Attorney Grievance Filing Guide

MR. WEST ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE OUTLINE *. HOW MR. WEST ENDED BEING MY ATTORNEY. A. Two attorneys from the public defenders office were representing me for my family & my criminal court cases *.) November 27th, I was on phone w/ criminal defense lawyer discussing my defense. While doing so a name was brought up and that person is playing vital role in my defense. My attorney quickly stopped me and says we might have an issue because I am also representing this individual on a separate matter and he believes my family court attorney is also representing him to, or has had represented him in family court. *.) After looking deeper into it, he came to the conclusion that there is definitely a conflict of interest. *.) */* received email with copy of letter that was sent to the court pertaining to conflict of interest. That was dated */* *. GETTING ASSIGNED NEW ATTORNEYS. A. Family court was the first appearance i had including them both since the conflict of interest letter was sent to both courts and it was on */*/* B. My next court appearance was for county court and that fell on */* and that was the first time meeting Mr. west. *.) We spoke briefly for few wins before my arraignment. Did not have much time. *.) Mr. West said he was assigned my attorney at the beginning of January approx. * weeks ago a.) That kinda made me feel a little irritated because he had my phone #, my email, and also my address and this was our first time speaking. *.) Mr. West asked me if I already had a preliminary hearing. *.) I told him that I believed that I did indeed already had it. And I gave him some brief background info on the ordeal. I told him: a.) my previous attorney came into the jail to discuss it with me few days before the schedule preliminary hearing. b.) He asked if I wanted to waive it and he recommended I did. c.) I told him I was unsure at the time I wanted opportunity to think about it and research it in law library d.) as soon as I was back at my cell I put in a legal request form to go to law library. e.) And it did not matter because he waived it on his own accord and the jail never gave m e the opportunity either to even do research on it *.) I also told him that I planned on fighting my case, taking it to trial if needed. *.) Are time was up and we moved urgently inside court room having make the court officers/officials waiting on us. C. The arraignment- *.) To be honest I don” t recall the PPI being brought up and spoken upon, but it doesn’t mean it wasn’t. I am sure it was but was only spoken briefly about and I also did not know what it was at the time and I tried to take notes and retain as much as I could. *.) There were also a bunch of dates thrown out there to for deadlines and next appearance dates. I was unable to get them all and wanted to get them from West after hearing. *.) Before walking out into lobby to talk to West and do a recap, Mr. West spoke to DA briefly about what I believe him asking for copy of discovery and the DA saying he would get it to him quickly, I believe he said the following week the latest D. Immediately after hearing once again we only spoke very briefly *.) I once again told him my objective was to fight for my innocence in court. *.) He also told me I would be getting a letter in the mail to go see probation for PPI. *.) Also that he will be getting hold of me shortly after he speaks to DA (I believe after he obtains discovery). *.) I did not have anytime to discuss anything with him. He said he had other things he had to handle that he had to get going *. PPI A. The last week of Feb. I received a letter in the mail with a date/time to meet with a probation officer for my PPI *.) Apt for PPI was */* @ * *.) during the week of receiving the letter I did not have enough time to look into the PPI to familiarize myself with it and to find out what type of questions would be asked so I would already have my answers prior to apt. *.) The weekend I had more available time. It was difficult to look up because psr, and psi also should up in the search query and in more abundance even when I specifically searched for ppi. But eventually I did find enough info to educate myself and to have a really good understanding on what it was. *.) I had questions that I wrote down that I was hoping Mr west would be able to answer prior to ppi . I know it was short notice but I didn’t have much time preparing myself and working and other appointments made it difficult also. Some of my inquiries I had for Mr. west; a.) can participating in the ppi weaken my defense? b.) if so what should I be careful about saying and the questions I should avoid answering? c.) Should I even be participating in this at all? These are just some samples of the questions that I would have asked them. I think they are fairly important inquiries. B. I tried contacting Mr. west on a.) */* @ *:* am by email, b.) */* @ *:* pm by phone call, and on c.) */* @ *:* I sent him a text message C. On */* @ *:* I was at probation waiting to be seen by one of their officers *.) I showed up to my ppi appointment without speaking to Mr. west but I formulated a back up plan at the last minute. *.) For one, I wanted to make a great first impressions so I showed up; a.) wearing slacks and a long sleeve dress shirt both fully ironed, b.) I had all the docs with me that was requested for in the letter plus the questionnaire, c.) I also had with me other doc. That were not requested but I though would earn me some brownie points like my GED and copy of my most frequent resume, and d.) I had everything nicely organized into a folder that was labeled with the appropriate title *.) Right after doing introductions with the PO I explained my perdictament and asked her: a.) I was unable to get a hold of my attorney because I questions I needed answer before doing ppi b.) I asked her if we could refrain from questions that could pertain to my ongoing case c.) I told her that I didn’t want to come across as being hard to work with, I offered to do as much as we could do today and reschedule at a later time most convenient for her so I had time to talk to my lawyer d.) I was very polite and respectful and she was also too in return and understanding of my predicament. *.) We did the Ppi and it ended up taking awhile I had to come back and finish. The last part was my employment history and I offered to do most of it at home so I didn’t take up to much of her time the following day. *.) I believe the interview went very well but I also have concern that there still might be something that could be use against me in my criminal case. I was very honest to all the responses to her questions. So at least that part will not be use against me being a liar . *. ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE A. After that situation with Mr. West and the lawyers prior to him I've been feeling that my right to have adequate legal representation has not been being fulfilled and I wanted to do something about it. Its my god given right as american. So I started doing research on what qualified as in adaquent and what was the process to remedy the issue. B. On */* @ *:51pm I called the grievance committee and ask if I could speak to an attorney because I felt like I was in an unique situation that was also time sensitive. And the secretary page me through so I could leave a message at an attorneys desk so hopefully I could get a response back. C. On */* @ *:* pm an attorney from the grievance committee return my call and help me the best that she could because she was limited on what she could do since I haven't sent anything in yet. *.) She told me that even if he were to facing disciplinary actions or was disciplined it is the judges decision on what he wants to handle it *.) Also I should call the court house and speak with the clerk and tell her that I'm having difficulties getting a hold of my attorney *.) she admitted that I was indeed in a tough position D. On */* @ *:* pm I called the court house and spoke with the clerk . *.) All she said was that he might be out and that to try again or that he would get back to me when he is available after I explain my situation to her that was her response to me. *.) At least I was creating a paper trail and to show that I was doing what was suggested to me and also using the chain of command. *. I FINALLY GET A RESPONSE FROM MR. WEST ON, A. */* @ *:* pm but unfortunately I was doing some yard work for my parents and missed his call. But I quickly realize that I had missed his call and returned his call on */* @*:* pm. B. During our conversation Mr. West stated; *.) that he felt like I didn’t want him representing me a.) reason being was when I was doing research on him looking for information on his qualifications pertaining to being a criminal lawyer and trial experience I came across info about his arrest and disbarred for criminal possession of stolen property from ‘* and his reinstatement in ‘* b.) prior to this phone conversation I spoke to my family court attorney and told him that I was having issues getting a hold of him and if he know Mr. west and what was his opinion of him. And I briefly made a comment of myself coming across the disbarred but didn’t make any other comment besides that. *.) He also made a comment that if I lose that I would include his disbarredment in my appeal. *.) He also made it sound like that he was going to tell the judge that things weren’t working out and wasn't going to make a big deal out of the situation. *.) I asked him about the */* deadline because I needed things done before that deadline and he stated that I would get an extension. *.) Then he said he was sending the copy of letter in an email right after we got of the phone together. *. MOTION TO BE RELIEVED AS ATTORNEY A. On */* @ *:* I received that email pertaining that letter *.) when I had adequate time I sat down and read and processed the letter that I received and my thoughts and feelings towards it are as follow: a.) I feel like he was being manipulative on the phone with me and also he was definitely lying the motion he was filing. b.) I was very upset about the fact that he was really putting me into a negative light when there was no reason for me to be portrayed in that matter c.) I have proof of his lies and I hope that the information I send will help towards proving that. I will include contact info of the PO that did my ppi interview. d.) I did not respond to him after receiving that letter but instead started working on my grievance instead. *. IN CONCLUSION A. I hope I was able to send this out in time to hear response before my April 15th court date. So I don’t get unfairly punished by the judge but instead maybe some sympathy so I can get assigned a new attorney that can help me fight my case.