What are the consequences of dual representation of a defendant and an important prosecution witness?
California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from Darr, In re, 143 Cal.App.3d 500, 191 Cal.Rptr. 882 (Cal. App. 1983):
It is not representation of more than one client which deprives a defendant of his constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel, it is representation of clients with adverse interests. In United States v. LaVallee, supra, 282 F.Supp. 968, 971, the court described the hazards of dual representation of a defendant and an important prosecution witness who was under indictment in another case:
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