jennifersteen//January 28, 2014
On appeal from his convictions of first-degree burglary and receiving stolen property, appellant argued that the District Court erred by failing to determine whether exceptional circumstances existed to justify appointing substitute counsel after appellant discharged his public defender. The Court of Appeals held that appellant’s claims amounted to disagreements on trial strategy between himself and appointed counsel and were not serious allegations of inadequate representation, nor did they identify exceptional circumstances affecting his attorney’s ability to represent him. Affirmed.
A13-0307 State v. Starnes (Anoka County)