Opinion
Argued October 14, 1987
Decided November 24, 1987
Appeal from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Third Judicial Department, Robert L. Estes, J.
Stephen P. Younger, Gregory L. Diskant, Craig A. Stewart and Douglass Maynard for appellant.
Malcolm C. Hughes, District Attorney (Robert G. Davis of counsel), for respondent.
MEMORANDUM.
The order of the Appellate Division should be reversed and a new trial ordered. The trial court was without authority to condition its approval of defendant's request for substitution of his retained counsel on retained counsel's stipulation that if substituted, he would not move for a continuance. As contrasted with People v Arroyave ( 49 N.Y.2d 264), defendant's retained counsel here, just before jury selection was to commence, stated unequivocally to the court that if his motion for a continuance were denied he would proceed to trial.
Chief Judge WACHTLER and Judges SIMONS, KAYE, ALEXANDER, TITONE, HANCOCK, JR., and BELLACOSA concur in memorandum.
Order reversed, etc.