the court. And, as in Durfee, I agree that the circuit court improperly removed trial counsel. However, because I disagree that removal of appointed counsel amounts to a structural defect in the constitution of the trial mechanism, People v Anderson (After Remand), 446 Mich 392, 405; 521 NW2d 538 (1994), I respectfully dissent.
This appeal is brought under the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which provides in part that the accused in all criminal prosecutions shall "have the . Assistance of Counsel for his defence.” US Const, Am VI. However, this right does not include assistance from the appointed counsel of an indigent defendant’s choosing. People v Ginther, 390 Mich 436, 441; 212 NW2d 922 (1973); Caplin & Drysdale v United States, 491 US 617, 624; 109 S Ct 2646; 105 L Ed 2d 528 (1989). As I argued in my dissenting opinion in Durfee, supra, improper removal of appointed trial counsel does not amount to such a grave imposition on constitutional rights that it must be automatically reversed. Accordingly, I would hold that the appellant must show that the court improperly removed trial counsel and that such error was not harmless.
Appellant does not argue that he suffered any prejudice from the removal of original counsel. He does present a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, but there are no explicit allegations that the original trial counsel would have effectively assisted him. However, because the law presumes Sixth Amendment assistance of counsel is effective, People v Harris, 185 Mich App 100, 104; 460 NW2d 239 (1990), I will address the ineffective assistance claim.
*675Unlike Durfee, supra, appellant here argues that he subsequently was denied effective assistance of counsel at trial. Appellant points to several statements in the record made by trial counsel and claims that these statements unduly prejudiced his defense. To succeed on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, appellant must demonstrate that counsel’s performance was deficient and that, under an objective standard of reasonableness, counsel made an error so serious that the assistance guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment was not provided. People v Thew, 201 Mich App 78, 89; 506 NW2d 547 (1993). In addition, the appellant must overcome the presumption that the challenged action might be considered sound trial strategy. People v Tommolino, 187 Mich App 14, 17; 466 NW2d 315 (1991). The court must be highly deferential in scrutinizing counsel’s performance. Strickland v Washington, 466 US 668, 689; 104 S Ct 2052; 80 L Ed 2d 674 (1984).
The alleged deficiencies here occurred during voir dire, opening statement, examination of witnesses, and closing argument. During voir dire, trial counsel told a potential juror to "[c]ount your blessings” when the juror indicated she has not been robbed. During examination of the complainant, trial counsel concluded by stating that "I would say I’m very thankful you’re alive, sir.” Appellant particularly points to trial counsel’s opening statement, where he stated that:
The question becomes what charges are appropriate for Mr. Johnson under the circumstances. And I submit that one thing has already been proven in this case, even though you haven’t heard any evidence, and that — at least as far as I’m concerned, there’s a God in Heaven because Mr. Altergott is walking around which is an absolute miracle based — after the savage attack *676against him that he is able to do that and did so fairly quickly. And the fact that he was able to courageously knock Mr. McGee down and — and get the gun out of his hand was even more amazing.
Finally, trial counsel thanks the jurors for hearing a "difficult case” arising from "this terrible crime” and attributed the complainant’s courageous actions to "[a]n act of God.” Given the facts of this case, I cannot say that this trial strategy might not be considered sound. Therefore, I would find that the appellant was afforded effective assistance of counsel at trial.
In light of the disposition of appellant’s ineffective assistance claim and the lack of any other claims of prejudice, I would find that the removal of appellant’s original trial counsel amounts to harmless error and, therefore, would affirm the sentence.