P. v. Goitortua CA4/1
Defendant Vincent Goitortua, a bar patron, was charged with a single count of assault with a deadly weapon (a cocktail glass) arising out of an altercation with a bartender at closing time. Three days into a five-day jury trial, Goitortua’s retained defense attorney advised the court that her client wished to discharge her and retain new counsel. The asserted basis for this request was counsel’s admission that she made certain errors in preparing for trial. After discussing the matter with the prosecutor, defense counsel, and to a limited extent Goitortua, the court denied the request based largely on grounds that switching defense attorneys would be an unwarranted mid-trial disruption of the proceedings. Finding no abuse of the trial court’s broad discretion in balancing the relevant factors, we affirm.
Comments on P. v. Goitortua CA4/1