United States v. Jose Cruz Lopez Lagunas

48 F.3d 1229 NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel. UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jose Cruz Lopez LAGUNAS, Defendant-Appellant. No. 93-30344. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Argued and Submitted Feb. 10, 1995. Decided Feb. 23, 1995. Appeal from the United States District Court, for the Western District of Washington, D.C. No. CR-92-01613-T; Jack E. Tanner, District Judge, Presiding. W.D.Wash. REVERSED. Before: WRIGHT, HALL and WIGGINS, Circuit Judges. 1 MEMORANDUM * 2 Lagunas was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and three counts of distributing heroin. Six days before trial his attorney moved for leave to withdraw and to appoint substitute counsel because of irreconcilable attorney-client differences. The next day, Lagunas wrote a letter explaining the need for substitution. The court denied the motion. A jury convicted Lagunas on all counts. He appeals the judgment and the court's denial of his request…