United States v. Thomas Blackledge

PUBLISHED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

No. 12-7419

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Petitioner – Appellee,

v.

THOMAS BLACKLEDGE,

Respondent - Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of North Carolina, at Raleigh. James C. Dever III,
Chief District Judge. (5:09-hc-02118-D-JG)

Argued: January 30, 2014 Decided: May 5, 2014

Before GREGORY, SHEDD, and KEENAN, Circuit Judges.

Vacated and remanded by published opinion. Judge Gregory wrote
the majority opinion, in which Judge Keenan joined. Judge Shedd
wrote a dissenting opinion.

ARGUED: Richard Croutharmel, Raleigh, North Carolina, for
Appellant. Denise Walker, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES
ATTORNEY, Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellee. ON BRIEF:
Thomas G. Walker, United States Attorney, Rudy A. Renfer, Edward
D. Gray, Assistant United States Attorneys, OFFICE OF THE UNITED
STATES ATTORNEY, Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellee.
GREGORY, Circuit Judge:

Respondent-Appellant Thomas Blackledge has been civilly

committed as a sexually dangerous person under the Adam Walsh

Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (“Adam Walsh Act”),

codified at 18 U.S.C. §§ 4247-48. Prior to a hearing on his

commitment, Blackledge successfully moved for the appointment of

an expert forensic examiner, who opined that he was indeed a

sexually dangerous person. Blackledge then sought the

appointment of a second expert and an extension of the deadline

for discovery. A magistrate judge denied both motions without

prejudice, and when counsel renewed the motions after the

discovery deadline had passed, the motions were again denied.

Citing an internal ethical conflict, Blackledge’s attorney later

moved to withdraw as counsel, which the magistrate judge denied.

Counsel appealed the ruling to the district court and filed a

second motion to withdraw, this time also noting that Blackledge

had filed a bar complaint against her. The district court

denied both the appeal of the magistrate judge’s ruling and the

second motion to withdraw.

On appeal, Blackledge challenges the denial of the motions

to extend and reopen the discovery period, motions to withdraw

as counsel, and motions to appoint a second expert. Because we

find that the district court abused its discretion in denying

the motions to withdraw as counsel, we vacate and remand.

2
 I.

As relevant to these proceedings, we briefly summarize

Blackledge’s criminal history. 1 In 1960, at age 15, Blackledge

was convicted of first-degree murder in Wyoming for bludgeoning

his 15-year-old girlfriend to death after she rebuffed his

sexual advances. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, but

released at age 23 after serving 8 years in state prison. On

October 22, 1986, Blackledge was sentenced in the United States

District Court for the District of Colorado to 12 years of

imprisonment and 5 years of probation for several counts of

mailing and producing child pornography. For the same conduct,

he was also sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for sexual

exploitation of children in Larimer County, Colorado and in Weld

County, Colorado, to run concurrently with his federal sentence.

Blackledge also self-reported several undetected incidents of

child molestation, involving between eight and twelve child

victims ranging from age 5 to age 17.

Following his release, Blackledge violated the terms of his

probation by possessing images of nude children on his home

computer. He was consequently sentenced on April 27, 2005 to 6

1
The following pertinent factual findings are not disputed
except as otherwise noted, and to the extent that there is a
dispute, we construe the evidence in the light most favorable to
the Government as the prevailing party before the district
court. See United States v. Antone, 742 F.3d 151, 155 n.1 (4th
Cir. 2014).

3
years’ imprisonment by the United States District Court for the

District of Colorado. He was also sentenced to 6 years’

imprisonment in Weld County, Colorado on May 3, 2004 for one

count of sexual exploitation, to run concurrent with the federal

sentence for the probation violation. Blackledge had an

expected release date of September 23, 2009. On September 15,

2009, however, the Government filed a Certification of a

Sexually Dangerous Person (“Certification”) pursuant to 18

U.S.C. § 4248(a) in the United States District Court for the

Eastern District of North Carolina, and his release was stayed.

The court appointed the Federal Public Defender’s Office to

represent Blackledge, and on March 11, 2011, Sonya Allen

(“Attorney Allen”) entered an appearance on Blackledge’s behalf.

Attorney Allen moved for the appointment of Dr. Terrence

Campbell as an expert forensic examiner, which a magistrate

judge granted on August 4, 2011. After interviewing Blackledge

and considering various materials, Dr. Campbell opined that he

was indeed a sexually dangerous person under the Adam Walsh Act.

On October 11, 2011, Attorney Allen moved for the

appointment of a second expert, Dr. Joseph Plaud, and requested

an extension of the time for discovery. The magistrate judge

denied the motions on November 4, 2011 without prejudice,

finding that Blackledge failed to show the need for the

appointment of a second expert. The magistrate judge granted a

4
later request to extend discovery until December 22, 2011, and

the district court set a bench trial for June 14, 2012. On

April 17, 2012, two additional attorneys entered appearances as

Attorney Allen’s co-counsel, and the court continued the trial

until August 2, 2012. On June 14, 2012, Attorney Allen filed a

sealed motion renewing Blackledge’s request to appoint Dr. Plaud

and asking the court to reopen discovery and continue the trial.

The magistrate judge denied the motions on July 2, 2012, finding

that Blackledge again failed to show good cause for the

appointment of a second expert, and that appointment at that

stage would disrupt the court’s prior scheduling orders.

On July 10, 2012, Attorney Allen filed a motion to withdraw

as counsel on the ground that an internal conflict had arisen

and she could “no longer continue to ethically represent”

Blackledge. J.A. 80. Speaking carefully to avoid violating

client confidences or revealing trial strategies, Attorney Allen

represented at a hearing on the motion that her internal ethical

conflict arose from the fact that Blackledge requested to see

certain items that she could not provide him. She added that

Blackledge wished to proceed with new counsel and that she had

located a panel attorney experienced in § 4248 hearings who

could take over the matter immediately. Blackledge also stated

at the motions hearing that Attorney Allen had failed to provide

5
him certain documents he requested, and that he felt ignored by

her, which made it very difficult for them to communicate.

Blackledge complained in particular about Attorney Allen’s

failure to obtain a second expert, and Attorney Allen explained

that she did not renew the motion earlier because she thought

she had more time to do so. While Attorney Allen asserted that

Dr. Plaud said only that it was possible that he would find

Blackledge not to be a sexually dangerous person, her co-counsel

represented that Dr. Plaud had preliminarily indicated that he

could testify favorably for Blackledge. Attorney Allen asserted

that she had failed at allaying Blackledge’s concerns about his

defense, and that, as a result of her error, they no longer had

a rapport that allowed him to trust her. When asked if she

could represent Blackledge zealously if the motion were denied,

Attorney Allen stated that “it would be with great difficulty,”

though she is a professional and “would certainly do [her] job.”

J.A. 101. She opined that increasing the frequency of

communications would not repair their relationship since she

could not change her prior failure to timely renew the motion,

which was the content of the discussions.

The magistrate judge denied the motion to withdraw, finding

that it was untimely and that there was no breakdown in the

attorney-client communications that prevented an adequate

defense. On July 23, 2012, Attorney Allen appealed the

6
magistrate judge’s ruling to the district court, and on July 30,

2012, she filed a second motion to withdraw. The second motion

asserted that Blackledge had filed a state bar grievance against

her, causing a conflict of interest where she could not defend

against the bar complaint while also representing Blackledge.

The bench trial began on August 2, 2012, and the district

court first took up the appeal of the magistrate judge’s ruling

and the second motion to withdraw. Attorney Allen described her

relationship with Blackledge as follows: “our relationship has

deteriorated to a point that we cannot discuss his case,

strategies of his case. We cannot effectively communicate.

That has tied my hands with regard to being able to represent

him effectively.” J.A. 148-49. She continued: “One of the

essential parts of defending someone would be whether they

decide to testify or not and how you would go about preparing

them for that testimony. That’s not even something I can

discuss with Mr. Blackledge, so we have not been able to address

that appropriately.” J.A. 151. Blackledge also explained to

the court that he had not “even really had any trial preparation

with [Attorney Allen]” and that he had not seen her “for quite

sometime [sic].” Id. Attorney Allen added that the bar

complaint had put her “at odds with” Blackledge. J.A. 149.

The district court told Blackledge that he might have to

proceed pro se if the motions were granted, and Blackledge

7
stated that he would proceed with Attorney Allen if forced to

because he could not defend himself. The court denied the

appeal and the second motion, finding that Attorney Allen had

not abandoned Blackledge as he claimed and that there was not a

breakdown in communications that would prevent an adequate

defense. Attorney Allen moved to bifurcate the trial so that

the available witnesses could testify, but Blackledge would be

allowed to later present an expert opinion from Dr. Plaud. The

court denied the motion to bifurcate, and the trial proceeded.

At trial, the Government presented the testimony of two

expert witnesses, Dr. Christopher North and Dr. Campbell, and

the written report of a third expert witness, Dr. Tonya Cunic.

All three experts diagnosed Blackledge with pedophilia —

sexually attracted to boys and girls, non-exclusive type — among

other psychiatric disorders. All three experts concluded that

Blackledge met the criteria for a sexually dangerous person

under § 4248. Blackledge did not testify or present evidence.

On August 10, 2012, the court found by clear and convincing

evidence that Blackledge is a sexually dangerous person under

the Adam Walsh Act and ordered his commitment. The court

specifically found that Blackledge engaged in child molestation

and sexually violent conduct, suffers from pedophilia and

antisocial personality disorder, and, as a result, would have

serious difficulty refraining from reoffending.

8
 II.

An individual in the custody of the Federal Bureau of

Prisons may be civilly committed under § 4248 if the Government

proves in a hearing that the person is a sexually dangerous

person. 18 U.S.C. § 4248(d). The Government must prove each of

the following by clear and convincing evidence: (1) the person

“has engaged or attempted to engage in sexually violent conduct

or child molestation” (“prior conduct” element); (2) the person

“suffers from a serious mental illness, abnormality, or

disorder” (“serious mental illness” element); and (3) “as a

result of” such condition, the person “would have serious

difficulty in refraining from sexually violent conduct or child

molestation if released” (“volitional impairment” element). 18

U.S.C. §§ 4247(a)(5), (6), 4248. United States v. Hall, 664

F.3d 456, 458 (4th Cir. 2012). Blackledge has stipulated that

he engaged in sexually violent conduct or child molestation or

attempted to do so, and that he suffers from pedophilia, a

serious mental illness, abnormality, or disorder. The trial

thus centered on whether he satisfies the volitional impairment

element.

Blackledge argues on appeal that the court abused its

discretion in denying his motions to extend and reopen

discovery, motions to withdraw as counsel, and motions to

appoint Dr. Plaud. We hold that the court did abuse its

9
discretion in denying the motions to withdraw and remand for the

court to reconsider these motions by engaging in a thorough

inquiry as to the extent of Attorney Allen’s conflict. We

therefore need not address Blackledge’s remaining arguments.

III.

A.

We review the denial of a motion to withdraw for abuse of

discretion. United States v. Johnson, 114 F.3d 435, 442 (4th

Cir. 1997) (citing United States v. Mullen, 32 F.3d 891, 895

(4th Cir. 1994)). Blackledge argues that Attorney Allen

abandoned his case during the time in which she should have

renewed the motion to appoint Dr. Plaud, and thus had a

significant conflict presented by her interest in protecting her

own professional reputation thereafter. He maintains that

because he has a right to counsel under the Adam Walsh Act, 2 this

right necessarily includes a due process right to the effective

assistance of counsel. Blackledge asserts that the court abused

its discretion when it denied the motions because it forced him

to proceed with ineffective assistance of counsel.

2
“At a hearing ordered pursuant to [the Adam Walsh Act] the
person whose mental condition is the subject of the hearing
shall be represented by counsel and, if he is financially unable
to obtain adequate representation, counsel shall be appointed
for him pursuant to section 3006A.” 18 U.S.C. § 4247(d).

10
 The Government argues in response that Blackledge was not

prejudiced by the denial of the motions because he remained

represented by one of Attorney Allen’s co-counsel, 3 and because

Attorney Allen indicated that she was capable of representing

him despite her asserted internal ethical conflict and the bar

complaint, albeit with great difficulty. The Government further

argues that Attorney Allen ably represented Blackledge, filing

motions on his behalf during the time in which he says he was

abandoned and cross-examining the relevant witnesses at trial.

B.

In deciding whether a district court has abused its

discretion in denying a motion to withdraw or to substitute

counsel, we consider three factors: (1) timeliness of the

motion; (2) adequacy of the court’s inquiry; and (3) “whether

the attorney/client conflict was so great that it had resulted

in total lack of communication preventing an adequate defense.”

United States v. Gallop, 838 F.2d 105, 108 (4th Cir. 1988)

(internal citations omitted). If the court abused its

discretion, the ruling is subject to harmless error review. See

United States v. Horton, 693 F.3d 463, 467 (4th Cir. 2012). We

review the court’s factual findings for clear error and its

legal conclusions de novo. Hall, 664 F.3d at 462. “A finding

3
The second co-counsel, attorney Katherine Shea, withdrew
as co-counsel on July 24, 2012.

11
is ‘clearly erroneous’ when although there is evidence to

support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left

with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been

committed.” Id. (internal citations omitted).

Turning to the first factor, it appears that at least the

second motion to withdraw was untimely. Attorney Allen filed

the first motion on July 10, 2012, slightly more than three

weeks before trial. The magistrate judge noted the court’s

difficulty in scheduling hearings so that all the necessary

witnesses could be available, and Blackledge acknowledged that

granting the motion would require another continuance so that

new counsel could prepare. Consistent with our prior holding

that a motion to substitute counsel filed two weeks before the

relevant hearing was timely, the initial motion to withdraw in

this case was likely timely. See United States v. Jennette, 387

F. App’x 303, 307 (4th Cir. 2010). However, the second motion

was filed on July 30, 2012, only three days before trial. The

district court noted that it had a very busy trial calendar for

August and September, and that granting the motion at that point

would frustrate its scheduling orders. Although the district

court was certainly on notice that Attorney Allen wished to

withdraw as counsel after the first motion was filed, “[i]n

considering timeliness when a defendant requests substitution of

counsel, ‘the court is entitled to take into account the . . .

12
public interest in proceeding on schedule.’” Mullen, 32 F.3d at

895 (internal citations omitted). As such, this factor weighs

somewhat in favor of the court’s ruling.

Turning to the second factor, however, the record reveals

that the district court failed to engage in an adequate inquiry.

“When a defendant raises a seemingly substantial complaint about

counsel, the judge ‘has an obligation to inquire thoroughly into

the factual basis of defendant’s dissatisfaction.’” Id. at 896

(internal citations omitted). “An inquiry into the reasons for

a defendant’s dissatisfaction with his or her lawyer is

necessary for the trial court to determine whether good cause

for substitution of counsel exists.” Id. (internal citations

omitted). “The district court is far better situated than we

are to observe and inquire into the state of the relationship

between a defendant and his appointed counsel, and thus, where

the district court has met its ‘obligation to inquire thoroughly

into the factual basis of defendant’s dissatisfaction,’ . . . we

apply the ordinary standard of review to its factual findings:

clear error.” United States v. Smith, 640 F.3d 580, 590 (4th

Cir. 2011) (citing Mullen, 32 F.3d at 896). While motions to

substitute counsel often arise at the defendant’s urging, when

the attorney also seeks to withdraw, the court must thoroughly

inquire into the factual basis of any conflicts asserted by

counsel.

13
 In this case, the district court did not meet its

obligation to thoroughly inquire into the extent of the

communications breakdown or the basis of the asserted conflict.

Despite the representations from Attorney Allen and Blackledge

on the morning of trial that they had not done any trial

preparation or spoken about whether Blackledge would testify,

the court did not ask when they had last seen each other or

communicated about the case. 4 Tasked with reviewing the motions

de novo, the district court erred in failing to examine how the

communications between Blackledge and Attorney Allen had fared

since the magistrate judge’s inquiry two weeks earlier. The

court emphasized Attorney Allen’s competence as a lawyer, but an

attorney’s competence cannot cut short the inquiry because,

“[e]ven if a defendant’s counsel is competent, a serious

breakdown in communication can result in an inadequate defense.”

United States v. Musa, 220 F.3d 1096, 1102 (9th Cir. 2000).

4
Despite Attorney Allen’s assertion that she and Blackledge
could no longer effectively discuss his case, the dissent infers
that they were indeed able to communicate from the fact that she
filed proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law on July
26, 2012. However, the fact that Attorney Allen filed this
pleading on Blackledge’s behalf does not establish that they
were actually able to communicate at this time, and indeed, such
an inference is undermined by the fact that she filed the second
motion to withdraw only four days later. Had the district court
followed the “best practice” of making “an express finding on
the record about the state of communication between defendant
and counsel,” Smith, 640 F.3d at 594, then perhaps this Court
would not be left wondering when Attorney Allen and Blackledge
had last meaningfully communicated about his defense.

14
Most significantly, the district court failed entirely to

inquire about the internal ethical conflict that Attorney Allen

had earlier raised and whether this had been resolved since the

first hearing. The court’s failure to probe deeply into the

basis of Attorney Allen’s conflict seriously undermines its

decision, and this factor weighs heavily against the court’s

ruling.

Turning to the third factor, because the district court

failed to engage in an adequate inquiry, its factual

determination that there was not a total breakdown in

communication preventing an adequate defense is not entitled to

clear error review. See Smith, 640 F.3d at 590. Even if we

were to review this finding for clear error, however, this

factor likewise weighs against the district court’s ruling.

Firstly, a conflict of interest emerged once Attorney Allen

failed to timely renew the motion to appoint Dr. Plaud before

the discovery deadline passed. We find useful the Supreme

Court’s decision in Maples v. Thomas, in which a post-conviction

petitioner’s attorneys abandoned their representation of him and

missed a critical deadline, thereby causing a procedural default

of the petitioner’s claims. 132 S.Ct. 912, 916-25 (2012).

While dicta, the Supreme Court found in Maples that “a

significant conflict of interest arose for the firm once the

crucial deadline passed” because “the firm’s interest in

15
avoiding damage to its own reputation was at odds with [the

client’s] strongest argument” for excusing the procedural

default. Id. at 925 n.8.

In this case, we need not decide whether Attorney Allen

actually abandoned Blackledge as in Maples because a conflict

arose from the fact that the alleged abandonment was

Blackledge’s strongest argument for excusing the untimeliness of

the renewed motion. Indeed, we recently recognized in the

context of federal habeas proceedings that “a clear conflict of

interest exists in requiring . . . counsel to identify and

investigate potential errors that they themselves may have made

. . . .” Gray v. Davis, 526 F. App’x 331, 334 (4th Cir. 2013).

This conflict exists irrespective of whether the attorney is

ultimately found to have erred. See id. at 334-35. Likewise, a

conflict existed here, because, in order to argue that the

lateness of the renewed motion should be excused, Attorney Allen

would have had to assert her own ineffectiveness. This conflict

further undermined Blackledge’s trust in Attorney Allen and

strained their ability to communicate. 5

5
As our dissenting colleague points out, the magistrate
judge asked Blackledge whether his dissatisfaction was largely
because of the court’s rulings denying Dr. Plaud’s appointment,
to which Blackledge replied that he had been “laboring under the
assumption” that Attorney Allen was in the process of obtaining
an expert until he learned that the request was “precluded by
the Court.” J.A. 107. Although the dissent cites this exchange
(Continued)
16
 Secondly, in her second motion to withdraw, Attorney Allen

explained that Blackledge had recently “indicated that he

intends to file a complaint with the North Carolina State Bar

against counsel because of her failure to obtain an expert in

his case, unless she removes herself from his case.” J.A. 120.

As in Maples, this threat and the subsequent filing of a bar

complaint against Attorney Allen for her conduct thus put her

own professional interests directly at odds with those of her

client’s interests. Certainly, not every bar complaint against

an attorney by her client will result in a conflict of interest,

and we have previously expressed our unwillingness to “invite

[those] anxious to rid themselves of unwanted lawyers to queue

up at the doors of bar disciplinary committees on the eve of

trial.” United States v. Burns, 990 F.2d 1426, 1438 (4th Cir.

1993). However, in this case, Blackledge threatened and

ultimately submitted a seemingly non-frivolous grievance against

Attorney Allen that forced her to choose between protecting her

own reputation and arguing in her client’s best interest that

in order to suggest that Blackledge’s conflict with his lawyer
was really only a grievance with the court’s rulings,
Blackledge’s response actually demonstrates that Attorney Allen
had failed to effectively communicate with him regarding her
efforts to have Dr. Plaud appointed, thereby leaving him with
the false assumption that the process was underway.

17
Blackledge should not be made to bear the consequence of her own

errors in submitting the renewed motion to appoint Dr. Plaud.

Thirdly, Attorney Allen also asserted an internal ethical

conflict, and because the district court failed to conduct an

adequate inquiry, it is unclear if this conflict was ever

resolved prior to trial. Moreover, the district court made no

inquiry whatsoever into the scope and nature of this conflict.

As a result, we have no way of knowing whether Attorney Allen’s

internal ethical conflict was indeed so significant that it

required her withdrawal as counsel. The fact that she told the

magistrate judge that she would represent Blackledge zealously

“with great difficulty” if the motion were denied, J.A. 101, is

of little help, because, having been made aware of its

existence, the court had a sua sponte obligation to examine the

extent of this conflict. See Mickens v. Taylor, 240 F.3d 348,

357-58 (4th Cir. 2001) (“[A] trial court must inquire into a

conflict of interest ‘when it knows or reasonably should know

that a particular conflict exists.’”) (quoting Cuyler v.

Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 347 (1980)). Indeed, to the extent that

Attorney Allen did opine that she could continue to represent

Blackledge, this assertion cannot be isolated from her repeated

protestations that she could not do so ethically.

Notwithstanding this lack of clarity as to the extent of

the internal ethical conflict, Attorney Allen’s delay in

18
renewing the motion to appoint Dr. Plaud and the bar complaint

against her, taken together, created a conflict of interest. As

such, we must consider whether the conflict resulted in a total

breakdown in communications preventing an adequate defense. “A

total lack of communication is not required,” Johnson, 114 F.3d

at 443 (emphasis added), but rather our concern is with “a

‘breakdown’ of attorney-client communication so great that the

principal purpose of the appointment — the mounting of an

adequate defense incident to a fair trial — has been

frustrated.” Smith, 640 F.3d at 588.

The most telling evidence of the extent of the breakdown

and its impact on Blackledge’s defense is the assertion from

Attorney Allen and Blackledge on the morning of the trial that

they failed to engage in trial preparation or discuss whether

Blackledge would testify. The dissent overstates the extent to

which Attorney Allen conferred with Blackledge about whether he

would testify, as she declined the court’s offer to take a

recess in order to do so, citing the fact that she had spoken

with him “just briefly” in deciding not to present any witnesses

or evidence. J.A. 233. In Jennette, we held that a court

abused its discretion in denying a motion to substitute counsel

prior to a sentencing hearing in light of the fact that both

counsel and the defendant “stated that they had not had a chance

to review the PSR together, and indeed had not really spoken

19
since the trial concluded, certainly a fundamental step for

adequate representation at sentencing.” 387 F. App’x at 307.

In this case, Attorney Allen labored under a conflict of

interest that caused her communications with Blackledge to be so

broken that a “fundamental step for adequate representation” —

basic trial preparation — failed to occur. As we have

previously noted, “it is the marriage of the attorney’s legal

knowledge and mature judgment with the defendant’s factual

knowledge that makes for an adequate defense.” Smith, 640 F.3d

at 588. In this case, because of the communications breakdown,

Blackledge presented no evidence or testimony in proceedings

that, like a sentencing hearing, often turn on mitigating

evidence as to the respondent’s continued dangerousness. This

factor therefore weighs against the court’s ruling.

Weighing all three Gallop factors, we hold that the

district court abused its discretion. The second motion to

withdraw was untimely, as the district court found. However,

the motions do not appear to be a “transparent plot to bring

about delay,” and “we have never found [untimeliness] a bar when

a substitution claim is otherwise meritorious.” Smith, 640 F.3d

at 596 (internal citations omitted). The district court failed

to perform an adequate inquiry here, but the record before us

nonetheless reveals that the above-discussed conflict resulted

in a communications breakdown that prevented Attorney Allen and

20
Blackledge from mounting an adequate defense. As such, the

court abused its discretion in denying the motions to withdraw.

C.

A district court’s abuse of discretion in denying a motion

to substitute counsel is subject to harmless error review.

Horton, 693 F.3d at 467. Although Horton does not explicitly

prescribe how to proceed with this harmlessness analysis, we

cited a Seventh Circuit case holding that a court’s error in

denying a motion for new counsel was harmless because the

defendant had not shown that his counsel was constitutionally

ineffective under the Sixth Amendment. Id. (citing United

States v. Wilks, 46 F.3d 640, 644 (7th Cir. 1995)). Blackledge

acknowledges that he does not have a right to effective

assistance of counsel under the Sixth Amendment, and we need not

and do not decide here whether he has an analogous right under

the Due Process Clause. However, even if we were to consider

whether the court’s error was harmless in light of our cases

applying the Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of

counsel, it is evident that Blackledge was harmed by being

forced to proceed with Attorney Allen as his counsel.

In Horton, we assumed without deciding that the district

court abused its discretion since the court’s failure to conduct

any inquiry left us with an incomplete record upon which to

determine the extent of the communications breakdown and whether

21
it prevented an adequate defense. 693 F.3d at 467. Still, we

found that the error was harmless, noting that the defendant had

not identified “any specific way in which his defense was

hampered by any lack of communication with his counsel,” and,

indeed Horton later indicated that he had an ample opportunity

to discuss his case with his lawyer, had done so, and was fully

satisfied with his representation. 693 F.3d at 467. In

Blackledge’s case, however, his representation was undoubtedly

hampered by his lack of communication with Attorney Allen since

it prevented them from preparing for trial or discussing whether

he would testify, 6 and neither Blackledge nor Attorney Allen

indicated that their communications had improved. The fact that

Attorney Allen cross-examined the Government’s witnesses and

moved for a directed verdict does not by itself mean that she

was fulfilling her obligations as counsel, especially in light

of her own vigorous claims that she would have great difficulty

6
The dissent questions that Blackledge could have had any
relevant testimony to offer on the ground that “resolution of
th[e] [volitional impairment] element depended on expert
testimony, not on Blackledge’s testimony.” Dissenting Op., at
36 (emphasis in original). However, as we have recently
explained, a respondent’s own testimony and the testimony of
those who have had sustained contact with him during his
incarceration may indeed be significant to the evaluation of
this element. See Antone, 742 F.3d at 165-66. Further, in
making this predictive judgment about Blackledge’s ability to
control his urges, the district court evidently did not find his
testimony to be as irrelevant as the dissent supposes since it
received his deposition testimony into evidence. J.A. 166.

22
zealously representing Blackledge. See Smith, 640 F.3d at 589

(“Where a defendant’s communication with an appointed attorney

has so frayed that a court determines the mounting of an

adequate defense to be impossible, the defendant is neither

‘be[ing] heard by counsel’ nor receiving ‘the Assistance of

Counsel for his defence.’”) (alteration in original).

Further, we rejected the argument that the denial of a

motion to substitute counsel was harmless in Jennette, where

defense counsel failed to go over the PSR with his client prior

to the sentencing hearing, despite the fact that the court

actually reviewed the PSR with the defendant in open court. 387

F. App’x at 307-08. “Although laudable,” we noted that “going

over the PSR with the district judge in open court can hardly be

said to substitute for a private, attorney-client-privileged

conversation with counsel before sentencing even begins.” Id.

at 308. Even if such an action could have rendered the court’s

abuse of discretion harmless in Jennette, there was no such

attempt to cure the deficiencies in Blackledge’s representation

caused by the breakdown in communications, nor could there have

been here other than to allow conflict-free counsel to take

Attorney Allen’s place. 7

7
Notably, while Attorney Allen had co-counsel, Attorney
Allen was the lead attorney and she alone represented Blackledge
at the trial on his commitment.

23
 In total, in proceedings that could result in lifelong

incarceration for a person who has already served his full

sentence, Blackledge was forced to be represented by a lawyer

asserting multiple conflicts of interest with whom he had not

prepared for trial because of their inability to communicate.

We cannot conclude that the court’s abuse of discretion in

requiring Attorney Allen to continue as counsel was harmless.

We therefore vacate the court’s judgment as to the motions to

withdraw and remand for the court to reconsider these motions

after engaging in the appropriate inquiry regarding the extent

of Attorney Allen’s conflicts.

IV.

For the foregoing reasons, we vacate the district court’s

judgment denying the motions to withdraw and remand for further

proceedings consistent with this opinion. In light of this

ruling, we need not consider at this time Blackledge’s remaining

arguments regarding the motions to reopen and extend discovery

and to appoint Dr. Plaud.

VACATED AND REMANDED

24
SHEDD, Circuit Judge, dissenting:

If the record supported the majority’s narrative that the

district court failed to investigate Attorney Sonya Allen’s

asserted conflicts of interest and forced Blackledge to

participate in the civil commitment hearing without meaningful

assistance of counsel, I would join the decision to vacate the

judgment. However, the record establishes quite the contrary.

During two separate hearings, the magistrate judge and the

district judge thoroughly considered Attorney Allen’s motions to

withdraw as counsel, both of which were untimely, and gave

Blackledge and Attorney Allen ample opportunity to address the

purported conflicts. After personally observing their in-court

interaction, the magistrate judge found that Blackledge and

Attorney Allen were able to communicate adequately in his

defense; that finding – which was reviewed by the district judge

- is not clearly erroneous. Moreover, the district judge

explained why the purported conflicts did not prevent Attorney

Allen from representing Blackledge, and both judges recognized

the prejudicial impact that granting the withdrawal motions

would have on the government and the administration of justice.

Further, Attorney Allen fully represented Blackledge at the

commitment hearing, filing a prehearing brief, cross-examining

witnesses, conferring with him about whether he would testify or

present evidence, and making a closing argument.

25
 Simply put, the district court did not abuse its discretion

in denying the withdrawal motions. Because the court committed

no discernible error, I dissent from the majority’s decision to

vacate the judgment.

I

I begin with an overview of pertinent aspects of the Adam

Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, 18 U.S.C. § 4248. Enacted

in 2006, the Act is “a modest addition to a set of federal

prison-related mental-health statutes that have existed for many

decades,” 1 but it “differs from earlier statutes in that it

focuses directly upon persons who, due to a mental illness, are

sexually dangerous.” United States v. Comstock, 560 U.S. 126,

137, 141 (2010). The purpose of the Act is “to protect the

public from the dangers posed by releasing sexually dangerous

persons from federal custody,” United States v. Broncheau, 645

F.3d 676, 683 (4th Cir. 2011), and if the district court “finds

by clear and convincing evidence that the person is a sexually

dangerous person, the court shall commit the person to the

custody of the Attorney General,” 18 U.S.C. § 4248(d) (emphasis

added).

A § 4248 hearing is “civil in nature,” and “the

constitutional rights to which a defendant in a criminal trial

1
See 18 U.S.C. §§ 4241-4246.

26
is entitled do not adhere to [the] respondent in [the]

commitment hearing.” United States v. Wood, 741 F.3d 417, 423

(4th Cir. 2013) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).

Moreover, “[a]s compared to the goal of a criminal trial, the

goal of a commitment hearing is far different.” United States v.

Baker, 45 F.3d 837, 844 (4th Cir. 1995). The “basic issue” in a

criminal case “is a straightforward factual question — did the

accused commit the act alleged?” Addington v. Texas, 441 U.S.

418, 429 (1979). A criminal trial serves “to uncover the truth

by examining rigorously the reliability of conflicting evidence

presented and then engaging in extensive factfinding,” and the

“rights of cross-examination and confrontation, as well as the

right to effective assistance of counsel, are all directed

toward this goal.” Baker, 45 F.3d at 844. In contrast, the

primary inquiry in a commitment hearing “involves a question

that is essentially medical,” Vitek v. Jones, 445 U.S. 480, 495

(1980), and it is based primarily upon the theoretical opinions

of experts, Baker, 45 F.3d at 845. “The aim of cross-examination

is changed accordingly: its goal is not to ‘poke holes’ in the

testimony of a witness, but to test the expert opinion given and

determine its basis and its limits.” Id.

When the government initiates a § 4248 civil commitment

proceeding, the district court “may order that a psychiatric or

psychological examination of the defendant be conducted, and

27
that a psychiatric or psychological report be filed with the

court pursuant to the provisions of [18 U.S.C. §§] 4247(b) and

(c).” 18 U.S.C. § 4248(b). If the court finds more than one

examiner “appropriate,” it may appoint additional examiners. 18

U.S.C. § 4247(b). Each examiner is designated by the court,

except “upon the request of the defendant an additional examiner

may be selected by the defendant.” Id. Regardless of whether the

defendant selects the examiner, however, the § 4247(b) examiner

serves as an “officer of the court, not responsible to

prosecution or defense,” In re Harmon, 425 F.2d 916, 918 (1st

Cir. 1970), and must file his report with the court and provide

copies to government and defense counsel, 18 U.S.C. § 4247(c). 2

At the commitment hearing, the defendant “shall be

represented by counsel and, if he is financially unable to

obtain adequate representation, counsel shall be appointed for

him pursuant to § 3006A.” 18 U.S.C. § 4247(d). Additionally, the

defendant “shall be afforded an opportunity to testify, to

present evidence, to subpoena witnesses on his behalf, and to

2
A § 4247(b) examiner differs from an expert authorized
under 18 U.S.C. § 3006A. As one court has recognized, an
examination conducted by an order of the court “is conducted to
serve the court in a completely nonpartisan manner. . . . The
expert appointed under § 3006A, however, is not originally and
primarily an aide to the court, but rather is intended to serve
the interests of the defendant.” United States v. Chavis, 476
F.2d 1137, 1141-1142 (D.C. Cir. 1973); see also United States v.
Reason, 549 F.2d 309, 311 (4th Cir. 1977); United States v.
Taylor, 437 F.2d 371, 377 (4th Cir. 1971).

28
confront and cross-examine witnesses who appear at the hearing.”

Id.

To civilly commit an individual under § 4248, the

government must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the

person: (1) engaged in or attempted to engage in sexually

violent conduct or child molestation (the “prior conduct

element”); (2) suffers from a serious mental illness,

abnormality, or disorder (the “mental illness element”); and (3)

because of the serious mental illness, abnormality, or disorder,

would have serious difficulty in refraining from sexually

violent conduct or child molestation if released (the “serious

difficulty element”). United States v. Francis, 686 F.3d 265,

274 (4th Cir. 2012).

When a district court determines (as a preliminary factual

matter) that the government has proven the “prior conduct”

element, it must then consider the “mental illness” and “serious

difficulty” elements. These latter two elements “ensure that

commitment is limited to inmates with a volitional impairment —

inmates whose mental illness renders them dangerous beyond their

control.” United States v. Wooden, 693 F.3d 440, 442 (4th Cir.

2012) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).

Therefore, the court must evaluate “the individual’s present

mental condition and the likely prospective effect of that

mental condition on his volitional control;” this evaluation

29
depends “on the significance of the factual information as

viewed by the expert psychiatrists and psychologists.” Francis,

686 F.3d at 275. Compared to the first two elements, the

“serious difficulty” element is “more complicated” because “it

requires the court to issue a predictive judgment: has the

Government met its burden by presenting clear and convincing

evidence that, in the uncertain future, the respondent will have

serious difficulty in refraining from sexually violent conduct

or child molestation?” United States v. Antone, 742 F.3d 151,

159 (4th Cir. 2014) (internal quotation marks and citation

omitted).

II

With this backdrop in mind, I now turn to the pertinent

facts. In my view, proper evaluation of the decision to deny the

withdrawal motions requires a complete understanding of the

facts of this case, but many critical facts are not acknowledged

by the majority, and these facts tend to fatally undermine the

majority’s decision.

A.

Blackledge has a substantial criminal history, which spans

45 years and includes a conviction for first degree murder,

multiple convictions for producing and mailing child

pornography, a conviction for sexual exploitation of a minor,

and a probation violation for possessing child pornography.

30
Based on this record, the government filed a “Certificate of

Sexually Dangerous Person” against Blackledge in September 2009.

In June 2010, the district court appointed the Federal Public

Defender’s Office (“FPDO”) to represent Blackledge. Shortly

thereafter, Blackledge moved to dismiss the case. The court

denied that motion in January 2011. Initially, other FPDO

attorneys represented Blackledge, but in March 2011, FPDO

Attorney Allen replaced those attorneys.

Attorney Allen actively represented Blackledge in pretrial

matters. As one of her discovery efforts, she obtained the

appointment of Dr. Terence Campbell to provide a forensic

evaluation of Blackledge pursuant to § 4247(b). Unfortunately

for Blackledge, Dr. Campbell concluded that Blackledge meets the

sexual dangerousness criteria for civil commitment. Upon

receiving Dr. Campbell’s report, Attorney Allen attempted to

have Dr. Joseph Plaud appointed as an additional forensic

examiner, but the magistrate judge denied the motion without

prejudice based on his finding that Blackledge had failed to

establish a need for an additional court-appointed examiner.

Blackledge did not appeal this order to the district judge. The

deadline for discovery was December 22, 2011.

On March 28, 2012, the district judge scheduled the

commitment hearing for June 14. On April 17, FPDO Attorneys

Katherine Shea and Debra Graves formally joined the case to

31
represent Blackledge along with Attorney Allen. One month later,

on May 16, Blackledge moved to reschedule the June 14 hearing

based specifically, and only, on the fact that Attorneys Shea

and Graves were unavailable because of prior commitments. The

district judge granted this motion and rescheduled the trial for

August 2.

On June 14, Blackledge filed a “renewed motion” to have Dr.

Plaud appointed, to reopen discovery, and to reschedule the

August 2 commitment hearing. Blackledge asserted that “securing

an expert to testify favorably . . . is of paramount importance

to putting on an adequate defense.” J.A. 306. Opposing this

motion, the government argued that Blackledge “has not shown a

need for a second additional examiner, aside from the stated

desire to secure an expert to testify favorably [for him]. Such

a purpose falls outside the statutory provisions governing

court-appointed examiners in this proceeding.” J.A. 77. In a

subsequent reply memorandum supporting the motion, Blackledge

asserted that this is a “battle-of-the-experts case” and that

his ability to defend himself would be prejudiced without a

favorable expert. J.A. 310.

The magistrate judge denied this motion on July 2, finding

that it was untimely and that Blackledge failed to show that

appointment of Dr. Plaud was necessary. The magistrate judge

explained that Blackledge made “no representation that Dr. Plaud

32
has reached a preliminary opinion that [he] does not qualify as

a sexually dangerous person or that the other evaluations under

§ 4248 are somehow flawed based on a review of the records

without a clinical interview. Such a record review [by Dr.

Plaud] would not require court approval.” J.A. 314-15.

Blackledge did not appeal this order to the district judge.

On July 10, just over three weeks before the scheduled

trial date, Attorney Allen moved for an order allowing her and

the entire FPDO to withdraw. In the motion, Attorney Allen

asserted without further explanation that “an internal conflict

has arisen and the undersigned can no longer ethically continue

to represent” Blackledge. J.A. 80. After the government filed a

memorandum opposing this motion, Attorney Allen filed a reply

memorandum, in which she stated: “To clarify the position of

Respondent, Mr. Blackledge personally wishes to proceed in this

matter with new counsel.” J.A. 86. Apart from this statement,

Attorney Allen offered no further explanation for the motion,

but she did ask for a hearing if the court desired additional

information.

On July 17, Attorney Graves filed a notice that she had

withdrawn from the case. The notice contains no explanation for

her withdrawal.

33
 B.

On July 18, the magistrate judge held a hearing on the

withdrawal motion. The hearing lasted almost one hour, and

Attorneys Allen, Graves, and Shea appeared on behalf of

Blackledge. See J.A. 89. The magistrate judge began by

confirming that Blackledge joined in the motion and was seeking

new counsel. The magistrate judge then asked Attorney Allen to

explain the “internal conflict” underlying the motion. Attorney

Allen responded that “there are some things that [Blackledge]

wants to see that I am not going to be able to help him with and

because of that there’s a conflict that we just will not be able

to resolve.” J.A. 91.

After Attorney Allen spoke, the magistrate judge placed

Blackledge under oath and asked him to explain his concerns.

Blackledge stated that he had trouble getting documents from his

attorneys and that he had “no confidence, or little confidence

left in, that they can provide the kind of defense I need.” J.A.

93. The magistrate judge asked Blackledge to elaborate on that

point, and Blackledge responded that it was “the fact that, just

in getting documents and so forth from home. You ask for a copy

and you never get any.” Id. When the magistrate judge asked what

documents Blackledge wanted, he responded that “it’s very

difficult to reveal what it is without showing my hand.” J.A.

95. At this point, the magistrate judge paused the hearing in

34
order to allow Attorney Allen and Blackledge to confer. Id. When

the hearing continued, Blackledge stated that although he

initially could communicate with Attorney Allen, the

relationship had become “strained,” and it was “very difficult .

. . to talk to someone . . . you’ve lost confidence in. It’s

difficult to share, . . . if you think it’s going to be ignored,

or you’re given short shrift.” J.A. 96. In response to the

magistrate judge’s question, Blackledge stated that his attorney

communication problems began “over six months ago.” Id. When

asked why he did not raise the matter sooner, Blackledge

admitted that he “let things go and I think I let them go too

long in this case.” J.A. 97.

At this point, the magistrate judge asked Attorney Allen

about possible replacement counsel. Attorney Allen stated that

she understood a private attorney would accept the case, but

that the attorney would not be prepared to go forward with the

August 2 hearing. The magistrate judge then paused the hearing

in order to permit Attorney Shea to confer with Blackledge. J.A.

99. When the hearing resumed, Attorney Allen stated that she

understood why Blackledge had lost confidence in her, but she

acknowledged that she could represent him “with great

difficulty.” J.A. 101. The magistrate judge then spent some time

explaining to Blackledge the role of a lawyer, after which the

government attorney briefly stated the government’s position.

35
 Following the government’s statement, Blackledge expressed

his concern that he did not have an adequate defense because he

did not have an expert witness who would testify on his behalf

at the hearing. Blackledge also alluded to “other matters” but

stated that he could not discuss them “because they are a part

of my defense that were mishandled.” J.A. 106. Blackledge then

stated that all he wanted was “a level playing field and a fair

shake and I don’t think I’m getting it the way things are now.”

Id. The magistrate judge observed that Blackledge’s complaint

was really about the orders denying Dr. Plaud’s appointment, to

which Blackledge responded that he had been “laboring under the

assumption” that Attorney Allen had procured a new expert

examiner for him, only to find out that another expert had been

“precluded by the Court.” J.A. 107. The magistrate judge

explained that there was no basis under the circumstances for

Blackledge to have another court-appointed examiner.

In response, Attorney Graves (who had previously withdrawn

from the case) stated that Dr. Plaud had given “a preliminary

determination . . . that he could potentially clear” Blackledge

for commitment. Id. Attorney Allen then admitted that she had

neglected to move for another expert to be appointed in a timely

manner, and she noted that this was “another conflict” and “one

of the reasons” for the withdrawal motion. J.A. 108. Attorney

Allen also stated that “[w]ith no expert, there’s very little

36
reason for [Blackledge] to have a trial and he understands

that.” J.A. 109. Finally, she acknowledged that Dr. Plaud was

not “totally committed” to finding in Blackledge’s favor but was

“willing to look at it.” Id.

The magistrate judge raised the possibility of conducting

an ex parte hearing with Blackledge and Attorney Allen. J.A.

111. However, the magistrate judge asked Blackledge if he had

anything further to add regarding his relationship with Attorney

Allen, and Blackledge responded that he had adequately conveyed

his position. Id. With that concession, the magistrate judge

then announced his ruling from the bench.

Denying the motion, the magistrate judge first found that

it was untimely. As the magistrate judge explained: “Mr.

Blackledge . . . states that he’s had concerns about his counsel

going back for months and yet this motion is filed in a matter

of weeks before the hearing in this case.” J.A. 113. The

magistrate judge then noted the difficulties involved in

scheduling commitment hearings and that a continuance would be

necessary if the motion was granted. Finally, the magistrate

judge stated that after considering the information presented,

he had a “full picture of the nature of the problem” between

Attorney Allen and Blackledge, and he did not believe that there

was a breakdown in communication that would prevent an adequate

defense. J.A. 114. In support of this point, the magistrate

37
judge pointed out that Blackledge and Attorney Allen conferred

“at Mr. Blackledge’s initiation in court today.” Id.

C.

On July 23, Attorney Allen filed an appeal of the

magistrate judge’s order denying the withdrawal motion. As

grounds for the appeal, Attorney Allen stated that the

magistrate judge’s order is “contrary to law,” J.A. 119,

specifically Maples v. Thomas, 132 S.Ct. 912 (2012). 3 Although

Blackledge had not cited or argued Maples to the magistrate

judge, Attorney Allen argued that Maples stands for the

proposition “that if court-appointed counsel in a civil habeas

case misses an important deadline, that counsel thereafter has

an irreparable conflict.” J.A. 119. Attorney Allen also stated

that she had met with Blackledge, and he informed her that he

“intend[ed] to file a complaint with the North Carolina State

Bar against counsel because of her failure to obtain an expert

in his case, unless she removes herself from his case.” J.A.

120. Attorney Allen acknowledged that allowing her to withdraw

would disrupt the hearing schedule and cause the government

3
In Maples, counsel appointed to represent a state habeas
petitioner abandoned the case without notice, thereby causing
the petitioner to miss a filing deadline. Because the petitioner
missed the deadline, his federal habeas claim was dismissed on
grounds of procedural default. The Supreme Court held that the
attorneys’ abandonment of the petitioner constituted sufficient
cause to excuse the default.

38
“expense and inconvenience,” but she maintained that the

government’s interests “cannot trump [Blackledge’s] right to

effective counsel.” Id.

The following day, Attorney Shea filed a notice that she

had withdrawn from the case. As with Attorney Graves, the notice

contains no explanation for Attorney Shea’s withdrawal.

On July 26, Blackledge sent a handwritten letter to the

district court stating that he had “written the bar association

to dismiss the team of Shea, Graves, and Allen” and that he was

“serious about wanting new blood and attentiveness to [his]

defence [sic].” J.A. 129 (emphasis in original). Blackledge did

not include a copy of his bar complaint with the letter, and he

provided no further explanation about it.

That same day, Attorney Allen filed Blackledge’s proposed

findings of fact and conclusions of law. Evidently, she had

discussed some aspects of the case with Blackledge because she

foreshadowed his expected hearing testimony, stating (in

predictive form) that he “denied possession and use of any drugs

while incarcerated” and testified “with regard to the sex

offender treatment and drug treatment he received in the past

and his prior convictions for sexual conduct,” “about his

conduct while incarcerated,” and “that he has received no

infractions of any nature, sexual or otherwise” during his time

at FCI-Butner. Respondent’s Proposed Findings of Fact and

39
Conclusions of Law, No. 5:09-HC-2118-D-JG (E.D.N.C. July 26,

2012) (pages 14-15).

On July 30, Attorney Allen filed a “second motion” to

withdraw as counsel. In this motion, she referenced Blackledge’s

complaint with the state bar and stated that she believed she

could no longer represent him.

On July 31, the parties’ Second Amended Joint Proposed Pre-

Trial Order was filed. Attorney Allen signed the document on

Blackledge’s behalf. In this document, Blackledge stipulated

that “he has engaged in or attempted to engage in sexually

violent conduct or child molestation” and that “he suffers from

a serious mental illness, abnormality or disorder, specifically

pedophilia.” J.A. 137. Based on these stipulations regarding the

“prior conduct” and “mental illness” elements, Blackledge agreed

there was only one issue to be decided at the commitment

hearing: i.e., whether he would “have serious difficulty in

refraining from sexually violent conduct or child molestation if

released.” J.A. 138. Among other things, the government listed

Blackledge as a potential witness, and it also designated his

deposition transcript as potential discovery material to be used

at the hearing.

D.

On August 2, the parties appeared before the district judge

for the commitment hearing. As the hearing began, Attorney Allen

40
asked the district judge to consider the withdrawal issue. The

district judge responded that he had “read everything” and was

prepared to “listen to anything you would like to add.” J.A.

148.

Attorney Allen stated that she had a conflict that could

not be resolved and that Blackledge “feels he cannot get proper

representation if [she] were to continue, and our relationship

has deteriorated to a point that we cannot discuss his case,

strategies of his case. We cannot effectively communicate.” J.A.

148-49. The district judge then asked Attorney Allen how her

ability to cross-examine the expert witnesses would be impacted

by her relationship with Blackledge. Without specifically

answering this question, Attorney Allen referred to the state

bar complaint, which she admitted she had not seen, and asserted

that “it has certainly affected my ability to feel as if I can

do everything in this case that is needed because I can’t even

effectively communicate with my client.” J.A. 149-50.

The district judge noted that the case had been pending for

a considerable period and that he was “very familiar with the

record.” J.A. 150. Continuing, the district judge stated: “I

have listened to the hearing that [the magistrate judge] had on

the original motion to withdraw and I understand all the issues

associated with Dr. Plaud and the scheduling order.” Id. The

district judge observed that because of Blackledge’s

41
stipulations, the case essentially boiled down to “an evaluation

fundamentally of the experts and their persuasiveness,” id., and

he pointed out (based on his prior case experience) that because

the government bore the burden of proof, Blackledge could

potentially prevail without an expert witness. The district

judge asked Attorney Allen if she had anything else to add to

the motion. She responded that she had not been able to

“appropriately” address with Blackledge the issue of whether he

should testify. J.A. 151.

At the district judge’s invitation to speak, Blackledge

stated that he was “being given a short shrift” and that the

“playing field is not level.” Id. Blackledge also complained

generally about Attorney Allen’s alleged failure on his behalf

during discovery. Responding to a question from the district

judge, Blackledge stated that, if pushed to the choice, he would

rather be represented by Attorney Allen than proceed pro se.

In denying the motions, the district judge began with a

thorough recitation of the history of the case. See J.A. 151-57.

The district judge specifically detailed the hearing before the

magistrate judge and the bases for the magistrate judge’s order

denying the first withdrawal motion. The district judge stated

that he had reviewed the magistrate judge’s order de novo and

had fully considered the second withdrawal motion.

42
 The district judge found that the motions were untimely and

“[a]ny further delay would substantially prejudice the

government and . . . the public interest.” J.A. 159. The

district judge explained that the trial dockets for the next

several months were full, indicating that the delay caused by

granting the motions would be lengthy.

The district judge then found that a thorough inquiry had

been made into the issues. As the district judge explained, the

magistrate judge “thoroughly engaged in an inquiry with Mr.

Blackledge and Ms. Allen and the government,” and “[t]he issues

associated with Dr. Plaud have been exhaustively examined.” J.A.

160.

The district judge further found that there was not a

breakdown between Attorney Allen and Blackledge that would

prevent an adequate defense. The district judge noted that the

government bore the burden of proof at the commitment hearing,

and Attorney Allen was prepared to cross-examine the expert

witnesses. Moreover, the district judge pointed out that the

government “ha[d] the ability to call Mr. Blackledge as a

witness and had planned to . . . for some time.” J.A. 161. The

district judge also explained that Maples was inapplicable

because Attorney Allen had not abandoned Blackledge. Finally,

the district judge observed that he had “looked into this whole

issue of a bar disciplinary grievance” – which was “an undefined

43
grievance but apparently just a dissatisfaction with how the

case came out.” Id. The district judge explained that the bar

complaint did not create a per se conflict, and neither

Blackledge nor Attorney Allen had presented any specific

evidence to establish a conflict arising from the complaint.

After the district judge ruled on the withdrawal motions,

Attorney Allen moved to bifurcate the commitment hearing to

allow Blackledge the “opportunity to be examined by Dr. Plaud”

and “an opportunity to possibly present a defense in the

future.” J.A. 162. The government opposed the motion, and the

district judge denied it, explaining that “there’s been no

evidence that I have seen that [Dr. Plaud] would actually reach

a different conclusion, other than apparently just perhaps the

belief, to my knowledge, that he’s never found anyone in a 4248

case tried in the Eastern District of North Carolina subject to

civil commitment.” J.A. 163. The district judge also noted that

the motion was “inconsistent with the scheduling order and the

public interest.” J.A. 163-64.

Thereafter, the commitment hearing proceeded on the merits.

During the hearing, two expert witnesses – Dr. Christopher North

and Dr. Terence Campbell – testified, and the forensic report of

a third expert witness – Dr. Tonya Cunic – was admitted into

evidence. Additionally, in lieu of calling Blackledge to the

stand to testify, the government submitted his deposition.

44
Receiving the deposition into evidence, the district judge noted

that “to the extent there was an issue associated with trial

preparation, I know that Mr. Blackledge appeared at that

deposition with counsel and was prepared for that deposition by

counsel.” J.A. 166. The district judge stated that this fact

“further mitigates issues associated with any prejudice on the

motion to withdraw.” Id.

Attorney Allen vigorously represented Blackledge. Among

other things, she cross-examined Drs. North and Campbell, see

J.A. 197-204, 220-33; conferred with Blackledge about whether he

was going to testify, see J.A. 233; unsuccessfully moved for

judgment as a matter of law, see J.A. 234; and presented a

closing argument, see J.A. 241-45. Ultimately, the district

judge found that Blackledge meets the § 4248 commitment

criteria. The district judge explained its reasoning in detail,

see J.A. 247-86, noting (among other things) that he read

Blackledge’s deposition testimony as part of his consideration

of the evidence, see J.A. 261-62.

III

On appeal, Blackledge does not challenge the district

court’s finding that he meets the § 4248 criteria. Instead, he

bases his arguments on the court’s denial of Attorney Allen’s

withdrawal motions and his requests for the appointment of Dr.

Plaud as an additional examiner. Specifically, he contends: (1)

45
based on Maples, the court clearly erred in finding that

Attorney Allen had not abandoned him; (2) because Attorney Allen

abandoned him, the court abused its discretion by failing to

equitably toll the discovery deadline to allow him to seek the

appointment of Dr. Plaud; 4 (3) the court abused its discretion by

failing to allow Attorney Allen to withdraw based on her

conflict of interest; and (4) the court used an erroneous

standard and, therefore, abused its discretion by refusing to

grant his motion to appoint Dr. Plaud.

The majority grounds its decision to vacate the judgment

only on the third issue, finding that the district court abused

its discretion in denying the withdrawal motions. Before I

address that issue, I believe that it is necessary to address

the issues involving Dr. Plaud, which appear to be the genesis

of Blackledge’s dissatisfaction with the proceedings below. As

noted, Blackledge and Attorney Allen have argued throughout the

case that he cannot avoid civil commitment without an expert

testifying in his favor. See, e.g., J.A. 109 (Attorney Allen

4
I would hold that the district judge correctly found that
Attorney Allen did not abandon Blackledge. Attorney Allen’s
representation of Blackledge is in no sense comparable to the
attorneys’ conduct in Maples. In any event, I would also hold
that the alleged abandonment did not prejudice Blackledge
because the magistrate judge denied the second motion for the
appointment of Dr. Plaud for two reasons, one of which was
Blackledge’s failure to demonstrate a need for the appointment.
That reason is independent of the question of the timeliness of
the motion, and it therefore moots the abandonment issue.

46
stating that “[w]ith no expert, there’s very little reason for

[Blackledge] to have a trial and he understands that”).

Blackledge emphasizes this point most succinctly in his

appellate brief:

Blackledge had no experts to help him . . . and it
seems highly probable that had he testified, his
testimony would have failed to persuade the district
court judge that he could refrain from further acts of
sexual violence or child molestation. . . . In
essence, the district court completely denied
Blackledge a defense when it refused to allow him the
opportunity to pursue an additional expert forensic
examiner.

Opening Brief of Appellant, at 34 (emphasis added). Given

Blackledge’s view, I suspect that on remand this issue will

almost certainly come up again.

In considering this issue, it is important to recall that

the district court granted Blackledge his § 4247(b) right to

select an examiner. Faced with an unfavorable diagnosis by his

chosen examiner, Blackledge sought to have Dr. Plaud appointed

in the hope that he would render a more favorable diagnosis.

Although Blackledge’s desire to have an examiner testify

favorably for him is understandable, nothing in § 4247(b)

suggests that he is entitled to select multiple court-appointed

examiners or, for that matter, to select an examiner who will

testify on his behalf. See generally Wilson v. Greene, 155 F.3d

396, 401 (4th Cir. 1998) (noting that due process “reflects

primarily a concern with ensuring a defendant access to a

47
psychiatrist or psychologist, not with guaranteeing a particular

substantive result” (emphasis in original)). 5 Moreover, as the

magistrate judge and the district judge observed, Blackledge has

never presented any reason to suggest that Dr. Plaud will render

a favorable diagnosis. See generally Taylor, 437 F.2d at 376

(“Where an examination has been conducted so recently as to

furnish a basis for a determination of present competence, there

is ordinarily no reason to order another.”).

Although I believe that Blackledge’s appellate arguments

regarding Dr. Plaud likely fail on the merits, we need not reach

them. Both of Blackledge’s motions seeking the appointment of

Dr. Plaud were nondispositive, and they were referred to the

magistrate judge. Following the denial of the motions,

Blackledge did not appeal either magistrate judge order to the

district judge.

Rule 72(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides

that a party may serve and file objections to a magistrate

judge’s order on a nondispositive matter within 14 days after

being served with a copy, but the party “may not assign as error

a defect in the order not timely objected to.” By failing to

5
Blackledge’s position raises an obvious question: how many
examiners must the court appoint? Apparently, he would answer
that the court must appoint as many examiners as it takes until
one will testify in his favor. Otherwise, without such
testimony, any commitment hearing would be, in his view, unfair.
The absurdity of this position is self-evident.

48
appeal the magistrate judge orders to the district judge,

Blackledge has waived appellate review of the orders denying his

motions to have Dr. Plaud appointed. See McDonald v. City of

Saint Paul, 679 F.3d 698, 709 (8th Cir. 2012). 6

IV

I now turn to the withdrawal issues. In deciding whether to

permit court-appointed counsel to withdraw, or to substitute

court-appointed counsel on the defendant’s request, the district

court must be guided by the “interests of justice.” See 18

U.S.C. § 3006A(c); Martel v. Clair, 132 S.Ct. 1276, 1285 (2012);

see also United States v. Perez, 661 F.3d 189, 191 (4th Cir.

2011) (using a “good cause” standard). This is a “peculiarly

context-specific inquiry” that is “so fact-specific [that] it

deserves deference.” Martel, 132 S.Ct. at 1287. We must accept

the court’s factual findings unless they are clearly erroneous,

see United States v. Keita, 742 F.3d 184, 188 (4th Cir. 2014),

and we may overturn a denial of a withdrawal motion only for an

abuse of discretion, Martel, 132 S.Ct. at 1287, bearing in mind

that “[t]he district court is far better situated than we are to

observe and inquire into the state of the relationship between a

6
Attorney Allen asked the district judge to bifurcate the
commitment hearing and asserted that bifurcation would allow Dr.
Plaud the opportunity to examine Blackledge. However, that
request was not an appeal of the magistrate judge’s orders, and
it did not place the issue of whether Dr. Plaud should have been
appointed before the district judge.

49
defendant and his appointed counsel,” United States v. Smith,

640 F.3d 580, 590 (4th Cir. 2011), and that the court has “wide

latitude” in limiting a defendant’s right to counsel of choice

based upon fairness and the demands of the court’s calendar,

United States v. Gonzalez-Lopez, 548 U.S. 140, 152 (2006).

As with any abuse-of-discretion review, we are obligated to

exercise a “healthy measure of judicial restraint,” Evans v.

Eaton Corp. Long Term Disability Plan, 514 F.3d 315, 323 (4th

Cir. 2008), reserving our power to correct only those district

court decisions that “stray[] too far from the mark,” id. at

322. Therefore, we may properly find abuse of discretion where

the district court has acted arbitrarily or irrationally, failed

to consider judicially recognized factors constraining its

exercise of discretion, relied on erroneous factual or legal

premises, or committed an error of law. United States v.

Thompson-Riviere, 561 F.3d 345, 348 (4th Cir. 2009).

We have identified three relevant factors to consider in

determining whether a district court abused its discretion in

denying a withdrawal motion: (1) the timeliness of the motion,

(2) the adequacy of the court’s inquiry into the matter, and (3)

whether the client and counsel experienced a total lack of

communication preventing an adequate defense. United States v.

Reevey, 364 F.3d 151, 156 (4th Cir. 2004). We weigh these

50
factors against the district court’s interest in the orderly

administration of justice. Id. at 157.

The majority holds that the district court abused its

discretion in denying Attorney Allen’s withdrawal motions.

Applying the pertinent factors, the majority finds that the

timeliness factor “weighs somewhat” in support of the district

court’s ruling, Majority Op., at 13, but it concludes that the

other two factors do not. Specifically, the majority finds that

“the district court did not meet its obligation to thoroughly

inquire into the basis of the asserted conflict,” id. at 14, and

this “failure to probe deeply into the basis of Attorney Allen’s

conflict seriously undermines its decision,” id. at 15. Further,

the majority finds that “Attorney Allen labored under a conflict

of interest that caused her communications with Blackledge to be

so broken that a ‘fundamental step for adequate representation’

– basic trial preparation – failed to occur.” Id. at 20.

Explaining why the district court’s purported error is not

harmless, the majority states: “[I]n proceedings that could

result in lifelong incarceration for a person who has already

served his full sentence, Blackledge was forced to be

represented by a lawyer asserting multiple conflicts of interest

with whom he had not prepared for trial because of their

inability to communicate.” Id. at 24.

51
 In my view, the record conclusively establishes that the

district court did not abuse its discretion, much less err at

all, in denying the withdrawal motions. Indeed, as I explain

below, each of the relevant factors fully supports the district

court’s ruling. Moreover, Blackledge received a full and fair

commitment hearing, and any purported defect in the district

court’s consideration of the withdrawal motions is harmless.

A.

First, the findings by the magistrate judge and the

district judge that the motions were untimely are not clearly

erroneous. By his own admission, Blackledge lost confidence in

Attorney Allen no later than early 2012. In July, a mere three

weeks before the August 2 commitment hearing, and after

Blackledge had previously obtained a continuance of the

commitment hearing, 7 the issue of Blackledge’s purported

dissatisfaction with Attorney Allen and her “internal conflict”

finally came to light when she filed the first withdrawal

motion. Despite the magistrate judge’s specific inquiry, neither

7
In April 2012, Attorney Graves and Attorney Shea joined
the case on Blackledge’s behalf, giving him three FPDO attorneys
of record. The following month Blackledge successfully obtained
a continuance of the scheduled June 14 commitment hearing.
Presumably, Attorney Graves and Attorney Shea were important to
Blackledge’s case because he used their inability to attend the
June 14 hearing as justification to obtain the continuance.
Despite this fact, he presented no reason why they could not
represent him in lieu of Attorney Allen.

52
Blackledge nor Attorney Allen offered any real justification for

the delay in bringing the matter to the district court’s

attention. Moreover, they did not challenge the magistrate

judge’s finding of untimeliness in the appeal of the magistrate

judge’s order to the district judge. 8

B.

Second, the district court’s inquiry into the motions was

more than adequate. Our caselaw illustrates that the district

court conducts an adequate inquiry if it gives the defendant and

counsel the opportunity to be heard regarding the nature of

their relationship and the reason underlying the motion,

considers what the attorney and defendant say in the context of

the case as a whole, and explains the basis for its

determination. See Perez, 661 F.3d at 192. We review the

adequacy of the court’s inquiry in its totality, and when the

attorney-client issue has been raised at different stages of the

litigation, the court need not revisit each aspect of the issue

at every stage. See Smith, 640 F.3d at 594-95.

The magistrate judge, who had been very involved in the

case, spent almost one hour hearing from Blackledge and Attorney

Allen, and he afforded them every opportunity to present their

8
The majority appears to agree that the second withdrawal
motion, filed just days before the commitment hearing, was
untimely. See Majority Op., at 12.

53
arguments. The magistrate judge specifically inquired about the

purported internal ethical conflict, and he listened as Attorney

Allen described it as arising from the fact that “there are some

things that [Blackledge] wants to see that I am not going to be

able to help him with.” J.A. 91. The magistrate judge then

listened as Blackledge expressed his general dissatisfaction

with Attorney Allen and his defense, with the fact that she had

not provided him with certain unspecified documents, and with

the fact that he did not have another expert examiner. At the

end of the hearing, the magistrate judge inquired and even

offered to conduct an ex parte hearing, and Blackledge told him

that he had nothing more to say on the matter.

When the district judge considered the appeal of the denial

of the first motion, along with the second motion, he conducted

a de novo review and similarly afforded Blackledge and Attorney

Allen ample opportunity to argue their position. 9 The district

judge stated that he was familiar with Blackledge’s attempts to

have Dr. Plaud appointed, was aware of Blackledge’s bar

9
The majority states that “the district court made no
inquiry whatsoever into the scope and nature of” the “internal
ethical conflict.” Majority Op., at 18. This assertion ignores
the magistrate judge’s thorough inquiry and the district judge’s
subsequent review of that inquiry. Moreover, as is apparent from
the record, the purported “ethical” conflict involved nothing
more than Blackledge’s general disgruntlement about Attorney
Allen, his inability to see certain material, and his inability
to obtain another court-appointed examiner.

54
complaint, had read all of the filed material, and had listened

to the audio of the magistrate judge hearing. Both judges

explained their rulings in great detail, illustrating their

careful attention and consideration. There simply is no

reasonable basis to condemn this inquiry as being inadequate.

C.

Finally, the findings by the magistrate judge and the

district judge that there was not a total breakdown in

communication that would prevent Blackledge from mounting an

adequate defense are not clearly erroneous. The standard by

which we must judge the denial of a withdrawal motion is

objective, and it therefore does not depend solely on the

defendant’s dissatisfaction with his attorney’s performance.

United States v. Myers, 294 F.3d 203, 206 (1st Cir. 2002). As we

have explained, the “breakdown” of communication between an

attorney and the defendant must be “so great that the principal

purpose of the appointment – the mounting of an adequate defense

incident to a fair trial – has been frustrated.” Smith, 640 F.3d

at 588.

This standard requires us to consider whether the defendant

has justifiable dissatisfaction with his appointed attorney,

which includes a serious conflict of interest or an

irreconcilable conflict. Id. at 588 n.4. However, justifiable

dissatisfaction “is not established merely by a defendant’s

55
frustration with counsel’s performance or disagreement with his

tactical decisions.” United States v. Boone, 437 F.3d 829, 839

(8th Cir. 2006). Moreover, the district court is not always

required to substitute counsel even where a real conflict

exists. For example, the court may properly deny substitution

“when the defendant’s own behavior creates a conflict.” United

States v. Morsley, 64 F.3d 907, 918 (4th Cir. 1995); see also

Smith, 640 F.3d at 591 (noting that a “defendant’s obstinacy”

cannot force the district court to substitute counsel).

The magistrate judge personally observed the in-court

interaction between Blackledge and Attorney Allen during the

hearing on the first withdrawal motions, and he expressly found

(based on his observation) that they were able to communicate

about the case in a manner that allowed Blackledge to conduct an

adequate defense. This finding – based on the magistrate judge’s

direct observation - is not clearly erroneous. 10

The district judge was aware of this finding, as well as

the fact that Attorney Allen had communicated in some respects

with Blackledge after the July 18 hearing and had filed pre-

hearing documents on his behalf. Other than referring to the bar

complaint and rehashing the same arguments they previously made,

10
The record shows that the magistrate judge paused the
July 18 hearing on two occasions in order to allow Blackledge to
confer with Attorney Allen and Attorney Shea.

56
neither Blackledge nor Attorney Allen presented any additional

information to establish that she could not adequately represent

him. 11 Moreover, the district judge observed that, based on the

parties’ stipulations, the only issue to be litigated during the

commitment hearing would be the “serious difficulty” element of

the civil commitment analysis, and resolution of that element

would boil down to the testimony and cross-examination of the

expert witnesses. Of course, that is what Attorney Allen and

Blackledge have repeatedly asserted during their attempt to have

Dr. Plaud appointed. Notably, when asked by the district judge,

11
The majority correctly states that “not every bar
complaint against an attorney by her client will result in a
conflict of interest.” Majority Op., at 17. As we noted in
United States v. Burns, 990 F.2d 1426, 1438 (4th Cir. 1993), “to
hold otherwise . . . would invite criminal defendants anxious to
rid themselves of unwanted lawyers to queue up at the doors of
bar disciplinary committees on the eve of trial.” Yet, the
majority simply accepts the premise that Blackledge’s bar
complaint against Attorney Allen “forced her to choose between
protecting her own reputation and arguing in her client’s best
interest that Blackledge should not be made to bear the
consequence of her own errors in submitting the renewed motion
to appoint Dr. Plaud.” Majority Op., at 18. This assertion is
not supported by the record, however, as Attorney Allen
acknowledged on multiple occasions that she erred by not moving
sooner for Dr. Plaud’s appointment. For example, she told the
magistrate judge at the July 18 hearing that she neglected to
seek the appointment in a timely manner and that this was one
reason that Blackledge wanted another attorney. See J.A. 108.
Likewise, in the appeal of the magistrate judge’s order denying
the withdrawal motion, she cited Maples and implicitly admitted
(albeit incorrectly) that she had abandoned Blackledge. See J.A.
at 119. In short, there is no evidence to establish that
Attorney Allen’s ability to represent Blackledge was compromised
by the bar complaint.

57
Attorney Allen could not explain how her ability to cross-

examine the experts was impacted by her relationship with

Blackledge.

D.

The foregoing discussion amply illustrates that the

district court did not abuse its discretion in denying the

withdrawal motions. 12 Even assuming otherwise, however, the

record makes it clear that the court’s error is harmless.

In United States v. Horton, 693 F.3d 463 (4th Cir. 2012),

the defendant filed a timely motion to substitute counsel, and

the district court did not inquire into the reasons for the

defendant’s dissatisfaction with his attorney. We assumed,

without deciding, that the court abused its discretion, but we

nonetheless found the error harmless. As we noted,

notwithstanding the defendant’s dissatisfaction, the attorney

provided an adequate defense: “For example, he filed pre-trial

motions in limine, he cross-examined government witnesses, and

he strongly advocated for his client throughout” the trial

12
The pertinent factors strongly support the district
court’s ruling, and there is no reason to weigh them against the
court’s interest in the orderly administration of justice.
However, for what it is worth, both the magistrate judge and the
district judge explained that allowing Attorney Allen to
withdraw would delay the commitment hearing, thereby prejudicing
the government and its witnesses and impacting the court’s
docket. Weighing this factor, therefore, also supports the
court’s ruling.

58
proceedings. Id. at 467. Moreover, we recognized that the

defendant did not “identify – let alone show – any specific way

in which his defense was hampered by any lack of communication

with his counsel.” Id.

Here, the record reflects that Attorney Allen fully

represented Blackledge at the commitment hearing. She filed a

pre-trial brief, cross-examined the expert witnesses, moved for

judgment as a matter of law, conferred with Blackledge about

whether he wished to testify or present evidence, and made a

closing argument. Although the majority concludes that the

alleged communication breakdown prevented Blackledge from

preparing for the commitment hearing or discussing whether he

would testify, those general assertions – even if true - simply

do not establish that the hearing was unfairly tainted by the

attorney-client relationship.

Notably, Blackledge has not offered any reason why he could

not have testified or, more importantly, what relevant testimony

or other evidence he would have presented had his relationship

with Attorney Allen been better. Importantly, Blackledge

stipulated to the first two elements of the civil commitment

analysis, so there was no relevant evidence he could have

offered on those elements. As the district judge correctly

observed, the issue of civil commitment boiled down to one

question: whether the government proved the “serious difficulty”

59
element. Consistent with what Attorney Allen and Blackledge have

repeatedly asserted, our caselaw establishes that resolution of

this element depended on expert testimony, not on Blackledge’s

testimony. 13 Perhaps the most telling observation concerning the

irrelevance of any testimony he may have offered comes from

Blackledge: “[I]t seems highly probable that had he testified,

his testimony would have failed to persuade the district court

judge that he could refrain from further acts of sexual violence

or child molestation.” Opening Brief of Appellant, at 34.

In any event, regardless of whether they communicated

before the hearing, and regardless of whether any of his

testimony would be relevant, Attorney Allen had the opportunity

to confer with Blackledge about testifying during the hearing,

and he chose not to testify. Further, the district court

reviewed Blackledge’s deposition testimony during his

deliberations and was aware of the substance of what he would

likely say at the hearing. Moreover, the district judge noted,

and Blackledge does not dispute, that Blackledge was prepared by

13
The majority analogizes a commitment hearing to a
sentencing hearing, observing that it often “turn[s] on
mitigating evidence as to the respondent’s continued
dangerousness.” Majority Op., at 20. This analogy fails,
however, because it ignores the fact that expert testimony is
the relevant evidence for the “serious difficulty” element.
Moreover, unlike a sentencing hearing, where a plea in
mitigation can sway a district court towards leniency, the
court’s duty to commit a defendant is mandatory if the
government proves the elements by clear and convincing evidence.

60
counsel before the deposition and represented by counsel during

the deposition. 14

E.

Apart from my disagreement with the majority’s abuse-of-

discretion and harmless error determinations, I also question

its instruction on remand for the district court to “reconsider”

14
The majority asserts that the admission of Blackledge’s
deposition into evidence indicates that the district judge found
Blackledge’s testimony to be relevant as to the “serious
difficulty” element. See Majority Op., at 22 n.6. The majority
is incorrect for at least two reasons. First, we have a good
indication that the district judge did not consider Blackledge’s
testimony to be relevant to the “serious difficulty” element
because the judge correctly noted early in the commitment
hearing that the outcome of the commitment hearing hinged on
expert testimony. Because Blackledge did not object to the
government’s subsequent attempt to admit the deposition into
evidence, the district judge had no reason at that time to
address whether it was relevant to the “serious difficulty”
element or to exclude it for any reason; in this posture, the
admission of the deposition simply accords with our admonition
that most evidence should be admitted in non-jury proceedings.
See Multi-Med. Convalescent and Nurs. Ctr. of Towson v.
N.L.R.B., 550 F.2d 974, 977-78 (4th Cir. 1977). Second, and more
importantly, the deposition was in fact relevant, but just not
as the majority contends. Specifically, both of the experts who
testified at the hearing relied on the deposition in part to
form their opinions regarding whether Blackledge meets the
commitment criteria, and they utilized the deposition during
their testimony to help explain their opinions. See J.A. 184,
186, 187, 195, 215-16. The admission of the deposition was thus
entirely consistent with the well-settled principle that the
“serious difficulty” element “turns on the significance of the
factual information as viewed by the expert psychiatrists and
psychologists.” Francis, 686 F.3d at 275. Regardless, it bears
repeating that to whatever extent the district judge may have
believed Blackledge’s testimony was relevant, the judge had
Blackledge’s deposition testimony before him, and Blackledge has
not explained what additional relevant testimony he would have
given at the commitment hearing.

61
the withdrawal motions “after engaging in the appropriate

inquiry regarding the extent of Attorney Allen’s conflicts.”

Majority Op., at 24. I suspect that on remand the district court

will ask the same question that I have: What is left to

consider?

As I have noted, the majority has found that “Attorney

Allen labored under a conflict of interest that caused her

communications with Blackledge to be so broken that a

‘fundamental step for adequate representation’ – basic trial

preparation – failed to occur,” Majority Op., at 20, and that he

was “forced to be represented by a lawyer asserting multiple

conflicts of interest with whom he had not prepared for trial

because of their inability to communicate,” id. at 24. Given the

definitive nature in which the majority has spoken, I fail to

understand how the district court can “reconsider” these

appellate findings or how it can do anything on remand other

than appoint Blackledge new counsel and conduct another

commitment hearing. I suspect that if the district court

“reconsidered” the motions on remand and denied them, my

colleagues in the majority – to be consistent with the majority

opinion - will overturn the district court’s decision if there

is a subsequent appeal.

62
 V

Based on the foregoing, I dissent. I would affirm the

judgment of the district court.

63