United States v. Irizarry-Colon

993 F. Supp. 2d 73, 2014 WL 265765, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9245
CourtDistrict Court, D. Puerto Rico
DecidedJanuary 24, 2014
DocketCriminal No. 11-231 (FAB)
StatusPublished

This text of 993 F. Supp. 2d 73 (United States v. Irizarry-Colon) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Puerto Rico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Irizarry-Colon, 993 F. Supp. 2d 73, 2014 WL 265765, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9245 (prd 2014).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

FRANCISCO A. BESOSA, District Judge.

After more than two years of delays and continuances, the Court on December 19, 2013 asked the defendant to retain new defense counsel and notify the Court prior to January 15, 2014. The defendant failed to comply with the Court’s order. For the reasons explained below, the Court now continues the trial until March 31, 2014, and orders Mr. Irizarry to either retain new counsel prior to that time or to represent himself at trial.

I. Background

Defendant Efren Irizarry-Colon was indicted in this case on June 17, 2011. (Docket No. 1.) Gary Montilla-Brogan entered his appearance as counsel for Mr. Irizarry on June 30, 2011. (Docket No. 6.) On July 21, 2011, the trial was scheduled for September 8, 2011. (Docket No. 14.) Since that time, Mr. Montilla, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, has moved for — and received — ten continuances.1 Now, more than two years after the original trial date, there is no indication that Mr. Montilla is able to proceed to trial or that Mr. Irizarry has retained substitute or assistant counsel. The Court now recounts, in detail, the history of delays in this case.

On August 15, 2011, Mr. Montilla first informed the Court of his medical issues and requested an extension of time to file dispositive motions; the Court granted Mr. Montilla’s request. (Docket Nos. 15 & 16.) At an October 27, 2011 status conference, Mr. Montilla requested that the trial be set for the following year because he had upcoming trials in other cases. Consequently, the Court scheduled trial for February 13, 2012. (Docket No. 27.) On January 25, 2012, Mr. Montilla moved for a continuance due to his ongoing chemotherapy treatments, and the Court set trial for October 9, 2012. (Docket Nos. 28 & 29.) On September 17, 2012, Mr. Montilla filed a motion for a “final” continuance of the trial due again to his ongoing medical treatment. (Docket No. 39.) The Court again granted a continuance, and scheduled trial for January 22, 2013.2 (Docket Nos. 40 & 41.) In preparation for trial, the United States submitted proposed jury instructions and voir dire questions on January 15, 2013. (Docket Nos. 45 & 46.) On January 17, 2013, Mr. Montilla requested, and the Court granted, a continuance until February 4, 2013 again due to Mr. Montilla’s health condition. (Docket No. 49.) Mr. Montilla moved for another con[75]*75tinuance on January 28, 2013, and trial was rescheduled for May 13, 2013. (Docket Nos. 50 & 51.)

On February 5, 2013, the United States first raised the issue that the Court addresses today and asked the Court to order Mr. Irizarry to secure new counsel, in light of the multiple continuances and the fact that almost fifteen years had passed since Hurricane George struck Puerto Rico, giving rise to the facts underlying the indictment.3 (Docket No. 52.) Mr. Montilla subsequently moved for a continuance, and the Court scheduled a status conference for May 10, 2013. (Docket No. 57.) At the status conference, the parties discussed the possibility of appointing a co-counsel or new counsel for Mr. Irizarry; the Court asked Mr. Irizarry to prepare a financial affidavit and scheduled a status conference for June 20, 2013. (Docket No. 58.) At the June 20 status conference, Mr. Montilla explained that his continuing medical treatment prevented him from competently representing his client and that his client did not qualify for appointment of counsel pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act (“CJA”). (Docket No. 59.) The Court ordered Mr. Irizarry to retain new lead counsel, to be assisted by Mr. Montilla, and scheduled a status conference for July 24, 2013. Id. At the July 24 status conference, Mr. Irizarry indicated his desire to continue being represented by Mr. Montilla; Mr. Montilla explained that his medical treatment “continue[d] and affect[ed] him physically and mentally;” the United States stated that it was ready for trial and objected to the extended continuance; and the Court again ordered the defendant to hire additional counsel to prepare for trial in January of 2014. (Docket No. 62.) On September 24, 2013, the Court issued an order appointing Jose R. Aguayo as additional counsel to assist Mr. Montilla with Mr. Irizarry’s representation, and scheduled trial for January 21, 2014. (Docket No. 63.) The Court subsequently vacated this order after Mr. Montilla indicated that he would be physically ready and able to try the case on January 21, 2014. (Docket No. 65).

On December 16, 2013, Mr. Montilla moved for still another continuance (Docket No. 66), and the Court rescheduled trial for March 17, 2014, again appointing Mr. Aguayo to assist defense counsel. (Docket No. 67.) After unsuccessfully attempting to communicate with Mr. Irizarry regarding the issue of representation, Mr. Aguayo requested an emergency hearing to discuss the propriety of his appointment. (Docket No. 68.) At a December 19, 2013 status conference, the Court allowed Mr. Irizarry until January 15, 2014 to hire new counsel and notify the Court. (Docket No. 70.) As of this time, the Court has received no notification from Mr. Irizarry or from Mr. Montilla regarding the issue of counsel.

II. Defendant’s Right to the Counsel of His Choice

“In all criminal prosecutions,” the Sixth Amendment declares, “the accused shall enjoy the right ... to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.” U.S. Const, amend. VI. This includes the right to one’s counsel of choice, but with certain limitations. United States v. Hallock, 941 F.2d 36, 44 (1st Cir.1991); United States v. Diozzi, 807 F.2d 10, 12 (1st Cir.1986); United States v. Poulack, 556 F.2d 83, 86 (1st Cir.1977). The right to counsel of one’s choice may be limited if a defendant’s selection of counsel interferes with [76]*76the orderly administration of justice. Diozzi, 807 F.2d at 12. A defendant, for example, does not have the right to be represented by a particular attorney when such representation would, result in undue delay. Poulack, 556 F.2d at 86. “Whether to grant or deny a continuance for the purpose of having a particular counsel represent a defendant is thus committed to the discretion of the trial court.” Id. (internal citations omitted); see also United States v. Neal, 36 F.3d 1190, 1206 (1st Cir.1994) (it was not an abuse of discretion for the district court to deny defendant a continuance where he had nearly four months to secure private counsel, the trial had previously been continued, and he continually failed to meet deadlines set by the court).

The Court has great sympathy for Mr. Montilla’s medical condition and respects Mr. Irizarry’s right to have the representation of his choice. For those reasons, the Court has patiently allowed over two years of postponements in this case. The Court now finds, however, that the totality of the defense-initiated delays has unreasonably interfered with the orderly administration of justice and prejudiced the United States’s ability to prepare for trial.

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Bluebook (online)
993 F. Supp. 2d 73, 2014 WL 265765, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9245, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-irizarry-colon-prd-2014.