United States v. Fisher

13 P.R. Fed. 339

Opinion

OdliN, Judge,

delivered tbe following opinion:

It is a matter of record in tbis court tbat tbe two defendants, Walter Fisher and Joseph W. Elwell, upon tbe trial of tbis case wbicb resulted in a failure of tbe jury to agree, were represented by James Foster Henry, as tbeir attorney. Sometime after tbe mistrial, tbe court, with tbe consent of tbe defendants, and tbe consent of tbe United States district attorney, fixed tbe date of tbe new trial on April 3, 1924. During tbe present week tbe attorney James Foster Henry called my attention to Eule 23 of tbis court adopted by Judge Hamilton ten years ago, wbicb rule it so happened I bad never read, and it provides as follows: “Attorneys will not be permitted to withdraw from any case until after proof of tbe court tbat due notice has been given to tbe client, and until tbe latter has bad a reasonable opportunity to engage other counsel, and unless it is otherwise without prejudice to tbe interests of such client. But where a substitution is desired by the client, tbe attorney may require tbat bis compensation be fixed and paid or secured before tbe order of substitution becomes effective.”

I fipd upon examination of tbe subject tbat tbis rule is based upon decisions of important courts, such as New York, North Carolina, Texas, and other states. It seems to me tbat tbe rule is a very wise and excellent provision. It is tbe duty of a court to protect every litigant, whether in a civil case or in a criminal case, from any unfair or improper treatment on the part of an attorney; but it is likewise the duty of a court to protect an attorney against any wrongful treatment by the client.

Therefore there is no question but what Mr. Elwell and Mr. Eisher had a perfect right to change their attorney after the mistrial; but it is equally apparent that before the change of attorney could become effective and recognized by this court, that the compensation due to the first attorney should be either paid or made secure. Mr. Walter Eisher, the principal defendant in the present'ease, was cited to appear this day, but failed to do so, and the order which is made this day is applicable only to the other defendant Joseph W. Elwell, who did appear. I have listened to the statement of Joseph "W. Elwell, and he does not claim that he has paid James Foster Henry any money whatsoever, but he does claim that the agreement of employment of James Foster Henry was made by Eisher alone. Mr! James Foster Henry denies this. He states positively that he had an agreement with Eisher to represent Eisher and that he had an agreement with Elwell to represent Elwell. This court readily certifies to the diligence and energy and skill shown by James Foster Henry as counsel for Joseph W. Elwell in the ease heard by this court which resulted in a mistrial. James Foster Henry states to this court that he is willing to receive a fee of $150 from Joseph W. Elwell and retire from the case. This court regards ‘ that sum as entirely fair and reasonable. This court thinks that James Foster Henry earned more than $150 in his defense of Joseph W. Elwell.

In view of the rule of this court above quoted, and after listening to the statements of both Elwell and James Foster Henry it is ordered by this court that Joseph W. Elwell shall not be represented by any counsel in this court other than James Foster Henry, until he first pays to James Foster Henry the sum of $150, or supplies James Foster Henry with security for said sum which this court deems ample.

To this order and ruling Joseph W. Elwell excepts.

Done and Ordered in open court at San Juan this 22d day of March, 1924.