U.S. v. Moore

• Decision Date: 24 May 1983
• Docket Number: No. 82-1509,82-1509
• Citation: 706 F.2d 538
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Gray MOORE, Jr., Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit

Page 538

706 F.2d 538

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Gray MOORE, Jr., Defendant-Appellant.

No. 82-1509

Summary Calendar.

United States Court of Appeals,

Fifth Circuit.

May 24, 1983.

Pam Bohl (court-appointed), Dallas, Tex., for defendant-appellant.

Janis H. Kockritz, Atty., Dept. of Justice, Washington, D.C., for plaintiff-appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Before CLARK, Chief Judge, POLITZ and HIGGINBOTHAM, Circuit Judges.

POLITZ, Circuit Judge:

This appeal requires a determination of when a defendant's repeated rejection of attorneys appointed by the court constitutes an effective waiver of the assistance of counsel in a criminal case. We conclude that the defendant's conduct in this case constituted a waiver, and confirm his convictions for failing to file a tax return for the tax years 1975 and 1976.

We review the convictions of Gray Moore, Jr. for the second time. We reversed his first conviction on the ground that the district court inappropriately refused to appoint counsel without making an adequate inquiry into need. At the first trial the court declined to appoint a defense attorney because Moore would not complete CJA Form 23, the "Financial Affidavit in Support of Request for Attorney." Moore claimed that to furnish the financial data required would infringe on his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination. Under the circumstances, we concluded that additional information was necessary before Moore could proceed to trial without the assistance of counsel. United States v. Moore, 671 F.2d 139 (5th Cir.1982).

The record on remand is replete with evidence of efforts by the district court to comply with our mandate and to bring Moore to trial consistent with the congressional directives contained in the Speedy Trial Act. The court appointed, seriatim, several attorneys, each of whom Moore rejected, before requiring Moore to proceed pro se. Even at that point the court offered to assign counsel to advise and consult with Moore at trial; Moore refused the offer.

After remand, and without a hearing to determine need, the court directed the magistrate to appoint an attorney to represent Moore. Michael S. Knuths was appointed. At the arraignment, Moore refused to enter a plea, complaining that his viewpoint of the pending charges and that of Knuths and his associate, Barbara Luke, were incompatible to the point that they could not communicate. Moore asked that Knuths be relieved and new counsel appointed.

The trial judge explained to Moore that he did not have a right to counsel who agreed with his view of the case, but nonetheless acceded to the request and directed appointment of another attorney. Philip J. Kushner was appointed but was allowed to withdraw the same day. David C. Lair was then appointed.

Four days before trial, Moore filed a pro se motion seeking dismissal of his third appointed counsel because Lair, having once worked for the Internal Revenue Service, had a "police state mentality." Moore further maintained that Lair was not competent to try a criminal case. The court first refused to grant the motion, voicing concern about the constraints of the Speedy Trial Act. On reconsideration, after determining that a continuance to allow new counsel an adequate opportunity to prepare could be granted without breaching the Speedy Trial Act, the court relieved Lair and appointed John O. Langdon. In doing so, the court advised Moore in clarion notes: "It is highly likely that failure of Mr. Moore to cooperate with Mr. Langdon in preparation of his case will be construed by this court as a waiver of his right to counsel."

Four days before trial, Moore filed "Defendant's Second Verified Motion to Dismiss or, in the Alternative, Motion for Effective Counsel," contending that Langdon was not competent to handle his defense, because, inter alia, Langdon was a former district attorney and had a "prosecutorial attitude." On the day of trial the court rejected the motion to dismiss and refused to appoint another attorney. Moore insisted that Langdon and his partner, Eldridge E. Goins, be relieved, refusing to accept them as counsel. The court excused counsel after first securing their agreement to stand by and advise Moore during the trial. Moore rejected their assistance.

In the course of considering Moore's motion for dismissal of Langdon and Goins and for appointment of new counsel, the court carefully examined counsel's qualifications and their preparation for trial. ¹ The court noted that Langdon had an L.L.M. in taxation from New York University Law School, had been practicing for nine years, had worked as a prosecutor in charge of the misdemeanor docket, had been in civil practice for seven years and had done trial work. Goins, who was assisting Langdon, had represented indigents in federal court on several occasions. The court, aware of the pre-trial preparation, having reviewed the pleadings Langdon had filed, including the suggested voir dire questions and jury charges, observed that Langdon had "done an excellent job in representing [Moore] to date," and...