Criminal Minutes — No. 2:21-cr-00580 (Dkt. 20, C.D. Cal.)

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Criminal minutes of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in United States v. Abdul-Malik McClain, Case 2:21-cr-00580, captioned CR 21-580 MWF, entered as Document 20 and dated March 15, 2022, before the Honorable Michael W. Fitzgerald, United States District Judge. In chambers, the Court denies the Motion to Withdraw as Counsel of Record filed by attorney Alex Kessel on March 8, 2022 at Docket No. 19. The order says money is the only reason given: counsel did not request a large enough fee given the obvious complexity of the case, and the fee has not been and will not be paid in full. It adds that there is no easy out in a criminal case once an appearance is made, and that granting the motion would invite every lawyer in private practice to attempt the same stunt.

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Case 2:21-cr-00580-MWF Document 20 Filed 03/15/22 Page1lofi Page ID #:84

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CRIMINAL MINUTES — GENERAL

Case No. CR 21-580 MWF Date: March 15, 2022

Present: The Honorable) MICHAEL W. FITZGERALD, United States District Judge

Interpreter Not Applicable
Rita Sanchez Not Reported Kerry L. Quinn
Deputy Clerk Court Reporter / Recorder Assistant U.S. Attorney
U.S.A. v. Defendant(s) Present Cust Bond Attorneys for Defendant(s): Present App Ret
Abdul-Malik McCLAIN Not XX Alex R. Kessel Not XX

Proceedings: (INCHAMBERS) ORDER DENYING MOTION TO WITHDRAW AS
COUNSEL OF RECORD [19]

The Court has reviewed the Motion to Withdraw as Counsel of Record: Supporting
Declarations; Exhibit A (the “Motion’”) filed by attorney Alex Kessel on March 8, 2022.
(Docket No. 19). Money is the only reason given for withdrawal: Counsel for Defendant did
not request a large enough fee based on the (obvious) complexity of the case, and then that fee
has not been and will not be paid in full.

The Motion is DENIED. As everyone knows in federal court, let alone a lawyer of
counsel’s experience, there is no easy out in a criminal case once an appearance is made. Like
every other lawyer in private practice, counsel should have attended the initial appearance but
waited for that crucial witness, Mr. Green, to make his welcome appearance. If this Motion
were granted, every lawyer in private practice would attempt the same stunt, to the detriment of
their clients and the district court as a whole.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

CR-11 (04/15) Criminal Minutes — General Page 1 of 1


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