Opinion
June 15, 1992
Appeal from the County Court, Nassau County (Belfi, J.).
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.
The defendant contends that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel when the County Court denied his request for a change of assigned counsel and allowed him to proceed pro se. It is settled law that court-appointed counsel will not be removed except for good cause shown (see, People v. Sawyer, 57 N.Y.2d 12, 18-19, cert denied 459 U.S. 1178). A bald statement by the defendant that he has no confidence in his attorney is not a sufficient demonstration of good cause for the substitution of assigned counsel (see, People v. Sawyer, supra, at 19). The defendant's reasons for his dissatisfaction with his court-appointed attorney did not constitute a showing of good cause (see, People v. Sawyer, supra; People v. Medina, 44 N.Y.2d 199).
Moreover, we find that the court conducted an adequate "searching inquiry" as to whether the defendant appreciated the disadvantages of proceeding pro se (see, People v. Sawyer, supra).
The defendant's sentence was not excessive under the circumstances of this case (see, People v. Suitte, 90 A.D.2d 80). Thompson, J.P., Lawrence, Copertino and Santucci, JJ., concur.