State v. Goode

Citations

• 211 Conn. App. 465

Syllabus

Convicted, after a jury trial, of the crime of assault of public safety personnel, the defendant appealed to this court. The defendant was incarcerated at the time of trial, serving a sentence for a previous conviction of murder. While incarcerated, the defendant was also convicted of various assault charges on three separate occasions. On the day jury selection commenced in his trial, the defendant, who was represented by B, a special public defender who had been assigned as counsel, requested to the trial court that he be appointed new counsel. The court denied that request. The court also denied the defendant's request to have his restraints removed during trial, noting the defendant's extensive criminal history and disciplinary record. Held: 1. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the defendant's request for new counsel: although B had represented the defendant for more than one year and the defendant did not make his request until the first day of jury selection, the court thoroughly considered the defendant's complaints against B and explained that B had notified the defendant of his trial date as soon as he had received notice from the court, that B, as an attorney with twenty to thirty years of experience, was well suited to pursue the most effective defense strategy, and B's lack of communication of that strategy with the defendant was due to the defendant's refusal to see or speak to B, and that the defendant would have ample opportunity to discuss his case with B throughout the proceedings; moreover, the defendant indicated that he was willing to commence jury selection with B's counsel, and he did not renew his request for new counsel. 2. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the defendant's request to have his restraints removed and in requiring him to be restrained during trial: the court afforded great consideration to the defendant's right to remain free from restraints during the trial proceed- ings and implement