Ethics

Merit Decision: Trial Court has No General Duty of Inquiry Into Possible Conflict of Interest in Joint Representation. State v. Williams

By Marianna Bettman on September 23, 2021

“Unless the trial court knows or has reason to know of a potential conflict, the court does not have an affirmative duty to inquire about the attorney’s joint representation of codefendants.”

Justice Stewart, Majority Opinion

“I would address the right to counsel in Article I, Section 10 of the Ohio Constitution and hold that it…

What’s On Their Minds: Is the Denial of a Motion to Withdraw by Appointed Counsel a Final Appealable Order? State of Ohio v. Basim Barnes

By Marianna Bettman on January 14, 2020

Update: On February 4, 2020, the Court dismissed this case as improvidently accepted.

“Is this a big problem? Do you have attorneys from the PD’s office storming the courts to get off cases because of a potential risk of conflict?”

Chief Justice O’Connor, to the prosecutor

“And so how do we draw that distinction between…

Oral Argument Preview: Is the Denial of a Motion to Withdraw By Appointed Counsel Because of an Alleged Conflict of Interest a Final Appealable Order? State of Ohio v. Basim Barnes

By Marianna Bettman on December 31, 2019

Update: On February 4, 2020, the Court dismissed this case as improvidently accepted.

Read an analysis of the argument here.

On January 8, 2020, the Supreme Court of Ohio will hear oral argument in State of Ohio v. Basim Barnes, 2018-1389. At issue in this case is whether a trial court’s denial of an…