Court Opinion

ID: 9566422
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 19:39:10.389733+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:34:30.681690
License: Public Domain

Beasley, Presiding Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent to Division 1 of the majority opinion and would hold that the case be remanded for resentencing. I would not reach the remaining divisions because they relate to the sentences imposed.
Although Jefferson’s trial counsel appeared at the pre-sentence hearing and is shown on the transcript as representing him, it is not clear whether he was appointed by the court or was acting pro bono. However, Jefferson stated that he had asserted claims of ineffective assistance of counsel against him; that he had initiated this proceeding for a sentence hearing on his own; that trial counsel had “come down there [to prison] to see me” (apparently after reversal of the judgment for lack of a sentence hearing) but that Jefferson had *864“fired” him because he had gotten him 24 life sentences and in his own opinion appellant could have received less time “without even putting in a plea”; that counsel had not consulted with him concerning matters to be considered in the pre-sentence .hearing; and that he wanted a different attorney appointed to represent him to present evidence and argue the legal issues related to the multiple sentences.
Trial counsel stated that the habeas court had conducted a hearing and had found Jefferson’s ineffective assistance claims to be “totally without merit, off base . . . and ridiculous.” He said: “I am not going to stand up hear and allow him to make such ridiculous statements.”
Jefferson stated that his claims had not been ruled on by the habeas court, and there is nothing in the record in this case showing the final disposition of the habeas corpus proceeding or when it occurred.
The sentencing court noted that the ineffective assistance claim was before another court but commented that trial counsel had represented Jefferson as best he could under the circumstances, that he had done everything the law required him to do, and that Jefferson was not entitled to have another attorney appointed for sentencing. Jefferson urged that he was unable to present mitigating evidence without the assistance of counsel. The court impliedly denied the request. Counsel was not asked, nor did he offer, any evidence or argument in extenuation or mitigation on defendant’s behalf.
Instead, based on a consideration of the written material submitted by Jefferson and the report of the pre-sentence investigation by the probation department, the court reimposed the same sentences Jefferson had previously been given. The sentence sheet records that the defendant appeared pro se. This pro se appeal followed.
As recognized by the majority, Jefferson’s sentencing was more than ministerial, and he was entitled to counsel at sentencing under the Sixth Amendment.
He asserted the right to counsel at what in this instance qualifies as “the first opportunity,” at the outset of the sentencing hearing, although he could have moved the court in advance of the hearing to appoint counsel. He did, however, notify the court of the pending habeas corpus in which the effectiveness of counsel was at issue, before the day of sentencing. See Dill v. State, 193 Ga. App. 213, 214 (387 SE2d 424) (1989).
He did not waive counsel by filing a habeas corpus petition alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. Nor did he waive counsel by refusing his services for sentencing purposes, as the two were then adverse parties in pending litigation involving representation itself, as demonstrated by the absence of a final disposition of the habeas corpus case, by counsel’s expressed views on the matter of defendant’s *865complaint against him, and by the fact that defendant pro se had won a reversal of the sentences on the procedural deficiency in the sentencing, which counsel had overlooked. Jefferson v. State, 205 Ga. App. 687 (423 SE2d 425) (1992).
Of course, if counsel is not either unable or unwilling to represent a defendant, the defendant may not refuse to cooperate with appointed counsel (counsel here may be pro bono rather than appointed) and then claim he was not effectively represented. Rivers v. State, 250 Ga. 303, 307 (6) (298 SE2d 1) (1982). If the defendant does not have good reason for discharging his court-appointed attorney, the court does not err in requiring him to choose between representation by that attorney and proceeding pro se. Durham v. State, 185 Ga. App. 163, 164 (1) (363 SE2d 607) (1987); Mock v. State, 163 Ga. App. 320 (293 SE2d 525) (1982) (no “good and lawful reason” for defendant’s discharging of counsel). The Sixth Amendment does not guarantee “ ‘a meaningful relationship’ ” between the defendant and counsel. Morris v. Slappy, 461 U. S. 1, 14 (103 SC 1610, 75 LE2d 610) (1983).
Defendant did not have counsel for sentencing, in effect, as his original trial counsel spoke only to the issue of the habeas corpus claim of ineffective assistance. At the outset of the proceeding, the court invited defendant and trial counsel to be heard on the issue of sentence, but counsel did not address it, no doubt in part because defendant had refused his representation. Defendant was compelled to proceed pro se, and the court heard no evidence or argument regarding sentence but relied instead on the documents which had been submitted in advance by defendant and the pre-sentence report. Nor did the court receive evidence or counsel-assisted argument regarding the ineffective assistance claims insofar as they related to the issue of entitlement to other counsel for sentencing. Such an inquiry could not proceed anyway unless other counsel were appointed, because counsel cannot act as both counsel and witness. Castell v. Kemp, 254 Ga. 556 (331 SE2d 528) (1985); Berry v. State, 262 Ga. 614, 615 (3) (422 SE2d 861) (1992). Defendant had demonstrated ineffectiveness, however, insofar as sentence was concerned: counsel had not objected to sentencing without a proper hearing, and the lack of a hearing caused the reversal of the sentences.
Whether to appoint substitute counsel addresses itself to the sound discretion of the trial court. Newby v. State, 161 Ga. App. 805, 806 (2), 807 (288 SE2d 889) (1982). What is at issue here is the appointment of counsel to represent a defendant who has discharged pro bono counsel or counsel appointed by the court. In either event the court, without a hearing or evidence on the effectiveness challenge, dismissed it as unfounded insofar as it affected his right to other counsel. This case differs from McGuire v. State, 185 Ga. App. *866233, 237 (3) (363 SE2d 850) (1987), in that it relates to a phase of the trial in which counsel did not properly represent defendant; McGuire relates to the direct appeal which carved out and saved for another day the issue of ineffectiveness at trial. In Jefferson’s case, he had already demonstrated ineffectiveness in a crucial respect.
Decided July 16, 1993 —
Reconsideration denied July 30, 1993 —
John A. Jefferson, pro se.
In Amadeo v. State, 259 Ga. 469, 471 (2) (384 SE2d 181) (1989), the Supreme Court held that the trial court had abused its discretion in denying defendant’s request that the court appoint trial counsel to represent defendant in the retrial of a death penalty case. See also Fleming v. State, 246 Ga. 90, 91 (1) (270 SE2d 185) (1980) (as to conflict of interest). This case is more factually akin to Amadeo than the other cited cases since the attorney-client relationship between defendant and his trial attorney had ended after his direct appeal. Citing Harris v. People, 567 P2d 750, 759 (104 Cal. Rptr. 318) (1977), the Court in Amadeo held that “while we reaffirm today the basic holding . . . that the court’s discretion in the appointment of counsel is not to be limited or constrained by a defendant’s bare statement of personal preference, we hold that when that statement of preference, timely made, is supported by objective considerations of the consequence here involved, and where there are no countervailing considerations of comparable weight, it is an abuse of sound judicial discretion to deny the defendant’s request to appoint the counsel of his preference.” 259 Ga. at 471.
Here the “objective considerations of the consequences” of forcing defendant to proceed with trial counsel or pro se mandated the appointment of other counsel, just as such an examination of the circumstances in Amadeo v. State, supra, required the appointment of prior counsel, as was sought. See generally 21A AmJur2d, Criminal Law, §§ 982-987.
Defendant was entitled to other counsel so as to be accorded his right to “reasonably effective assistance of counsel,” in the words of Rivers v. State, 250 Ga. 303, 308 (6) (298 SE2d 1) (1982). See also Cribbs v. State, 204 Ga. App. 109 (1) (418 SE2d 405) (1992). The case should be remanded for resentencing under OCGA § 17-10-2 (a). Brinson v. State, 201 Ga. App. 80, 81 (2) (410 SE2d 50) (1991). At the proceeding, defendant should be represented by counsel against whom no adverse proceedings are pending, unless defendant waives counsel.
I am authorized to state that Judge Cooper joins in this dissent.
*867Daniel J. Craig, District Attorney, Charles R. Sheppard, Assistant District Attorney, for appellee.