Reported / Citable
Background
Defendant Manuel Ramos-Fuentes moved for the withdrawal of his attorney and the appointment of new counsel. The motion was filed on April 9, 2026.
The District Court referred the motion to Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower for resolution under 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(b), 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A), and Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 44. The court held a hearing on April 10, 2026, attended by Ramos-Fuentes and his counsel.
The Court’s Holding
The court granted the motion after finding good cause to appoint new counsel and determining that Ramos-Fuentes had received notice.
The court permitted Assistant Federal Public Defender Ruben Pena, Jr. to withdraw and appointed Robert Zamora as counsel of record, consistent with the court’s earlier orders concerning Ramos-Fuentes’s financial status and appointment of a public defender.
Key Takeaways
- Good cause existed to replace Ramos-Fuentes’s appointed counsel.
- The court granted the requested withdrawal after conducting a hearing with the defendant and counsel present.
- Robert Zamora replaced Assistant Federal Public Defender Ruben Pena, Jr. as counsel of record.
Why It Matters
The order confirms that a court may substitute appointed counsel upon finding good cause and providing notice to the defendant. It resolves only the defendant’s representation and does not address the merits of the criminal charges.