IN RE: George E. Massey (2013)

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.

IN RE: George E. Massey, appellant, v. Kirsten J. Van Wyen, respondent.

2012–04016 (Docket No. V–3428–10)

Decided: July 03, 2013

PETER B. SKELOS, J.P. THOMAS A. DICKERSON PLUMMER E. LOTT SHERI S. ROMAN, JJ.

Marina M. Martielli, East Quogue, N.Y., for appellant. Robert C. Mitchell, Central Islip, N.Y. (John B. Belmonte of counsel), attorney for the child. In this custody and visitation proceeding, the father notified the Family Court of his decision to waive his right to counsel and proceed pro se. The Family Court conducted an inquiry into the father's request, but ultimately decided that he could not represent himself, and directed him to retain counsel. The father, as a respondent in a proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, had a right to be represented by counsel (see Family Ct Act § 262[a] [iii];  Matter of Rosof v Mallory, 88 AD3d 802;  Matter of Patricia L. v Steven L., 119 A.D.2d 221, 224).   A party, however, may waive the right to counsel and opt for self-representation (see People v Arroyo, 98 N.Y.2d 101, 103;  People v Smith, 92 N.Y.2d 516, 520;  Matter of Casey N., 59 AD3d 625, 627).   Before permitting a party to proceed pro se, the court must determine that the party's decision to do so is made knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily (see People v Smith, 92 N.Y.2d at 520), by conducting a “searching inquiry” of that party (People v Arroyo, 98 N.Y.2d at 103 [internal quotation marks omitted];  see People v Slaughter, 78 N.Y.2d 485, 491).   Where a respondent has made a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary choice to represent himself or herself, “forcing a lawyer upon [him or her] is contrary to his [or her] basic right to defend himself [or herself]” (Farretta v California, 422 U.S. 806, 817;  see People v McIntyre, 36 N.Y.2d 10). Here, the Family Court engaged in a searching inquiry of the father, which revealed that the father knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived his right to counsel, and that it was his desire and personal choice to proceed pro se. The court properly questioned the father with respect to, inter alia, his education, occupational history, and prior experience as a pro se litigant (see generally People v Smith, 92 N.Y.2d at 520;  Matter of Casey N., 59 AD3d at 627–628).   The father indicated that he had a college education, was attending classes in finance and economics, had been employed in the mortgage-loan industry in various capacities for 20 years, and had been a pro se litigant, with some successes and failures, in both state and federal courts.   The Family Court further properly warned the father of the perils of self-representation.   The father acknowledged his understanding of those perils, and repeated his desire to proceed pro se. There is no indication that the father ever wavered or was unsure of his decision. Nevertheless, the Family Court refused to permit the father to proceed pro se. The record indicates that the Family Court had a policy against permitting litigants to exercise the right to proceed pro se, as the court explicitly advised the father:  “it's not my policy to allow anyone other than attorneys to proceed pro se .” Moreover, the court's denial of the father's request was not justified by the father's inability to accurately describe the hearsay rule.   “[M]ere ignorance of the law cannot vitiate an effective waiver of counsel” (People v McIntyre, 36 N.Y.2d at 17–18;  see Faretta v California, 422 U.S. at 836). We also note that while the Family Court stated that it was appointing “standby” or “advisory” counsel to assist the father, it did not limit the role of the attorney it had appointed to that of “advisory” counsel.   The role of advisory counsel is only “to aid the [party proceeding pro se ] if and when [that party] requests help, and to be available to represent [that party] in the event that termination of [the party's] self-representation is necessary” (People v Sawyer, 57 N.Y.2d 12, 22,cert. denied459 U.S. 1178 [emphasis added], quoting Faretta v California, 422 U.S. 806, 835 n 46).   Here, however, upon learning that the father had made a motion without consulting the “advisory” counsel, the court admonished him for not consulting with the “advisory” counsel and then dismissed the petition “for failure to prosecute because [the petitioner did] not have an attorney.”   Under these circumstances, it is clear that the Family Court was not actually appointing “advisory” counsel, but, rather, was appointing counsel to represent the father;  in other words, the court was “forcing a lawyer upon [him]” (Faretta v California, 422 U.S. at 817).