Arroyo v. State (Majority, with Dissenting)
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After a trial, Appellant was convicted of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a drug premises, and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, for which he was sentenced to twenty-nine years' imprisonment. The court of appeals affirmed. Appellant subsequently filed a petition for postconviction relief, alleging, among other claims, that he was denied his Sixth Amendment right to counsel of his choice. Appellant had requested a change of counsel on the eve of trial, and the circuit court denied the request despite the fact that Appellant had already obtained substitute counsel. The circuit court denied Appellant's petition for postconviction relief. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that the circuit court wrongly denied Appellant's motion to substitute new counsel because the court failed to consider Appellant's interests when deciding the motion. Remanded for a new trial.
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