Opinion
January 18, 2000
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Harold Rothwax, J.), rendered December 4, 1996, convicting defendant, upon his plea of guilty, of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, and sentencing him, as a second felony offender, to a term of 4 1/2 to 9 years, unanimously affirmed.
Penny Rosenberg, for respondent.
Walter Evans, Jr., for defendant-appellant.
ROSENBERGER, J.P., ELLERIN, WALLACH, LERNER, ANDRIAS, JJ.
After affording defendant ample opportunity to be heard, the court properly denied defendant's application, made at the outset of jury selection, for assignment of new counsel, since defendant's complaints about his attorney clearly lacked substance. The court satisfactorily addressed defendant's concerns about his inability to pay his retained attorney. Defendant offered no support for his contention that his relationship with counsel had so deteriorated as to require the appointment of a new attorney, and no further inquiry was necessary (see, People v. Medina, 44 N.Y.2d 199; People v. Torres, 244 A.D.2d 156, 158 lv denied 91 N.Y.2d 931).
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.