United States v. Bradshaw, No. 18-3728 (8th Cir. 2020)
Annotate this CaseThe Eighth Circuit affirmed defendant's sentence for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The court held that the district court did not violate defendant's Sixth Amendment right to counsel of choice by denying the motion to continue the trial and to substitute counsel. In this case, there was no evidence of a sudden exigency or unforeseen circumstances which would weigh in favor of continuing the trial. Furthermore, the last-minute nature of defendant's motion, without some compelling justification, undermines the district court's interest in the orderly administration of justice. The court also held that the evidence was sufficient to support defendant's convictions.
Court Description: [Grasz, Author, with Loken and Stras, Circuit Judges] Criminal case - Criminal law. The district court's decision to deny defendant's motion to continue the trial and substitute counsel did not violate defendant's Sixth Amendment right to counsel and was not an abuse of the district court's discretion; the evidence was sufficient to support defendant's convictions for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possessing the drug with intent to distribute.
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