Abraham v. U.S., s. 603

• Decision Date: 21 January 1977
• Docket Number: D,Nos. 603,655,625 and 735,s. 603
• Citation: 549 F.2d 236
• Parties: Willie ABRAHAM et al., Petitioners-Appellants, v. UNITED STATES of America, Appellee. ockets 76-2135, 76-2136, 76-2150 and 76-2152.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Second Circuit

Page 236

549 F.2d 236

Willie ABRAHAM et al., Petitioners-Appellants, v. UNITED STATES of America, Appellee.

Nos. 603, 655, 625 and 735, Dockets 76-2135, 76-2136,

76-2150 and 76-2152.

United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

Argued Jan. 11, 1977.

Decided January 21, 1977.

Allan M. Palmer, Washington, D. C., for petitioner-appellant Abraham.

Alvin Geller, New York City (Geller & Cohen, New York City, of counsel), for petitioner-appellant Holder.

William C. Chance, Jr., New York City (Chance & Schofield, New York City, of counsel), for petitioner-appellant Hoke.

Henry J. Boitel, New York City, for petitioner-appellant Grant.

Richard Weinberg, Asst. U. S. Atty., New York City (Robert B. Fiske, Jr., U. S. Atty., S.D.N.Y., Frederick T. Davis, Asst. U. S. Atty., New York City, of counsel), for appellee.

Before KAUFMAN, Chief Judge, MANSFIELD and VAN GRAAFEILAND, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

The appellants, Willie Abraham, Erroll Holder, Robert Hoke and Walter Grant, were convicted in 1972 after a six-week jury trial for violations of the narcotics laws, 21 U.S.C. §§ 843, 846, 848. This court affirmed the convictions, United States v. Sisca, 503 F.2d 1337 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 419 U.S. 1008, 95 S.Ct. 328, 42 L.Ed.2d 283 (1974). Judge Bryan sentenced each appellant to a period of incarceration to be followed by a special parole term. ¹ They now seek to vacate their convictions and secure a new trial on the ground that a claimed conflict of interest deprived them of their Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel, 28 U.S.C. § 2255.

The evidence at trial established that the appellants and others maintained a complex network of heroin distribution in New York City, New Jersey and southern Westchester County. The Government offered a number of tape recorded conversations between the appellants that were intercepted under judicially authorized wiretaps. In addition, searches pursuant to warrants uncovered packaging paraphernalia, weapons and quantities of heroin at Grant's and Hoke's residences. Holder was the proprietor of a heroin cutting and packing "mill." Abraham was apprehended after a high speed automobile chase and admitted his involvement in the conspiracy to the authorities. None of the appellants took the stand. A crucial issue on appeal was the Government's failure to minimize the content of conversations overheard through electronic surveillance. Judge Bryan had denied as untimely a motion to suppress based upon failure to minimize that was made on the fifth day of trial, and this court affirmed his finding of a waiver, United States v. Sisca, supra at 1346-49.

Appellants Abraham and Holder initiated the instant proceeding by filing § 2255 applications on March 1, 1976. Judge Bonsal conducted a hearing on May 25, after which Hoke and Grant also filed motions to vacate their sentences. ² It was established that the law firm of Lanefsky, Gallina, Mass, Berne & Hoffman represented both the appellants and defendants Alphonse Sisca and Margaret Logan at the trial. ³ On November 22, 1972 Judge Bryan, at the Government's insistence, held an evidentiary hearing into the issue of a potential conflict of interest. The Assistant United States Attorney urged that the position of the defendants in the conspiracy's "hierarchy," as well as differences in the quality of evidence against each individual, suggested a possible danger in joint representation. Gino Gallina, apparently lead counsel for his firm, contended that the Government was attempting to fragment the defense and insisted that his clients had been advised of the problems of joint representation and yet decided to remain with the firm. ⁴ Judge Bryan, not satisfied by counsel's assurances alone, conducted a thorough examination of each defendant on the record in which he explained the seriousness of the charges, the possibility at trial that "the best protection of your interests may be different than the protection of the interests of one or more of your co-defendants who is represented by the same counsel," ⁵ and the right of each to separate counsel. Judge Bryan required each defendant to rise, address the court personally and assure the judge that he understood what was being said. Only after each defendant had so assured the court and unequivocally stated that he wished to remain with "the Gallina firm" did Judge Bryan permit him to make this "free election." Judge Bonsal agreed that the appellants had voluntarily and knowingly chosen to be represented jointly and denied the petitions. This appeal followed.

This court consistently has required a trial judge, when a potential conflict of interest arises, to conduct a hearing to determine whether a conflict exists such as would prevent the accused from receiving advice and assistance sufficient to afford him the quality of representation guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. We have said that the defendant should be fully apprised by the trial court of the facts underlying the potential conflict, and the defendant should be given the opportunity to express his views. Moreover, it is the rule that an appellant claiming a conflict by counsel must demonstrate some specific instance of prejudice resulting from the joint representation that would warrant vacatur of his conviction. United States v. Carrigan, 543 F.2d 1053 (1976).

In the instant case we believe that Judge Bryan's searching inquiry of each appellant adequately supported his finding that the appellants knowingly and voluntarily elected to retain the Gallina firm. Unlike cases in which we have vacated convictions for the judge's failure to conduct an inquiry, United States v. Carrigan, supra, or to hold an adequate hearing, United States v. DeBerry, 487 F.2d 448 (2d Cir. 1973), Judge Bryan was sensitive to the potential problem here and satisfied himself after careful and explicit questioning that a valid election was being made. Moreover, the appellants present us with no convincing evidence of prejudice from their joint representation. The complex scenario they relate, based upon allegations that the lead counsel wished only to secure an acquittal for Sisca, is wholly devoid of any basis in objective fact, United States v. Wisniewski, 478 F.2d 274 (2d Cir. 1973).

Choice of counsel should not be obstructed unnecessarily by the court, United States v. Sheiner, 410 F.2d 337 (2d Cir.), cert. denied,396 U.S. 859, 90 S.Ct. 127, 24 L.Ed.2d 110 (1969). We wish to stress, however, that defendants are not entitled to joint representation as a matter of right. If a district judge perceives the strong likelihood of a conflict of interest, he has a duty to assure himself that the accused...