can i request to change my court appointed laywer

You always have the right to request a change of attorney but the court will usually not grant it unless there is a good reason. If the problem is lack of contact by the attorney, keep a record of the times you have called and sent emails and faxes. It is best if in the communications to him you say what you wish to discuss and keep copies for the judge to see. Do not wait until you are about to go to trial to make the request.  Above all, be sure that a change of attorneys is what you actually want. What you have may be worse than what you get. Check with others at the courthouse to see about his reputation and ability. If you have both felony and misdemeanor cases, you may not get one lawyer appointed for all. You may consider hiring a lawyer so there is an effort to get the best result. You pay for the time that is spent on your cases so a lawyer can often do a better job for you.