United States v. Keith Jorel Hudson

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PUBLICATION
File Name: 23a0068n.06
Case No. 21-4126
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FILED
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT Feb 02, 2023
DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk
)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
)
Plaintiff-Appellee, ) ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED
) STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR
v. ) THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF
) OHIO
)
KEITH JOREL HUDSON )
OPINION
Defendant-Appellant. )
)
Before: BATCHELDER, STRANCH, and DAVIS, Circuit Judges.
DAVIS, Circuit Judge. Keith Jorel Hudson was sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment
after pleading guilty to five robbery-related offenses. Shortly after entering into a plea agreement,
Hudson filed pro se letters with the district court raising concerns about his attorney representation.
The court construed one of his letters as a motion for a new attorney and summarily denied it.
Hudson argues that the district court erred when it denied his motion, because it failed to conduct
an adequate inquiry into his dissatisfaction with counsel. For the reasons set forth below, we agree
and therefore VACATE the district court’s denial of Hudson’s motion and REMAND for further
proceedings.
I.
In early 2020, a grand jury indicted Hudson on three counts of attempting, in and affecting
interstate commerce, to unlawfully obstruct and affect commerce and the movement of articles in
commerce by robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951–52, two counts of discharging a firearm
No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
during and in relation to a crime of violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(iii), and one
count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in violation of
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii). The court appointed the Federal Public Defender Office (“FPD”) to
represent Hudson during his initial appearance on the criminal complaint that preceded his
indictment. But roughly four months later Hudson’s FPD attorney filed a motion to withdraw
from the representation; the court granted the motion and Hudson retained private counsel who
represented him at all times relevant to this appeal.
On the advice of counsel, Hudson entered into a plea agreement pursuant to Federal Rule
of Criminal Procedure 11(c)(1)(C) in April 2021 in which he agreed to plead guilty to five of the
six charges contained in the indictment—all three robbery counts plus the two counts for
discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. While not at issue in this
appeal, the criminal conduct stipulated as the basis of his plea provided, in pertinent part, that
Hudson used false online advertisements to lure three separate victims to a particular location and
rob them. Importantly, in the plea agreement, Hudson agreed to waive the right to appeal both his
conviction and his sentence, unless the sentence imposed exceeded the statutory maximum. The
waiver provision included a carve-out, however, that it “shall not be construed to bar a claim by
the Defendant of ineffective assistance of counsel or prosecutorial misconduct.” Finally, the plea
agreement included language indicating that Hudson certified that (1) he had entered the agreement
knowingly and voluntarily; (2) he had reviewed it with his attorney; and (3) he was “fully satisfied
with the representation, advice, and other assistance of counsel in this case.”
Hudson and his counsel appeared before a magistrate judge for a change of plea hearing
approximately two weeks later, on May 5, 2021. During that hearing, Hudson repeatedly affirmed
that he was making an informed decision, with the advice of counsel, to enter the plea agreement.
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No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
Nonetheless, Hudson expressed some fundamental confusion about the proceedings. For example,
he believed that he only faced four criminal charges, when in fact the superseding indictment
contained six counts, and he was pleading guilty to five of them. He also said he “[didn’t] really
understand a whole lot” about his case. The court endeavored to clarify Hudson’s charges in
response to these statements. It also invited Hudson to confer with counsel several times—as did
the Government—but Hudson consistently declined. Hudson’s attorney affirmed to the court that
she had met with Hudson on many occasions and thoroughly discussed his defense with him.
Ultimately, Hudson indicated that he wished to proceed with pleading guilty and the court went
forward with completing the hearing. The magistrate judge later submitted a report and
recommendation to the district court judge recommending that Hudson’s guilty plea be accepted.
And on June 8, 2021, the district court accepted his guilty plea.
On June 10, 2021, Hudson penned a handwritten letter to the district court with the caption
“Withdraw Plea – Ineffective Assistance of Counsel,” in which he averred:
Counsel did not explain, nor go over Plea Agreement with me because I am
dumbfound [sic] to the Federal Rules and I never had any dealing regarding the
period. My counselor never explain [sic] any of my case, charges with me, and she
gave me a paper to sign and when I asked her what the paper was I was signing,
later I had an inmate tell me my attorney misled me to sign a plea agreement. Your
honor I want to withdraw my plea.
Hudson mailed a second letter to the court dated June 29, 2021, in which he expanded on his
previous complaints about his counsel, stating:
The reason I[’]m writing is because I would like to [file] a motion to withdraw my
attorney from my case, reasoning being,
(1) ineffective assistance of counsel[,]
(2) did not explain my plea agreement to me[,]
(3) I feel like she’s working against me, and wont do nothing that I’ve
asked her to do[,]
(4) I was lied to, just so I would plead out[,]
(5) I don’t know my offense level[,]
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No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
(6) I cant never get ahold of her[, and]
(7) I want to withdraw my plea as well, cause my agreement isn’t right.
. . . . In connection with the discussion of whether the plea was knowing and
voluntary, it appears certain that neither (me) nor my counsel took note of the
impending passage of the First Step Act and its enormous impact on plea and
sentencing considerations. I[’]m asking to withdraw my plea because my attorney
brought undue pressure upon me (coerced me into entering the 22 [year] plea
agreement).
The district court held a hearing to address Hudson’s letters on July 19, 2021. The court construed
Hudson’s first letter as a request to withdraw his guilty plea, and the second letter as a motion to
withdraw his attorney (or a motion to appoint new counsel) and as setting forth a claim for
ineffective assistance of counsel. The court addressed them in reverse order. As to the letter
pertaining to counsel, the court stated in full:
[W]e’re going to take care of that one pretty straightforward, Mr. Hudson. You
hired [the private attorney]. She’s your lawyer. She wasn’t appointed by the Court.
You hired her, and you picked her. It’s not for me to interfere with your relationship
with her.
To the extent you are now claiming ineffective assistance of counsel, if that’s what
you are claiming . . . I would say there’s no evidence to support any element of the
tests for ineffective assistance of counsel. There’s no evidence or allegation that
[your lawyer’s] performance has been deficient or that such deficiencies have
prejudiced you.
So to the extent that your filings – your letters might be construed as a motion to
withdraw or a motion to appoint new counsel, that’s denied. You’ve retained
counsel. If you want a new lawyer, go out and hire one.
The court did not query Hudson or otherwise directly engage him regarding his motion for new
counsel. Nor did the court question counsel about any breakdown in the attorney-client
relationship.
The court then moved on to Hudson’s first letter, in which he requested to withdraw the
guilty plea. The court asked defense counsel whether Hudson still wanted to pursue this request.
The attorney conceded that she had “only spoken briefly to Mr. Hudson” and that “[h]e would
have to speak to that.” In response, the court asked Hudson if he still wanted to withdraw his plea.
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No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
And Hudson answered yes. The court then noted for the record that it reviewed Hudson’s pro se
letters as well as the Government’s briefing in opposition. The court invited the Government to
make further argument in support of its opposition. But neither Hudson nor his attorney was
similarly engaged by the court before the court denied Hudson’s request. The hearing, which
lasted about seven minutes, concluded with no further statements from Hudson or his counsel.
Hudson then wrote a third letter to the court, dated July 24, 2021. He began by stating that
he had wanted to speak during the hearing a few days earlier, “but was not sure if [he] could.” He
then reiterated various issues he perceived about his attorney representation. Among other things,
he claimed that his attorney had been woefully unresponsive: neither Hudson nor his wife were
able to contact her; she failed to provide Hudson a copy of his discovery materials; and she never
discussed the plea agreement or Presentence Investigation Report (“PSR”) with Hudson. Hudson
further indicated he was concerned that his attorney had been working against his interests
alongside the government. Overall, he felt that his lawyer had not been honest with him about his
case and generally failed to protect his interests.
The court did not take any action on this letter until Hudson’s next court date, which was
his sentencing hearing on November 19, 2021. At that time, the court informed Hudson that it
received his third letter. The only question the court asked that touched upon any subject addressed
in that letter was to confirm that Hudson had reviewed the PSR with his attorney. The court then
invited Hudson to speak as part of sentencing but did not otherwise engage Hudson about his letters
or satisfaction with counsel generally. Although Hudson spoke, he did not address his letter or his
concerns about his counsel. After hearing from Hudson, his attorney and the government’s
attorney, the court sentenced Hudson to 22 years’ imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release
pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement.
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No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
Hudson terminated his attorney shortly after sentencing. He also filed a timely notice of
appeal and sought appointment of appellate counsel. Hudson now requests that this court vacate
his judgment and sentence and remand to the district court for further proceedings. He argues that
the district court abused its discretion when it failed to inquire into his expressed dissatisfaction
with counsel.
II.
As a threshold issue, the Government contends that Hudson’s claims are foreclosed by his
plea agreement’s appellate waiver. That waiver provision reads as follows:
Waiver of Appeal: In exchange for the concessions made by the USAO in this plea
agreement, the Defendant waives the right to appeal the conviction and sentence
imposed, except if the sentence imposed exceeds the statutory maximum.
Defendant also waives the right to attack his conviction or sentence collaterally,
such as by way of a motion brought under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 and 18 U.S.C. § 3582.
However, this waiver shall not be construed to bar a claim by the Defendant of
ineffective assistance of counsel or prosecutorial misconduct.
True, Hudson broadly waived the right to appeal his conviction and sentence with certain limited
exceptions in exchange for the sentencing disposition he negotiated with the Government. But, as
relevant here, the waiver expressly excluded any claims Hudson might bring for ineffective
assistance of counsel. The Government insists that Hudson’s appeal does not meet this exception
because Hudson squarely challenges the district court’s “handling of the inquiry regarding his
(express or implied) motions to substitute” rather than the effectiveness of his counsel. We review
de novo the question of whether a claim raised on appeal falls within the scope of an appellate
waiver. United States v. Milliron, 984 F.3d 1188, 1193 (6th Cir. 2021) (citing United States v.
Griffin, 854 F.3d 911, 914 (6th Cir. 2017)). Here, Hudson’s request for new counsel necessarily
implicates his right to effective assistance of counsel. We thus hold that this appeal does not fall
within the proscription of the waiver.
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No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
We have not squarely addressed the scope of an appellate waiver in a comparable context,
but the Eleventh Circuit recently addressed the scope of a similar appellate waiver under analogous
circumstances. See United States v. Rogers, 839 F. App’x 436 (11th Cir. 2021). We find its
reasoning instructive. Rogers pleaded guilty pursuant to the terms of a plea agreement with the
government and waived his right to appeal, subject to certain limited exceptions. Id. at 437. Like
Hudson’s waiver, Rogers’ appellate waiver preserved his right to bring a claim for ineffective
assistance of counsel on appeal. Id. Shortly before his sentencing date, Rogers wrote a pro se
letter to the court requesting new counsel. Id. He informed the court that his relationship with
counsel had broken down and that counsel pressured him into pleading guilty. Id. At his next
court date, which was his sentencing hearing, Rogers reiterated his request for a new attorney. Id.After engaging in a colloquy with the defendant and his counsel, the court denied Rogers’ motion.
Id. Rogers appealed his sentence on the basis that his Sixth Amendment right to counsel was
violated when the district court denied his request for a new lawyer. Id. at 438. The Government
urged the Eleventh Circuit to dismiss Rogers’ appeal as barred by his broad appellate waiver. Id.The court rejected this argument—reasoning that the district court’s decision not to substitute
counsel, despite Rogers’s claim that their relationship had broken down, “necessarily implicate[d]
his right to effective assistance of counsel.” Id. The court elaborated as follows:
Our precedent allows a defendant with appointed counsel to demand a different
lawyer only when there is good cause. United States v. Jimenez-Antunez, 820 F.3d
1267, 1271 (11th Cir. 2016). Good cause exists when there is a “fundamental
problem,” such as “a conflict of interest, a complete breakdown in communication
or an irreconcilable conflict which leads to an apparently unjust verdict.”
Id. (quotation marks omitted). Importantly, the good cause rule “protects the right
to effective assistance of counsel; if good cause exists, a defendant no longer has
effective representation.” Id. (emphasis added). Rogers says he had good cause
because there was conflict between him and Colvin. In his view, this conflict meant
the district court’s failure to appoint a different lawyer left him
without effective assistance of counsel at his sentencing. Rogers’s claim on appeal
thus necessarily implicates his right to effective assistance of counsel. We therefore
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No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
conclude that his claim falls within the exception to his appeal waiver for claims of
ineffective assistance.
Id. See also Stenson v. Lambert, 504 F.3d 873, 886 (9th Cir. 2007) (“[F]orcing a defendant to go
to trial with an attorney with whom he has an irreconcilable conflict amounts to constructive denial
of the Sixth Amendment right to counsel.”); United States v. Darrell, 659 F. App’x 407, 408 (9th
Cir. 2016) (“An irreconcilable conflict [sufficient for a motion to substitute] occurs ‘only where
there is a complete breakdown in communication between the attorney and client, and the
breakdown prevents effective assistance of counsel.’” (quoting Stenson, 504 F.3d at 886)); United
States v. Brumer, 528 F.3d 157, 161 (2d Cir. 2008) (“Although delay is generally a valid reason to
deny a motion to substitute counsel, it is not necessarily valid where counsel is shown to be
providing constitutionally ineffective representation.”).
We agree that a district court’s refusal to substitute counsel can violate a criminal
defendant’s right to effective assistance of counsel. Our precedents similarly suggest that this is
the correct approach to the issue. For example, we previously recognized the possibility that a
district court could impinge on a defendant’s right to effective assistance of counsel by chaining
him to his attorney, despite a total breakdown in their relationship. United States v. Powell,
847 F.3d 760, 779–80 (6th Cir. 2017) (denying defendant’s timely motion to substitute counsel
was an abuse of discretion where defendant demonstrated a complete breakdown in the attorney-
client relationship; defendant’s attorneys told him they “had not prepared for trial, were not
equipped to represent him at trial, and would seek to withdraw if he did not accept the plea offer”).
Indeed, turning to the facts of this case, we cannot ignore that the overlap between Hudson’s
motion to withdraw counsel and his ineffective assistance claims. Hudson moved for substitution
of counsel by reason of his attorney’s purported ineffectiveness. He wrote: “I would like to [file]
a motion to withdraw my attorney . . . reasoning being, (1) ineffective assistance of counsel.”
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No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
In support, he made a variety of allegations questioning his attorney’s effectiveness, including that
she was impossible to contact, made errors which negatively impacted his case, and misled and
ultimately coerced him into signing the plea agreement. Hudson marshaled these facts to
demonstrate to the district court that he had good cause to substitute counsel; and just as the Rogers
court explained, if these facts gave rise to good cause, then Hudson lacked effective representation.
Rogers, 839 F. App’x at 438. Nor can we elide the fact that the district court disposed of Hudson’s
motion to substitute counsel and his claim of ineffective assistance in one fell swoop, which further
demonstrates how intertwined these claims were. Under these circumstances, we conclude that
Hudson’s claims fall within the ineffective assistance of counsel exception to his appellate waiver.
We accordingly consider his appeal on the merits.
III.
Once a defendant brings “‘any serious dissatisfaction with counsel to the attention of the
district court,’” the court has a duty to investigate into the source and nature of that dissatisfaction
“regardless of whether the attorney is court-appointed or privately retained.” Benitez v. United
States, 521 F.3d 625, 632, 634 (6th Cir. 2008) (quoting United States v. Iles, 906 F.2d 1122, 1131–
32 (6th Cir. 1990)); cf. United States v. Gonzalez-Lopez, 548 U.S. 140, 144 (2006) (“[A]n element
of [the right to counsel] is the right of a defendant who does not require appointed counsel to
choose who will represent him.”). The court may grant a motion to withdraw or for substitute
counsel if there is a showing of good cause upon such further inquiry. Benitez, 521 F.3d at 632.
Appellate courts reviewing the denial of such a motion generally consider four factors: “(1) the
timeliness of the motion, (2) the adequacy of the court’s inquiry into the matter, (3) the extent of
the conflict between the attorney and client and whether it was so great that it resulted in a total
lack of communication preventing an adequate defense, and (4) balancing the factors with the
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No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
public’s interest in the prompt and efficient administration of justice.” United States v. Steele, 919
F.3d 965, 973 (6th Cir. 2019) (quoting United States v. Mack, 258 F.3d 548, 556 (6th Cir. 2001));
see also Martel v. Clair, 565 U.S. 648, 663 (2012); Benitez, 521 F.3d at 632 (citing Iles, 906 F.2d
at 1130 n.8). The decision whether to allow the substitution of counsel is committed to the sound
discretion of the trial court and is entitled to deference absent an abuse of that discretion. Martel,
565 U.S. at 663–64; United States v. Trujillo, 376 F.3d 593, 606 (6th Cir. 2004).
Hudson argues that the court abused its discretion when it failed to inquire into his
expressed dissatisfaction with counsel on two occasions. Specifically, he maintains that the court
should have held colloquies with him after he raised complaints at his change of plea hearing and
through his pro se letters filed post-plea.
A.
Hudson’s arguments concerning the change of plea proceedings are unavailing. Despite
Hudson’s assertion that he made “complaints about counsel and expressed confusion about the
proceedings and his case,” he also repeatedly assured the magistrate judge that he was satisfied
with his representation at that time. And while Hudson initially seemed confused about the charges
contained in the indictment, the court took the time to elucidate them, and he later assured the court
that his attorney completely advised him on the nature and meaning of all the charges contained
in the indictment. He also contradicted that initial expression of doubt when he told the court he
read the entire plea agreement concerning that indictment, spoke to his lawyer about it before
signing it, and that he understood and agreed to all its terms. Similarly, Hudson stated, at first,
that he was unfamiliar with the sentencing guidelines. But after a brief colloquy with the court, he
recalled that his attorney discussed the guidelines with him and affirmed that he understood their
implications for his case as well. And Hudson further suggested that he had not seen all the
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No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
evidence in the case but walked that statement back when the court questioned him on it. Hudson
was under oath when he gave the district court these assurances and, under the circumstances, the
court had no obligation to further inquire into Hudson’s wavering complaints under Benitez and
Iles. E.g., Iles, 906 F.2d at 1131 (finding no abuse of discretion in denying substitution without a
hearing where “[t]he district court reasonably believed that the problems had been solved;” noting
further that a defendant must adequately “‘show his hand’” to trigger further inquiry) (quoting
Brown v. United States, 264 F.2d 363, 366 (D.C. Cir. 1959)).
Even if we were to address Hudson’s arguments on this point more completely, they plainly
lack merit. The magistrate judge dedicated significant time to ensuring that Hudson had received
effective counsel during the change of plea hearing, and she offered him several opportunities to
pause the proceedings and confer with his counsel. The magistrate judge also allowed Hudson’s
counsel and the Government’s attorney to weigh in on this issue during the hearing. Hudson’s
appeal is denied on this ground.
B.
Hudson raises a colorable challenge to the district court’s handling of his pro se motion to
substitute counsel that he filed after his guilty plea was accepted. Balancing the four factors set
out above, we hold that the district court was duty-bound to make further inquiry but failed to do
so.
1. Timeliness. In assessing the timeliness prong, the temporal proximity between a motion
to substitute counsel and a critical stage in the proceedings is paramount. See, e.g., United States
v. Trevino, 7 F.4th 414, 428–29 (6th Cir. 2021) (explaining that defendant’s motion was untimely
for being filed just thirteen days before trial, noting that “[w]e have often concluded that motions
. . . filed so close to trial are untimely”); United States v. Collado-Rivera, 759 F. App’x 455, 466
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No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
(6th Cir. 2019) (finding motion timely for being filed about two months prior to sentencing
hearing); Powell, 847 F.3d at 778, 780 (similarly focusing timeliness inquiry on motion for new
counsel’s proximity to critical stage in proceedings and finding motion was timely where it was
made more than a month in advance of trial). This reflects well-established law that “[i]f the
defendant’s motion would ‘necessitate a last-minute continuance, the trial judge’s actions are
entitled to extraordinary deference.’” Henness v. Bagley, 644 F.3d 308, 321 (6th Cir. 2011)
(quoting United States v. Vasquez, 560 F.3d 461, 467 (6th Cir. 2009)). We may also consider the
extent to which the defendant’s request could have been timelier at all based on when the
defendant’s concerns about counsel actually arose. Cobb v. Warden, Chillicothe Corr. Inst., 466
F. App’x 456, 460–61 (6th Cir. 2012) (finding motion timely despite being made on the morning
of trial, because it “arose out of the state’s supplemental [discovery that was turned over] provided
only four days before the trial was set to begin”); United States v. Evans, 406 F. App’x 946, 947–
48, 951 (6th Cir. 2011) (finding defendant “timely raised concern about [counsel’s] representation
after he came to believe he had been ‘coerced’ into pleading guilty”); but see Trevino, 7 F.4th at
429 (finding request untimely where defendant asserted dissatisfaction with the number of pretrial
motions his attorney had lost, but those unfavorable rulings at issue were issued more than six
months prior).
Hudson’s request was timely. He entered his guilty plea on May 5, 2021, and the court
accepted it on June 8, 2021. Hudson sent his first letter June 10, 2021. In his letter, Hudson alleged
that counsel misled him into entering the plea agreement and that his concerns arose sometime
after he had already signed it. Hudson elaborated on his complaints in a second pro se letter dated
June 29, 2021. In that letter, Hudson reiterated that he was coerced to enter the guilty plea, said
that his attorney had lied to him and would not do anything he asked her to do, and noted that he
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No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
had been unable to contact his attorney for an unspecified period of time. Hudson specifically
mentioned that he recently learned about the First Step Act’s anti-stacking amendment; he claimed
that his plea agreement was defective because neither he nor his counsel took note of this provision
during plea negotiations. Moreover, within days of the July 19 hearing regarding Hudson’s first
two letters, he followed up with a third letter in which he advised the court that his issues with
counsel had not been resolved. Hudson’s next court appearance was his sentencing hearing, which
took place on November 19, 2021.
We find that Hudson promptly alerted the district court to his dissatisfaction with counsel.
Hudson filed the motion well before sentencing, his next scheduled court appearance about five
months later, such that granting his request would have required no last-minute continuance in the
proceedings. E.g., Trujillo, 376 F.3d at 606–07 (finding motion for new counsel made three days
before trial untimely); see also Trevino, 7 F.4th at 429 (collecting cases); Powell, 847 F.3d at 778(collecting cases). He also did so within days of learning of the potential legal issue that could
affect his case. Thus, as in Evans, there was no significantly earlier time that he could have done
so. See 406 F. App’x at 947–48, 951 (finding defendant’s request timely where defendant raised
concerns about being coerced by counsel into pleading guilty just two weeks after entering that
plea). Based on our precedents—and considering Hudson’s sentencing was not imminent and he
wrote to the court soon after allegedly gaining cause to seek new counsel—the timeliness factor
weighs in Hudson’s favor.
2. Adequacy of the inquiry. The district court had a duty to investigate why Hudson
sought to have his counsel removed. Iles, 906 F.2d at 1131. Our precedents instruct that courts
“simply must allow a defendant the opportunity to explain the attorney-client conflict as he
perceives it.” United States v. Marrero, 651 F.3d 453, 465 (6th Cir. 2011) (citing Vasquez, 560
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F.3d at 467; United States v. Chambers, 441 F.3d 438, 447 (6th Cir. 2006); United States v.
Saldivar-Trujillo, 380 F.3d 274, 278 (6th Cir. 2004)); see also Powell, 847 F.3d at 778–79. This
requirement “not only aids in determining whether ‘good cause’ has been shown, but serves to
ease the defendant’s distrust, to preserve the integrity of the trial process, and to foster confidence
in the jury verdict.” Iles, 906 F.2d at 1131. Beyond inquiring into the defendant’s concerns, the
court should also make explicit findings to support its exercise of discretion in adjudicating the
motion. Benitez, 521 F.3d at 635.
Hudson’s pro se letters raised serious concerns about his counsel, including allegations that
she was unresponsive and misled Hudson into entering his plea deal. The district court
appropriately called a hearing to address Hudson’s motion for substitute counsel. But it went on
to conduct virtually no inquiry into Hudson’s concerns. In fact, Hudson was afforded no
opportunity to speak at the hearing—though he later revealed, in a third letter to the court, that he
“wanted to speak while at court but was not sure if [he] could.” The letter also informed the court
that the hearing did not settle his issues with counsel. Yet at his next court date, which was his
sentencing, there was no specific inquiry about these concerns. Because the court did not open the
floor to any discussion, or otherwise engage Hudson or his attorney in any way, the record remains
only partially developed and inadequate to determine whether his claims held any weight. It also
did nothing to allay Hudson’s concerns about his counsel or foster his trust in the criminal justice
system. Iles, 906 F.2d at 1131. As such, the court’s perfunctory dismissal of Hudson’s concerns
was insufficient. See Collado-Rivera, 759 F. App’x at 466 (finding court’s inquiry “plainly
inadequate” where it summarily denied defendant’s motion to withdraw “without any inquiry or
analysis”); Cobb, 466 F. App’x at 463 (same where court failed to “hear[], consider[], and discuss
the reasons for the conflict” or make findings directly addressing the bases for defendant’s
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request); Benitez, 521 F.3d at 635–36 (finding abuse of discretion where district court failed to
engage defendant in a colloquy).
Indeed, although the court generally referenced the contents of Hudson’s letters in
rendering its decision, it did not engage in the type of inquiry contemplated in Benitez. And it
confusingly advised Hudson that he could move forward with retaining new counsel while at the
same time entering an order denying his request. The proceedings below also appreciably stray
from our precedents in which we found the court’s inquiry to be satisfactory. See, e.g., Trevino, 7
F.4th at 429 (finding a sufficient inquiry where the court received briefing and heard argument
from both the defendant and his attorney); Steele, 919 F.3d at 974 (same where court engaged in
colloquy with defendant); United States v. Ammons, 419 F. App’x 550, 553 (6th Cir. 2011) (same
where the court provided defendant time to speak and attempted to ease defendant’s distrust in his
counsel through colloquy); Vasquez, 560 F.3d at 467 (same where the court held multiple lengthy
discussions with defendant and his attorney about the issues at hand); Chambers, 441 F.3d at 447(same where the court engaged defendant and counsel on their purported issues, spanning
numerous pages of the transcript); Saldivar-Trujillo, 380 F.3d at 278 (same where the court
permitted defendant, his counsel, and the Government to present evidence and arguments
concerning defendant’s complaint). The common thread in these cases is that the district court
must at least minimally probe the basis for a defendant’s complaint in order to discharge its
obligations under the law. Because the court made no such inquiry during the proceedings below,
this factor weighs decidedly in Hudson’s favor.
Urging against this conclusion, the Government counters that the district court was not
obligated to inquire into Hudson’s motion. But each of its arguments in support of this position is
unpersuasive.
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No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
First, the Government posits that the sole aim of any inquiry would have been to help the
district court decide how to rule on Hudson’s motion. But since the court simply decided to permit
Hudson to retain new counsel, there was no need to speak to him about his concerns (e.g., his
newfound suspicions that counsel coerced him into pleading guilty). Not so. As an initial matter,
the Government cites no law supporting this position. And setting aside the question of whether
the court in fact granted Hudson’s motion—which, as discussed below, is not such a
straightforward issue—this is an unduly narrow view of why courts must engage aggrieved
defendants in a colloquy. As we have explained, the court’s inquiry serves not only to probe good
cause for substitution, but also to allay the defendant’s concerns about counsel and preserve his
confidence in the judicial system as a whole. Iles, 906 F.2d at 1131. The idea that it was
appropriate for the concerns expressed in Hudson’s letters to go essentially unaddressed minimizes
the values at stake under the Sixth Amendment. The same could be said to the extent the
Government argues that Hudson “was not harmed by any conceivable shortcoming” in the
proceedings below. Moreover, if the district court deprived Hudson of his right to counsel of his
choice, he need not show that the error prejudiced him. “Deprivation of that right is structural
error that does not require a showing of prejudice or that the counsel defendant received was
ineffective.” Powell, 847 F.3d at 777 (citing Gonzalez-Lopez, 548 U.S. at 148); see also Cobb,
466 F. App’x at 460 (same); Benitez, 521 F.3d at 630 (“A violation of a defendant’s right to counsel
at a critical stage is a structural error and is therefore not subject to an analysis of whether the error
was harmless or prejudicial.”).
The Government also contends that the court was not required to make further inquiry
because “the basis of [Hudson’s] dissatisfaction [was] already clear” by the plain text of his letters.
Yet, the cases cited in support of this argument are inapposite. In United States v. Sullivan,
16
No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
431 F.3d 976 (6th Cir. 2005), the district court denied a pro se motion to substitute counsel after
conducting a brief dialogue with defendant’s counsel, but not with the defendant himself. Id. at
980, 980 n.4. We held there was no abuse of discretion given the circumstances of that case. Id.at 980–81. Specifically, defendant’s counsel had previously filed a motion to withdraw on the eve
of his client’s jury trial. Id. at 981. During a hearing on that motion, the defendant “unequivocally
indicated to the court that he wanted trial counsel to continue to represent him and that everything
had been ‘straightened out.’” Id. The trial thus proceeded. Id. Defendant’s pro se motion came
just four days later, meaning five days into trial; directly contradicted his prior representations;
and otherwise set forth no basis for appointing new counsel. Id. We found that it was within the
district court’s discretion to dispose of the motion with only a cursory inquiry under those
circumstances. But Sullivan is distinguishable from this case, which does not involve such stark
back-and-forth ambivalence about Hudson’s satisfaction with counsel. While Hudson did affirm
his satisfaction with counsel during his change of plea hearing a month earlier, Hudson’s letters
communicated a newfound distrust of his attorney over one month post-plea and alerted the court,
for the first time, that she was stonewalling him amid these recent concerns. From the time that
he filed his motions, Hudson never contradicted those complaints or walked them back, as Sullivan
did, such that the court could have summarily dismissed them. The two out-of-circuit cases the
Government cites in support of its position are similarly distinct in key respects. See United States
v. Jones, 795 F.3d 791, 797 (8th Cir. 2015) (finding no abuse of discretion despite lack of inquiry
into substitution motion where, inter alia, “a stern command to defense counsel to meet with
[defendant] sufficiently addressed [defendant’s] communication frustrations”); United States v.
Smith, 282 F.3d 758, 764–65 (9th Cir. 2002) (same where “the court had already entertained two
previous substitution motions alleging ‘lack of meaningful communication,’ and was thoroughly
17
No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
familiar with [defendant’s] ‘lack of communication’ argument”). These cases do not excuse the
court’s failure to directly inquire into Hudson’s complaints, as ample binding precedents require.
Martel, 565 U.S. at 664 (“As all Circuits agree, courts cannot properly resolve substitution motions
without probing why a defendant wants a new lawyer.”) (citing Iles, 906 F.2d at 1130).
3. Good cause. Third, we inquire into whether the purported conflict between Hudson and
his counsel was “so great as to ‘result in a total lack of communication preventing an adequate
defense.’” Vasquez, 560 F.3d at 467–68 (quoting United States v. Mooneyham, 473 F.3d 280, 292
(6th Cir. 2007)). This requires a showing beyond trivial dissatisfaction or “communication with
counsel which the defendant feels is unsatisfactory.” United States v. Jennings, 83 F.3d 145, 149
(6th Cir. 1996); see also United States v. Williams, 176 F.3d 301, 314 (6th Cir. 1999) (noting that
“some lack of understanding or lack of confidence” in counsel is insufficient). Hudson must
establish that “communication had truly broken down.” Williams, 176 F.3d at 314; see also
Jennings, 83 F.3d at 149 (6th Cir. 1996) (finding good cause for substitution did not exist absent
a “complete communication breakdown”).
The district court made no express finding on this factor, and its failure to engage Hudson
in a colloquy limits our insight into the situation. Nonetheless, we may review what record
evidence we do have before us. Cf. United States v. DeBruler, 788 F. App’x 1010, 1013 (6th Cir.
2019) (reviewing defendant’s original complaint about counsel for evidence of communication
breakdown where lower court’s inadequate inquiry “le[ft] the record rather sparse”). First, there
is Hudson’s letter dated June 29 stating that “I can’t never get ahold of [my lawyer]” and
suggesting he received inadequate counsel with respect to his plea agreement. Second, Hudson’s
July 24 letter reemphasized—among other things—that neither he nor his wife could reach his
attorney, who he believed was lying to him and “working with the prosecutor.” While Hudson’s
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No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
counsel likely has her own version of the facts, the record is silent in that regard as the district
court declined to inquire into any of Hudson’s concerns. Without an adequate record on this point,
it is difficult to determine whether, or the degree to which, this factor weighs in Hudson’s favor.
We find it necessary to remand for development of the record, such that a determination can be
made on this prong in particular.
For its part, the Government highlights facts it believes demonstrate that Hudson’s
attorney-client relationship remained intact and that he lacked good cause for new counsel.
Specifically, Hudson (1) retained the same counsel through sentencing after filing his complaints,
even though the district court authorized him to retain different counsel, and (2) acknowledged at
sentencing that he conferred with counsel about the PSR. However, the focus on these facts glosses
over critical aspects of the record. To review, the court addressed Hudson’s motion to substitute
as follows during the July 19 hearing:
[L]et’s start with . . . Hudson saying that he wants a new attorney. . . . [Your lawyer]
wasn’t appointed by the Court. You hired her, and you picked her. It’s not for me
to interfere with your relationship with her. . . . [T]o the extent that your filings --
your letters might be construed as a motion to withdraw or a motion to appoint new
counsel, that’s denied. You’ve retained counsel. If you want a new lawyer, go out
and hire one.
(Emphasis added). The court then issued a bench order simply stating that “Defendant’s motion
for new counsel is denied.”
The court thus issued, at best, unclear directives, particularly from the perspective of a
defendant moving pro se. Was Hudson permitted to hire new counsel, or was his motion for new
counsel denied? Was the court declining to interfere with his attorney-client relationship, or was
it inviting Hudson to fire the attorney and start anew? The Government’s briefing underscores the
potentially confusing nature of these proceedings. It implores us to distinguish this case from
others which “involve appeal from lower court denials of a defendant’s motion . . . to be
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No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
represented by new counsel,” because the court here “actually authorized Hudson to substitute his
current retained counsel with new retained counsel of his choice.” But this case does involve a
denial of Hudson’s motion for new counsel. It does not square that Hudson somehow prevailed in
his motion when the court explicitly denied it. The court offered no further clarification on these
potentially mixed messages. To his credit, Hudson promptly filed a letter expressing confusion
about the July 19 hearing—specifically regarding whether he was allowed to address the court on
that date—while doubling down on his complaints about counsel. However, the court did not take
any action on this letter until Hudson’s next court date in November, more than three months later.
Considering the foregoing facts, Hudson’s continued relationship with counsel is not determinative
here. It is unclear whether Hudson maintained counsel because his concerns were genuinely
allayed and their relationship improved, or because he acquiesced to the court’s ambiguous denial
of his motion for new counsel. Further development of the record on remand will be enlightening
on this point. We also note that the Southern District of Ohio’s Local Criminal Rules require
counsel to obtain leave of court prior to substituting an attorney of record. S.D. Ohio Crim. R.
83.4(b), https://www.ohsd.uscourts.gov/sites/ohsd/files//Local%20Rules%20Effective%202022-
07-25.pdf (last accessed February 1, 2023). A layperson such as Hudson could have interpreted
the court’s rulings as withholding such leave. More thorough engagement with Hudson’s motions
during the proceedings below might have assuaged these uncertainties.
4. Interests of justice. Finally, the court must balance Hudson’s right to the counsel of his
choice against the public’s interest in prompt and efficient administration of justice. E.g., Jones v.
Bradshaw, 46 F.4th 459, 475 (6th Cir. 2022); Powell, 847 F.3d at 779; Cobb, 466 F. App’x at 463
(“Our analysis of this fourth factor must consider both [defendant’s] rights and the rights of the
public.”) (citing Marrero, 651 F.3d at 467) (emphasis in original); see also, e.g., Johnson, 612 F.
20No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
App’x at 352 (noting that the focus of this inquiry is whether the district court properly balanced
the relevant interests at the time it adjudicated the motion). The district court did not address this
factor when it ruled on Hudson’s motion, but the record sufficiently informs our analysis. We find
that this case lacks the various indicia of undue delay commonly found to impinge on the public’s
interest in prompt and efficient justice. See Steele, 919 F.3d at 975 (weighing factor against
defendant where granting his motion mid-trial would have “clearly upset the district court’s ability
to promptly and efficiently conduct trial” and resulted in a significant time and financial burden);
Sullivan, 431 F.3d at 982 (explaining same); United States v. Namer, 149 F. App’x 385, 394 (6th
Cir. 2005) (same). On the one hand, Hudson sought to onboard new counsel during the late stages
of his criminal proceedings. Providing time for a new attorney to become acquainted with
Hudson’s case certainly might have delayed the administration of justice (i.e., his sentencing)—
albeit to a limited extent, given that his underlying prosecution was a relatively straightforward
one. Critically, however, Hudson’s sentencing date had not been determined when he requested
new counsel, and it ultimately took place several months later; accordingly, no last-minute
continuance of sentencing would have been required here. Finally, this is not a case where Hudson
ran through several appointed attorneys or contumaciously filed motions for new counsel
throughout the proceedings, causing mounting delays. These facts suggest that the public’s interest
in justice would not have been disturbed in this case had Hudson’s motion been granted. This
reflects favorably on Hudson’s appeal. Marrero, 651 F.3d at 467 (weighing factor in defendant’s
favor where granting the motion would not have caused additional delay in the proceedings). By
contrast, Hudson’s interest in retaining the counsel of his choice is a significant one protected by
the Sixth Amendment. All things considered, the final prong of our inquiry weighs in Hudson’s
favor.
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No. 21-4126, United States v. Hudson
***
Balancing the foregoing factors, we conclude that the district court abused its discretion in
summarily denying Hudson’s request for substitute counsel. The court’s duty to make further
inquiry into Hudson’s concerns existed regardless of whether he had appointed or privately
retained counsel. This duty reflects the significant values at stake where a criminal defendant
timely seeks a substitute attorney in good faith. Accordingly, we remand for the district court to
determine whether substitution was appropriate at the time Hudson made his request—particularly
given our finding that the record is inadequate on the good-cause prong. See Martel, 565 U.S. at666 n.4 (“[If] the District Court had abused its discretion in denying [defendant’s] substitution
motion without inquiry[,] [t]he way to cure that error would have been to remand to the District
Court to decide whether substitution was appropriate at the time of [defendant’s] letter.”); Collado-
Rivera, 759 F. App’x at 467 (remanding under like circumstances); Jennings, 945 F.2d at 132
(same). If, after conducting the requisite inquiry, the court finds that Hudson’s request lacked
good cause, then further proceedings are unnecessary. However, if the court finds that Hudson
did have good cause to replace his attorney at the time in question, he is entitled to new counsel to
explore the merits of the claims set forth in his letters and for re-sentencing. Collado-Rivera, 759
F. App’x at 467; Jennings, 945 F.2d at 132. In that event, the court shall also determine whether
Hudson requires appointed counsel for further proceedings.
IV.
For the reasons stated above, we VACATE the district court’s denial of Hudson’s post-
plea motion to substitute counsel and REMAND for the court to determine whether there was
good cause to replace Hudson’s counsel pursuant to his post-plea motion and subsequent requests.
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