11th Cir. R. 46-10: Appointment or Withdrawal of Counsel

(a) Appellate Obligations of Retained Counsel. Retained counsel for a criminal defendant has an obligation to continue to represent that defendant until successor counsel either enters an appearance or is appointed under the Criminal Justice Act, and may not abandon or cease representation of a defendant except upon order of the court.

(b) Habeas Corpus or 28 U.S.C. § 2255 Pauper Appeals. When any pro se appeal for either habeas corpus or 2255 relief is classified for oral argument, counsel will normally be appointed under the Criminal Justice Act before the appeal is calendared. The non-argument panel that classifies the appeal for oral argument will advise the clerk who will then obtain counsel under the regular procedure.

(c) Relieving Court Appointed Counsel on Appeal. Counsel appointed by the trial court shall not be relieved on appeal except in the event of incompatibility between attorney and client or other serious circumstances.

(d) Criminal Justice Act Appointments. The Judicial Council of this circuit has adopted the Eleventh Circuit Plan under the Criminal Justice Act and Guidelines for Counsel Supplementing the Eleventh Circuit Plan under the Criminal Justice Act. See Addendum Four.

(e) Non-Criminal Justice Act Appointments. This court has adopted rules governing Non-Criminal Justice Act Appointments. See Addendum Five.