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    Colorado Criminal Law Series – Continuances – Can I Change Lawyers?

    By H. Michael Steinberg – Colorado Sex Crimes Criminal Defense Lawyer – Email the Author at [email protected]

    Colorado Criminal Law Series - Continuances - Can I Change Lawyers?


    Colorado Criminal Law Series – Continuances – Can I Change Lawyers?

    Colorado Criminal Law Series – Continuances – Can I Change Lawyers? – When a private lawyer replaces the public defender – or – when a new lawyer replaces an existing lawyer – there is no guarantee that the Judge will allow the substitution – especially if the case is set for trial and or a motions hearing.

    This article examines this issue based a new case decided this year (2014) which cases provide standards Colorado trial judges must follow in making the decision of whether to allow the new lawyer to take over the case – but more importantly – whether to grant a continuance to make that happen.

    Balancing The Defendant’s Sixth Amendment Right To Choose His/Her Lawyer Against The Judge’s Right To Run His/Her Courtroom

    The stress between these considerations can be stated as: the Sixth Amendment constitutional right to counsel of choice versus the public’s interest in the fairness and efficiency of the judicial system.

    While the Colorado Courts of Appeal have acknowledged that this is an intensive “fact-based question” question that should be decided by the Trial Court Judge, the Supreme Court of Colorado has set out certain factors that must be weighed by the trial court in making this critically important decision.

    Since the entry of a new lawyer almost always requires a continuance of the proceedings for the new lawyer to “get up to speed” on the case. Therefore the analysis surrounds the decision to grant or to deny that continuance.

    A New Multi-Factor Balancing Test

    The “multi-factor balancing test” that must now be applied to determine whether the public’s interest in the efficiency and integrity of the judicial system outweighs the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel of choice and the findings and conclusions that follow – is the subject of the remainder of this article.

    A Colorado Defendant’s Right to Counsel of Choice Under The Sixth Amendment

    Here are some rules of law in this important area:

    • The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution has been interpreted to afford a criminal defendant the right to be represented by counsel of his or her choice. See U.S. Const. amend. VI;
    • This right is well established as the United States Supreme Court has recognized this right for decades.
    • Every Defendant must be afforded a fair opportunity to secure counsel of his own choice.
    • A defendant’s right to select an attorney whom he or she trusts is central to the adversary system and “of substantial importance to the integrity of the judicial process.” The right is given “great deference.”

    No “Absolute Right” To Choose Your Lawyer Where and When You Want

    The Sixth Amendment, however, “does not guarantee an absolute right to counsel of choice in all cases.” As noted above – there are situations where “judicial efficiency or the public’s interest in maintaining the integrity of the judicial process,” may be held to be more important than the defendant’s interest in being represented by a particular attorney.

    Some believe that one method used by criminal lawyers use is to intentionally delay a case for tactical and strategic purposes. It is clear that if a judge believes this – the judge will not allow a Defendant to use the right to counsel of choice to delay the trial or impede judicial efficiency.

    Continuances Generally Are Not Reversed On Appeal

    The denial or the grant of a motion for a continuance is reviewed on what is known as “abuse of discretion.” standard. Only if a trial court’s decision is “arbitrary or unreasonable” and materially prejudices the defendant, will that decision be altered by a higher court.

    Known as the “sound discretion” standard – the trial court has “wide latitude” and tremendous power and authority to make this call.

    The “Brown” Factors

    The Colorado Supreme Court handed down eleven (11) factors that it now mandates must be applied when a Defendant asks for a continuance to “accommodate” a new lawyer who desires to enter on the case to replace the former lawyer.

    Courts must use these 11 factors and make a record of the impact of these factors so that the courts of appeal can properly review the Trial Courts exercise of its discretion in determining whether or not to grant a continuance:

    The Brown Factors Are:

    1. the defendant’s actions surrounding the request and apparent motive for making the request;

    2. the availability of chosen counsel;

    3. the length of continuance necessary to accommodate chosen counsel;

    4. the potential prejudice of a delay to the prosecution beyond mere inconvenience;

    5. the inconvenience to witnesses;

    6. the age of the case, both in the judicial system and from the date of the offense;

    7. the number of continuances already granted in the case;

    8. the timing of the request to continue;

    9. the impact of the continuance on the court’s docket;

    10. the victim’s position, if the victims’ rights act applies; and

    11. any other case-specific factors necessitating or weighing against further delay.

    …No single factor is “dispositive.” The weight accorded to each factor varies depending on the specific facts at issue in the case.

    Conclusion – Colorado Criminal Law Series – Continuances – Can I Change Lawyers?

    The typical scenario that occurs – as it did in the Brown case – is a private lawyer desires to substitute for the public defender. In terms of a criminal case – a great deal of time had passed in the case (ten months). Then, a month and a half before trial in Brown, (when Brown’s family raised the funds necessary to hire a private lawyer), the new lawyer asked to take over the case  asking for a continuance eight days before trial.

    While the new lawyer said he had hired an investigator and was “prepared to jump into this case” he also maintained that he had just obtained the discovery and needed additional time to prepare for trial.

    The Trial Court denied Brown’s motion to continue the trial and this “effectively forced Brown to proceed to trial without his retained counsel of choice.” Thereafter Brown was convicted of kidnapping, assault, sexual assault, attempted unlawful sexual contact, and menacing and sentenced to an indeterminate term of thirty-six-years-to-life in the Department of Corrections. The Brown court remanded the case to make findings consistent with the new “Brown Factors.”

    After the Brown case – the “Brown Factors” will be applied to every case in this category as of this decision. Hopefully more continuances for new counsel will now be granted as a result of this decision.

    If you found any information I have provided on this web page article helpful please click my Plus+1 button below so that others may also find it.

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR: H. Michael Steinberg – Email The Author at [email protected] – A Denver Colorado Drug Crimes Criminal Defense Lawyer – or call his office at 303-627-7777 during business hours – or call his cell if you cannot wait and need his immediate assistance – 720-220-2277.

    If you are charged with A Colorado crime or you have questions about the topic of this article – Colorado Criminal Law Series – Continuances – Can I Change Lawyers?, please call our office. The Law Offices of H. Michael Steinberg, in Denver, Colorado, provide criminal defense clients with effective, efficient, intelligent and strong legal advocacy. We can educate you and help you navigate the stressful and complex legal process related to your criminal defense issue.

    Over 40 Years Specializing in Colorado Criminal LawH. Michael Steinberg, is a Denver, Colorado criminal defense lawyer with over 40 years of day to day courtroom experience – specializing in Colorado Criminal Law along the Front Range. He will provide you with a free initial case consultation to evaluate your legal issues and to answer your questions with an honest assessment of your options. Remember, it costs NOTHING to discuss your case. Call now for an immediate free phone consultation.

     

    Helping Clients To Make Informed Decisions In the Defense of Colorado Criminal Cases.

    Contact A Lawyer with Three Decades of Experience as a Denver Criminal Attorney at The Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Law Firm today.

    Colorado Defense Lawyer H. Michael Steinberg regularly appears and provides solid criminal defense for clients throughout the Front Range of Colorado – including the courts of:

    Adams County (Adams County criminal defense lawyer), Arapahoe County (Arapahoe County criminal defense lawyer), City and County of Boulder (Boulder County criminal defense lawyer), City and County of Broomfield (Broomfield County criminal defense lawyer), City and County of Denver (Denver criminal defense lawyer), Douglas County (Douglas County criminal defense lawyer), El Paso County – Colorado Springs (Colorado Springs criminal defense lawyer), Gilpin County (Gilpin County criminal defense lawyer), Jefferson County (Jefferson County criminal defense lawyer), Larimer County, and Weld County ( Larimer and Weld County criminal defense lawyer,….

    and all the other cities and counties of Colorado along the I-25 Corridor… on cases involving the subject of this article – Colorado Criminal Law Series – Continuances – Can I Change Lawyers?


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    If you found the information provided on this webpage to be helpful, please click my Plus+1 button so that others may also find it.

    ___________________________
    H. Michael Steinberg Esq.
    Attorney and Counselor at Law
    The Colorado Criminal Defense Law Firm of H. Michael Steinberg
    A Denver, Colorado Lawyer Focused Exclusively On
    Colorado Criminal Law For Over 40 Years.
    The Edward Building
    8400 East Prentice Ave, Penthouse 1500
    Greenwood Village, Colorado, 80111
    E-Mail:  [email protected]
    Primary Web Site:  http://www.HMichaelSteinberg.com
    Colorado Criminal Law Blog:  www.Colorado-Criminal-Lawyer-Online.com
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