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O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

June 29, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 28 2 . BUCKNER-W EBB et al . v . THE STATE.

R I C K M A N , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g D i an e Bu ck n er-W eb b

, Th eres ia Co p el an d

, Sh aro n Dav i s -W i l l i am s ,

Tab eek a J o rd an , M i ch eal Pi t t s , an d Sh an i Ro b in s o n’ s co n vi ct i o n s fo r co n sp i racy to

v i o l at e t h e Geo rg i a RICO (Rack et eer In fl u en ced an d Co rru p t Org an i zat i o n s ) Act

,

OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -1 et s eq

. , an d o th er cri m es , an at t o rn ey was ap p o i n t ed t o rep res en t al l

s i x o f t h em fo r t h ei r pen d i n g m o t i o n s fo r n ew t ri al

. Th at at t o rn ey s u b s eq u en t l y fi l ed

a m o t io n t o wi t h d raw as co u n s el fo r t he s i x ap p el l a n t s d ue t o al leg ed co n fl i ct s o f

i n t eres t

. Af

t e r a h eari n g , th e t ri al co u rt den i ed co un s el ’ s m ot i o n t o wi t h d raw, b ut

i s su ed a cert i fi cat e of i m

m ed i at e rev i ew an d t h e ap p el l an t s fi l ed an ap p li cat i o n i n t h i s

Co u rt fo r i nt erl o cu to ry

rev i ew.W h en t h ei r ap pl i cat i o n fo r i n t erl o cu t o ry rev i e w wa s d en ied an d t h ei r

s u b s eq u en t p et i t io n fo r cert i o rari was al s o d en i ed

, t h e ap p el l an t s cl ai m ed t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s o rd er fel l wi t h i n th e v ery s m al l cl as s o f i n t erl o cu t o ry ru li n g s t h at are d eem ed

t o b e fi n al u n d er t h e co l l at eral o rd er d o ct ri n e. Un d er t he co l l at eral o rd er d o ct ri n e, an

o rd er t h at d o es n o t res o l v e th e en t i re cas e i n t h e t ri a l co urt m ay b e ap p eal ed

i m m ed i at el y if i t “ (1 ) res o l v es an i s s u e t hat i s ‘ s u b st an t i al l y s ep arat e’ fro m t h e b as i c

i s su es t o b e d eci ded at t ri al

, (2 ) wo u l d res u l t i n t h e l o s s o f an im po rt an t ri gh t i f rev i ew

h a d t o awai t fi nal ju d g m en t

, an d (3 ) co m p l et el y an d co n cl u s i v el y deci d es th e i s s u e

o n ap p eal s u ch t h at no t h i n g i n t h e u nd erl y in g act i on can affect i t .” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Du ke v. S t a t e , 3 0 6 Ga. 1 7 1

, 17 4 (1 ) (8 29 SE2 d 3 48 ) (2 0 1 9 )

.

Th e ap p el l an t s ’ arg u m en t fai ls b ecau s e t h e o rd er at i s s u e d o es n o t s at i s fy th e s eco n d

req u i rem en t of t h e co l l at eral ord er t es t ; t h at i s , t h e ap p e l l a n t s w o u ld n o t l o s e an

i m p o rt an t ri g h t i f ap p el l at e rev i ew m u s t awai t fi n al ju d g m en t

.

In Geo rg i a, t he co l l at eral o rd er d o ct ri n e h as n ev er b een ap pl i ed t o au t h o ri ze a

d i rect ap p eal fro m a d e n i a l o f a m o t i o n t o wi t h draw as co u n sel i n a cri m i n al cas e

b as ed o n an al l eg ed co n fl i ct of i n teres t

. Th e Geo rg ia Su p rem e Co u rt h as reco g n i zed

t h at pu rs uan t t o t he co ll at era l o rd er d o ct ri n e, “ a v ery sm al l cl as s of i n t erl o cu t o ry

ru l i n gs are effect i v el y fi n al i n t h at th ey fi n al ly det erm in e cl ai m s of ri g ht sep arab l e

2fro m , an d co l l at eral t o , ri g h t s as s ert ed i n t h e act i on , t o o i m p o rt an t to b e d en ied rev i ew

a n d t o o i n dep en d en t o f t h e cau s e i t s el f t o req u ire th at ap p el l at e co n s i d erat i o n b e

d eferred u n t i l t h e wh o l e c a s e i s ad ju d i cat ed .” (Ci tat i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Du ke

, 3 0 6 Ga. at 1 72 -7 3 ( 1 )

. “ T h u s , an o rd er th at s at i s fi es t h e req u irem en t s o f t h e

co l l at eral o rd er d o ct ri n e i s co n s i d ered t o b e effect i v el y fi n al an d wo u l d b e ap p eal ab l e

b ecau s e i t co m es wi t h i n t he t erm s o f a rel ev an t s t at u t o ry r i g h t t o ap p eal fi n al

ju d g m en t s , n am e l y t h e ri gh t p res cri b ed i n OCGA § 5 -6 -3 4 (a) (1 ).” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Id at 1 7 3 (1 ).

Here, t h e ap pel l an t s hav e al read y b een co n v i ct ed an d t h e m o t i on t o wi t h d raw

at i s su e s o l el y co n cern s th ei r m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. Sh o u l d t h e ap p el l an t s ’ m o t i o n fo r

n ew tri al b e den i ed t h ey h av e a ri g h t t o a d i rect ap peal fro m t h at d en i al

. An d s h o u ld

t h i s Co u rt d et erm in e on ap p eal t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred b y d en y in g co u n sel ’ s m o t i o n

t o wi t h d raw t h en t h e ap p el l an t s m ay b e en t i t l ed t o a n ew h eari ng o n t h ei r m o t i o n fo r

n ew tri al

. Reg ard les s, ap p el l an t s wi l l h av e an av en u e t o ap p eal t h i s d eci s io n an d n o

i m p o rt a n t r i g h t w i l l b e l o s t b y wai t i n g u n ti l t h e p ro p er t i m e fo r a d irect ap p eal

. In

t h ei r m o t i o n to wi t h draw, t h e ap p el l an t s ack n o wl ed ge t h i s rem ed y by s t at i n g t h at “ [i ] f

t h e [t ri al co u rt ] were to req u i r e [ap p el l an ts ] t o p ro ceed wi th jo i n t rep res en t at i o n,

3d es p it e t h ei r d eci s i o n s n o t t o wai v e an act u al co nfl i ct

, t h e rem ed y wo u l d b e red o an y

p ro ceed in g t h at was affect ed b y t h e co nfl i ct

. ”

In Du ke v. S t a te

, Du k e arg u ed th at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y i ng h i s p r e-t r i al

m o ti o n s s eek in g p u b li c fu nd i n g fo r ex pert wi t n es ses an d i n ves t i g at o rs was s u b ject to

t h e co l l at eral o rd er d o ct ri n e. 1 Du ke

, 3 0 6 Ga. at 1 7 1

, 1 7 4 (1 ) (em ph as i s s u p p li ed ). Th e

Geo rg i a Su p rem e Co u rt h el d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er at i s s u e was n o t a co l l at eral

o rd er b ecau s e,

Du k e h as ack n o wl ed ged t h at hi s op p ort u n it y fo r ap p el l at e rev i ew o f th e

o rd er wi l l n o t be l o s t i f h i s ap p eal m u s t awai t fi n al ju d g m en t

. In d eed

, i n

h i s ap p l i cat i o n b efo re t h i s Co u rt

, Du k e arg u ed t h at

, s h ou l d he be fo u n d

g u i l ty

, t h e j u ry ’ s v erd i ct wo u l d l i k el y be s e t a s i d e o n ap p eal g i ven th e

i m p o rt an ce o f ex p ert as s is t an ce t o t h e p res en t at io n o f h i s defen s e. Th us , h e wi l l n o t b e left w i t ho u t a rem ed y i n t h e ab s en ce o f i m m ed i at e rev i ew

o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er b y t h i s Co u rt

.

Id

.

Becau s e t h e ap p el lan t s i n t h i s cas e are n ot left wi t h o ut a fu t ure rem ed y t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y i n g d efen s e co u n s el ’ s m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw i s n o t a co l l at eral o rd er

an d t h is ap p eal i s d i s m i ss ed

. See D u ke

, 3 0 6 Ga. at 1 7 4 (1 ); s ee g en eral l y Ri ver i a v. W a s h i n g t o n , 2 9 8 Ga. 7 7 0, 7 7 7 -7 7 8 (7 84 SE2 d 7 7 5 ) (2 0 1 6) (Geo rg i a Su p rem e Co u rt

re c o g n i zed t hat th e co l l at eral o rd er do ct ri n e ap p l i es t o a v ery s m al l cl as s o f

1 In t eres ti ng l y , i n D uke th e rem ed y wo u l d b e a n ew tri al

, wh ereas s h o u l d t h ere b e erro r i n t h i s cas e t h e rem ed y wo u l d o nl y b e a n ew m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al h eari ng

.

4i n t erl o cu t o ry ru l i ng s an d h el d t hat t h e d oct ri n e di d n o t ap p l y t o t h e t ri al co u rt s ’ o rd ers

d en y i n g ap p el l an t s ’ m o t io n s t o d i s m i s s o n i m m u n i t y g ro u nd s ).

A p p e a l d i s mi s s ed

. D i l la rd

, P.J., M er ci er

, Br o wn

, Pi

pki n a n d Co l vi n, JJ, a n d

S en io r A p p el l a t e Ju d

g e He r b er t E. Ph ip

p s co n cu r

. G o b ei l a n d Ho d g es

, JJ., co n cu r f u l l y a n d s p eci a l l y. McFa d d en

, C.J., d i s s en t

s

. Do yl e, P.J., co ncu r

s i n j u d g men t o n l y
i n Di vi s i o n 2

, j o i ns wi t h McFa d d en

, C.J., i n t h e di s s e n t t o D i vi si o n s 1 a n d 3

, a n d

wr i t es sp eci a l l

y a s to D i vi s i o n 3

. Ba r n es

, P.J., Mi l l er

, P.J., a n d Rees e, J

. j o i n w i th

Ch i ef J u d g e McFa d

d en ’s d i s sen t a n d Pr es i d in g Ju dg e Do yl e’s s peci a l d i s s en t

. Ma r kl e, J. i s d i s qu a l i

f i ed

.

5

# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 28 2 . BUCKNER-W EBB et al . v . THE STATE.

G O B E I L
, J u d g e, co n cu rri n g fu l l y an d s p eci al l y

.

Th o u g h t he q u es t i o n i s cl o s e, I am p ers u ad ed t h at t h e b ar fo r ap p l y i n g t h e

co l l at eral o rd er d o ct ri n e i n G eo rg i a i s a hi g h o n e, an d t he d o ct ri n e d o es n o t ap p l y h ere

g i v en t he fact s an d p ro ced u ral p o s t u re o f th e d eci si on b efo re u s

. Acco rd i n g l y , I

co n cu r i n t he M ajo ri t y ’ s d i sm i s s al o f t h e ap p eal

.

Th e d i s s e n t di sag rees wi t h t h e M ajo ri t y ’ s ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e co l l at eral o rd er

d o ct ri n e. An d t h o u g h t he i s su e b efo re u s o n ap p eal i s a j u ri s d i ct i o nal o n e, th e d i s s en t

6g o es o n t o ex p ou n d o n t he m eri t s o f t h e u n derl y i n g m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw. In d o i n g s o,

t h e d i ss en t rai s es co m

pel l i n g co n cern s i n t h e ab st ract

, b u t i t d oes n o t fo cu s

s u ffi ci en t l y

o n t he fact s an d ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h e cas e at h an d.

Acco rd i ng l y , an d al t h o u g h t h e u nd erl y i n g m eri t s are b ey o n d t h e s co pe o f t h i s

s p eci al co n cu rren ce, I feel co m p el l ed t o h ig h l i g ht a few p oi n ts

. Th is Co u rt ev al u at es

a t ri al co u rt ’ s den i al o f a m o t i o n t o wi t h draw u n d er an ab u se of d is cret i o n s t an d ard

.

See Od u m v. S t a t e , 2 8 3 G a

. A p p

. 2 9 1

, 2 9 2 (6 4 1 SE2 d 2 7 9 ) (2 0 0 7). Here, t h e t ri al

co u rt co n s i d ered t h e m o ti o n an d i n an i n cam era h eari n g , as s es s e d t h e al l eg ed

co n fl i ct s , an d fo u n d n o t h in g t o warran t g ran t i n g t h e m o t io n

.

I am au t h o ri zed t o s t at e t h at J u d g e Ken Ho dg es j o i n s m e i n co n cu rri n g fu l l y

an d s peci al l y

.

7

# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 28 2 . BUCKNER-W EBB v . STATE.

M C F A D D E N , Ch i ef J u d g e, d i s s en t i n g

.

Th i s ap p eal i s pro perl y b efo re u s u n der t h e co l l at eral o rd er d oct ri n e. Th e i s s u e

i s o n e o f fi rs t im

p res s i o n i n G eo rg i a. Bu t n earl y al l t h e co u rt s t h at h av e d eci d ed t h e

i s su e, fed eral an d s t a t e , hav e h el d t h at o rd ers d en y in g an at t o rn ey ’ s req u es t to

wi t h d raw fal l wi t h i n t he co ll at eral ord er d oct ri n e. On ce a co u rt co m p el s an at t o rn ey

t o v i o l at e et h ical o b l i g at i o n s , t h e h arm i s d o ne.

8As t o t h e m eri ts o f t h e ap p eal

, th e t ri al j u d ge ab us ed h i s d i s cret i o n in d en y i n g

co u ns el ’ s m ot i o n t o wi t h d raw b ecau s e co u ns el can n o t et h i cal l y rep re s en t al l s ix

d efen d an t s d u e t o co n fl i ct s o f i n t eres t

. So I res p ect fu l l y d i s s en t

.

1

. Fa ct s a n d p r o ced

ur a l p o s t u r e.

Th e s t at e in d i ct ed 35 A tla

nta P ublic Sch o o l em

pl o y ees fo r co n s p i racy t o v i o l at e

t h e Geo rg i a RICO Act a nd ot h er o ffen s es ari s i n g o u t o f al l eg ed ch eat i n g o n

s t an d ard i zed t es t s

. Of t h o s e i nd i ct ed , t wel v e were co nv i ct ed

. Th e ju ry fo u nd o n e o f

t h e d efen d an t s n o t g u i l t y o f an y ch arg es , fo un d th e o t h er el ev en d efen dan t s g u i l t y o f

co n sp i racy t o v i ol at e t he RICO Act

, an d fo u n d s o m e o f t h o s e d efen dan t s g u i l t y o f

ad d it i o n al o ffen s es . Th e t ri al co u rt i m p o s ed v ari o u s s en t en ces o f co n fi n em en t

.

Each o f t h o s e d efen d an t s were rep res en t ed b y s ep arat e co u n sel at tri al

. Aft er

t h e t ri al

, an at t o rn ey was ap p o i n t ed t h ro u gh t h e p u bl i c d efen der’ s o ffi ce t o jo in t l y

r e p r e s e n t s i x o f t he d efen d an t s wh o were i n di g en t an d wh o s e t ri al at to rn ey s h ad

al read y fi l ed s ep arat e m ot i o n s fo r n ew t ri al

.

Up o n r e v i ewi n g t h e reco rd

, t h e at t o rn ey ap po i n t ed t h ro ug h t he p u b l i c

d efen d er’ s o ffi ce co n cl u d ed t hat h i s cl i en t s ’ i n t eres t s were i n co n fl i ct : t h at hi s d u ti es

t o h i s s ev eral cl i en t s wo u l d “ m at eri al l y an d ad v ers el y affect t h e rep res en t at i o n o f”

o n e an o t h er. See Ru l e 1

. 7 (a) o f t h e Geo rg i a Ru les o f Pro fes s i o n al Co n d u ct fo u n d at

9St at e Bar Ru le 4 -1 0 2. He t hen ad v i s ed h is cl i en ts o f h i s co n cl u s i o n

. Th ey al l i n d i cat ed

t h at , ev en i f wai v er o f t h e co nfl i ct were perm i ss i b l e, th ey wo ul d n o t ag ree t o wai v e

i t

. See Id

. , Ru l e 1 .7 (b ).

Th e at t orn ey t h en f

i l e d a m o t i o n t o w i t hd raw as co u n s el fo r t h o s e s ix

d efen d an t s d u e to co n fl i ct s o f in t eres t. Aft er a h eari n g, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed co u n sel ’ s

m o ti o n t o w i t h d raw, b u t i s s u e d a cert i fi cat e o f i m m ed i at e rev i ew. Th e d efen d an t s

fi led an ap p l icat i o n fo r i n t erl o cu t o ry rev i ew, wh ich was d en i ed

. Th ey al s o fi l ed t h i s

d i rect ap p eal , i n v o k i ng t h e co l lat eral o rd er d o ct ri ne.

2

. Ap p l i ca b i l it y o f t h e co l l a t er a l

o r der d o ct ri n e.

Th e m ajo ri ty fi n d s t h at we l ack ju ri s d i ct io n b ecau s e t h e co l l at eral o rd er

d o ct ri n e d o es n o t a p p l y to t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s i n t erl o cu t ory o rd er d en y in g co u n sel ’ s

m o ti o n t o wi t h d raw. I d i s ag ree.

[T] h e co l l at eral ord er d o ct ri ne reco g n i zes t h at a very s m al l cl as s

o f i n t erl ocu t o ry ru l i ng s are effec tive ly fi n al i n t hat t h ey fi n al l y d et erm in e cl ai m s o f r i g h t s e p arab l e fro m , an d co l l at eral to

, ri gh t s as s ert ed i n th e

act i o n , t o o im

p o rt an t to b e d en i ed rev i ew an d t o o i nd ep en d en t o f th e

cau s e i t s el f t o req u ire th at ap p el l at e co n s i d erat i o n be d eferred u n ti l th e wh o le cas e i s ad

ju d i cat ed

. Th u s , an o rd er t h at s at i s fi es t h e req ui rem en t s

o f t h e co l l at eral o rd er d o ct r i n e wo u l d b e ap p eal ab l e b ecau s e i t co m es wi t h in t h e t erm s o f t h e rel ev an t s t at u t o ry ri g h t t o ap p eal fi n al ju d g m en t s

.

10Ro b er t

s v. S t at e , 30 9 Ga. 6 3 9

, 6 3 9

- 6 4 0 (1 ) (8 4 7 SE2 d 5 41 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (ci tat i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Un d er th e co l l at eral o rd er d o ct ri n e , suc h a n i n t erl o cu t o ry ru l i n g

“ m ay be ap p eal ed i m

m ed i at el y i f i t (1 ) res o l v es an i s su e t h at i s s u b s t an t i al l y s ep arat e

fro m t h e b as i c i s s u es to b e d eci d ed at t ri al

, (2 ) wo ul d res u l t i n t he lo ss of an i m p o rt an t

ri gh t if rev i ew h ad t o awai t fi n al ju d g m en t

, an d (3 ) co m p l et el y an d co n cl u s i v el y

d eci d es t he i ss ue on ap p eal s uch t h at n o t hi n g i n t he u nd erl y i n g act io n can affect i t .”

Du ke v. S t a t e , 3 0 6 Ga. 17 1

, 1 7 4 (1 ) (8 2 9 SE2 d 3 4 8 ) (2 0 1 9) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

Th e m ajo ri t y do es n o t ad dres s t h e fi rs t an d t h i rd req u i rem en t s

. Th ey are cl earl y

s at i s fi ed i n t h is cas e. D en i al o f t h e m ot i o n t o wi t h d raw res o l v ed an i s s u e su b s t an t i al l y

s ep arat e fro m t h e b as i c i s s u es t o b e d e ci d ed at t ri al

. A n d th at d en i al co n cl u s i v el y

d eci d ed t h e i s s ue o f w i t hd rawal s u ch t h at n o t h in g i n t h e u n d erl y i ng act i o n can affect

i t

. S e e g en eral l y St a t e v. Ro we , 3 0 8 Ga. 8 0 6

, 81 0 (2 ) (b ) (8 43 SE2 d 53 7 ) (2 0 2 0 )

(h o l d i n g i n p e rt i n en t p art t h at an ord er s eal in g cert ai n reco rd s was su b s t an t i al l y

s ep arat e fro m th e cri m in al p ro s ecu t i o n an d t hat th e o rd er co n cl u s i v el y d eci d ed t h at

i s su e). Th e m ajo ri ty h o l d s, h o wev er, t h at t h e s eco n d req u i rem en t o f t h e d oct ri n e h as

n o t b een s at i s fi ed b ecau s e d en ial o f t h e m o t i on t o wi t h d raw co u ld b e ch al l en g ed in

an ap peal aft er fi n al ju d g m en t

.

11Bu t t h e m ajo ri t y h as n o t ci t ed

, an d I h av e n ot f o u n d

, a n y Geo rg i a cas es

s q u arel y ad d res s i ng t h e is s u e of wh et h er a t ri al co urt ’ s d en i al o f a m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw

as co u n s el i n a cri m i nal cas e d u e t o co n fl i ct s o f i nt eres t i s d i rect l y ap p eal ab l e u n d er

t h e co l l at eral o rd er d oct ri n e. Bu t p l ai n ly

, as h el d by f e d eral au t h o ri t y d i s cu s s ed

b el o w, t h e co ll at era l o r d e r d o ct ri n e d o es ap p l y becau s e co u n s el wo ul d s u ffer an

i rret ri ev ab le l o s s

.

A bar ru l e is a t i s s u e

. R u l e 1 .7 (a) p ro v id es : “ A l awy er s h al l n o t rep res en t o r

co n ti n u e t o rep res en t a cl i en t i f t h ere i s a s i g n i fi can t ri s k t h at

. . . t h e l awy er’ s d u ti es

t o an o th er cl i en t

. . . wi l l m at eri al l y an d ad v ers el y affect th e rep res en t at i o n o f t h e

cl i en t, ex cep t as p erm i t t ed i n (b ).” Su b s ect i o n (b ) s et s ou t th e l i m i t ed ci rcu m s t an ces

an d t h e p ro ced ures u nd er w h i ch a cl i en t can wai v e a co n fl i ct

. “ Th e m ax im u m p en al t y

fo r a v i ol at i o n o f t h i s Ru l e i s d i s b arm en t .” Ru l e 1 .7 (c). Th is co u rt an d t h e s u p eri o r

co u rt are wi t h ou t p o wer t o i m m u n ize co un s el fro m

t h at p en al t y

.

Co n trary to t he m ajo ri ty r u l i n g , t h e i s s u e b efo re u s i s no t s q uarel y ad d res s ed

i n o u r Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n i n Du ke

, s u pra. Du ke d o es ad d res s th e s co p e o f t h e

co l l at eral o rd er d o ct ri n e’ s req u irem en t of i rret ri ev ab l e l o ss o f an i m p o rt an t ri g h t

. Bu t

i t d o es s o i n a co n t ex t t o o d i fferen t fro m t h e p res en t cas e to b e i n s t ru ct i v e. Du ke d id

n o t i n v o l ve t h e den i al o f a m o t io n t o wi t h d raw d u e t o co n fl i ct s o f i nt eres t s

. Rat h er i t

12h el d t h at rev i ew aft er fi n al ju d g m en t was an ad eq u at e rem ed y fo r a v ery d i fferen t

i s su e: d en i al o f req u es t s fo r cert ai n p ret ri al fu nd i n g . Id . at 1 7 4 (1 ).

It is t ru e, as t he m ajo ri t y fi n d s , t h at t h e d en i al o f t h e m ot i o n t o wi t h draw co u ld

b e en u m erat ed as erro r i n an ap p eal aft er a fi n al j u d gm en t

. Bu t rev ers al of th at fi n al

ju d g m en t b as ed o n an erro n eo u s d en i al o f t h e m ot i o n t o w i t hd raw wo u ld no t u n d o t h e

h arm t o co u ns el o f hav i n g been co m p el l ed t o co m

m i t an u n et h i cal act

—

es p eci al l y

o n e t h at co u l d res ul t i n d i s b arm en t

.

In t h e ab s en ce o f co n t ro ll i n g Geo rg i a au t h o ri t y , we t u rn to fo rei g n au t h o ri t y

.

In p art i cu l ar, w e lo o k t o fed eral co l l at eral o rd er cas e l aw i n d ev el o p i n g “ G eo rg i a’ s

v ers i on o f t h e do ct ri n e. See Pa t t er s o n v. S ta t e , 2 4 8 Ga. 8 7 5 , 8 7 5 -8 7 7 (2 8 7 SE2 d 7 )

(1 9 8 2) (l o o k i n g t o fed eral co l l at eral o rd er cas e l aw i n d ev el o p i n g t h e d o ct ri n e u n d er

Geo rg i a l aw); S

cr o gg i n s v. Ed

mo n d s o n , 2 5 0 Ga. 4 3 0

, 4 3 2 (2 9 7 SE2 d 4 6 9 ) ( 1 9 8 2 )

(s am e).” W

a r r en v. S ta t e , 2 9 7 Ga. 8 1 0 , 8 1 1 n . 2 (7 7 8 SE2 d 7 4 9 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

“ [N] earl y al l o f t h e co u rt s wh i ch h av e deci d ed t h i s i s s u e, fed eral an d s t at e, h av e

h el d t h at o rd ers d en y i n g an at t o rn ey ’ s req u es t t o wi t h d raw fal l wi t h in th e co l l at eral

o rd er d oct ri n e.” In r e Fr a n ke

, 5 5 A3 d 7 1 3

, 7 1 7 (I) (M d

. Ap p

. 2 0 1 2 ). As d et ai l ed

b el o w, th e Un i t ed St at es Co urt s o f Ap peal s fo r th e Seco n d

, Th i rd

, Fo u rt h, Si x t h

, an d

Sev en t h Ci rcu it s hav e s o hel d

. An d a Geo rg i a d i s t ri ct co urt i n t h e El ev en t h Ci rcu i t

13h as al s o reco g n i z e d t h e ap p l i cab i l i t y o f t h e d o ct ri n e t o t h e d en i al o f an at t o rn ey ’ s

m o ti o n to wi t h d raw. See Br o wn v. Un i t ed S t a t es , 2 00 9 U. S. Di s t

. L EXIS 9 0 2 2 at

* 1 7 -1 8 (IV) (C) (S. D. Ga. 2 0 0 9 ) (n o t i n g t h at co u n sel co u l d h av e d i rect l y ap p eal ed

i n t erl o cu t o ry o rd er d en y in g h i s m o t i o n t o wi t h d r aw u n d er t h e co l lat eral o rd er

d o ct ri n e). I h av e fo u n d n o fed eral ci rcu i t co urt o p i n io n s t h at ag ree w i t h t h e m ajo ri t y ’ s

v i ew. No r d i d th e co urt o f l as t res ort o f t h e D i s t ri ct o f Co l u m b i a fi n d an y op i n i on s

ag reei n g wi t h t h e m a

j o r i t y’s v i ew wh en i t ad d res s ed t h e i s s u e: “ Th e [fed eral ]

ap p e l l a t e c o u rt s t h at h av e deci d ed t h e q u es t i o n h av e h el d t hat an o rd er d en y i n g an

at t o rn ey ’ s m o t i on t o wi t h d raw s at i s fi es [t h e co l l at eral o rd er d o ct ri n e’ s ] t h ree

co n di t i o n s an d t h us i s im m ed i at el y ap p eal ab le.” Ga l l o wa y v. Cl a y , 8 6 1 A2 d 3 0

, 3 2

(II) (D.C. Ap p

. 2 0 0 4 ) (ci t at i o n s an d fo ot n ot e o m i t t ed ). A n d “ [t ] h e m ajo r t reat i s e

wri t ers ap p ear t o en d o rs e t h i s h o l d in g

. See 1 9 M O ORE’ S FEDERAL PRACTICE §

2 0 2

. 0 7 [ 1 ] ( 3 d ed

. 20 0 4 ) at 20 2 -2 9 et s eq .; 15 B W RIGHT, M ILLER & COOPER,

FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE § 3 91 4

. 2 1 ( 2 d e d

. & Su p p. 2 0 0 4 ) at

4 0 -4 1.” Id

. See al s o Br a n d o n v. Bl ech , 5 6 0 F3 d 5 3 6 , 5 3 7 (II) (6 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 9 ) (o rd er

co m p el l i n g an at t orn ey to co n t i n u e rep res en t at i o n i s th e s o rt o f ord er t h e co l l at eral

o rd er d o ct ri n e co n t em

p l at es b ecau s e i t co n cl u s i v el y det erm in es t h e w i th d rawal

q u es ti o n , i s u n rel at ed to t h e m eri t s , an d can n o t b e rect i fi ed aft er a fi n al ju d g m e n t ) ;

14Fi d

el i t y Na t i o n a l T

i t l e In s

. Co

. o

f New Y o rk v. In ter co u nt

y Na t i o n al Ti t l e In s

. Co

. ,

3 1 0 F3 d 5 3 7

, 5 3 9 (7 t h Ci r. 2 00 2 ) (d en i al o f at t o rn ey ’ s req u es t t o wi t h d raw was

i m m ed i at el y ap p eal ab l e as a co l l at eral o rd er); W h i ti n g v. La ca r a , 18 7 F3 d 3 1 7

, 3 1 9

-

3 2 0 (a) (2 d Ci r. 1 9 9 9) (d en i al o f co u n s el ’ s m o t io n to w i t h d raw s at i s fi ed t h e t h ree

req u i rem en t s o f t h e co l l at eral o rd er d o ct ri n e).

In t h e cri m i n al co nt ex t

, as i n t h e c i v i l

, th e co l l at eral o rd er d o ct ri n e is n o l es s

ap p li cab l e t o t h e d en i al o f a m ot i o n t o wi t h d raw as co u n s el

.

Al t h ou g h t h e wei g h t o f t h e au t h o ri t y h o l d in g t h at o rd ers d en y i n g

m o t i o n s t o wi th draw are co l l at eral ly ap p eal ab l e is ci v i l in n a t u re, th e

reas o n s fo r ap p l y i n g th e co l l at eral ord er d o ct ri n e are eq u al ly co m p el l i n g i n t h e cri m i n al co n t ex t

. . . . Th e et h i c a l v i ol at io n s co un s el w o u l d be

fo rced t o co m

m i t fo r co n fl i ct s o f in t eres t are t he s am e i n t h e ci v i l an d

cri m i n al co n t ex t

. On ce a co u rt co m p el s an at t o rn ey t o vi o l at e et h i cal

o b l i gat i o n s , t h e h arm i s do n e, wh et h er t h e m at ter b e a ci v i l or a cri m i nal

t ri al

.

Un i ted S t a t es v. Bel l il l e , 9 62 F 3 d 7 3 1

, 7 3 7 (II) (3 rd Ci r. 2 02 0 ). Th us , a d en i al o f

c o un s el ’ s “ m o t i on t o wi t h d raw [wh ere] t h ere [i s ] a co n fl i ct o f i n t eres t wo u l d b e

effect i v el y u n rev i ewab l e b eca u s e t h e harm o f vi o lat i n g o n e’ s et h i cal o b li g at i on s

wo u l d b e co m

p l et e an d co u l d n o t b e u n do n e a f t e r [ f i nal ju d g m en t i n th e] t ri al

[co u rt ] .” Id

. See al s o Un i t ed S t a t es v. Ob er o i

, 33 1 F3 d 44

, (2 d Ci r. 20 0 3 ) (“ Becau s e

t h e [t ri al ] co u rt ’ s o rd er [ d en y i n g t h e m o ti o n t o wi t h d raw] co n cl us i v el y d et erm i n ed t h e

15i s su e o f [co u ns el ’ s ] co n t i n ued rep res en t at i o n o f [d efen d an t ] an d can n o t b e effect i v el y

rev i ewed o n fi n al ap p e a l

, w e h av e ju ri s d i ct i o n o v er t h is i n terl o cu t o ry ap p eal .”);

W h i ti n g , s u p ra at 3 2 0 (a) (“ [O] n ce a fi nal ju d g m en t h a s b e e n en t ered

, t h e h arm to

[c o u n s e l ] wi ll b e co m

p l et e, an d n o rel i ef can b e o bt ai n ed o n ap p eal .”) (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed ).

Th e reas o n i n g o f t h es e fed eral co u rt s i s pers u as i v e. H ere, t h e h arm t o co u n s el

o f b ei n g fo rced t o v i o l at e h i s et h i cal o b l i gat i on s by rep res en t in g cl i en t s wi th

co n f l i ct i n g i n t eres t s w o ul d b e co m p l et e an d effect iv el y u n rev iewab l e aft er a fi n al

ju d g m en t b el o w. “ Th e i n ju ry to a co u ns el fo rced t o rep res en t [m u lt i pl e] cl i en t [s ]

ag ai n s t h i s wi l l i s

. . . i rrep arab l e, an d t h e [t ri al ] co u rt ’ s d eci s io n wo u ld b e effect i v el y

u n rev i ewab l e u p o n fi n al ju d g m en t .” W h i t i n g , s u p ra at 3 2 0 (ci t at i o ns om itt ed ). Acco rd

Un i t e d S t a t es v. Sh a w , 20 0 9 U

. S. Ap p. LEXIS 2 0 0 4 (4 t h Ci r. 2 0 09 ) (ex erci s i n g

ju ri s d i ct i o n o v er d efen d an t ’ s d i rect ap p eal fro m d en i al o f co u n s el ’ s m o t i o n to

wi t h d raw u n d er t h e co l lat eral ord er d o ct ri n e b ecau s e t h e o rd er i s o n e “ affect i n g ri g h t s

t h at wi l l b e i rret ri ev ab l y

l o st i n t h e ab s en ce o f an i m m ed i at e ap p eal ”).

Th e m ajo ri t y m ak es n o effo r t r e b u t co u ns el ’ s s h o wi n g t h at h e wo u l d s u ffer

i rrem ed i ab l e h arm i f fo rced to co m m i t an et h i cal v i o l at io n , part i cu l arl y o n e fo r wh i ch

an av ai l ab l e p en al t y is d i s b arm en t

. In s t ead t h e m ajo ri ty l oo k s fo r irrem ed i ab l e h arm

16t o t he cl ien t s an d fi n d s n o n e. In s o d o i n g , t h e m ajo ri t y d i s reg ard s t he cas e l aw fro m

o t h er ju ri s d i ct i o ns — i n cl ud i n g t h e fed eral co u rt s

— wh i ch fi n d s irrem ed i ab l e h arm

t o c o u n s el fro m den i al m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw s u ffi ci en t t o ju s t i fy rev i ew u n d er t h e

co l l at eral o rd er d o ct ri n e. As n ot ed ab o v e, o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as m ad e a pract i ce o f

“ l o ok i n g t o fed eral co l l at eral o rd er cas e law in d ev el o p i n g t he d o ct ri n e u n der Geo rg i a

l aw.” W ar r en v. S t a te

, 2 9 7 Ga. 81 0

, 8 1 1

, 7 7 8 S.E.2 d 7 4 9, 7 5 2

, n. 2 (2 0 1 5). W e s h o u ld

d o s o t o o.

Th at s ai d

, t h es e d efen d an t s wi l l b e h arm ed i f t h ey are fo rced t o b e rep res en t ed

b y co n fl i ct ed co u n s el . A p art i cu l ar s t rat eg i c ch o ice m i g h t b e o p ti m al fo r o n e cl i en t

,

s u b -o p t i m al fo r an o t h er, an d h arm fu l t o a t h i rd

. Su ch co n fl ict s are es p eci al l y l i k e l y

h ere, g i ven t h e ev i d en ce o f to p -d o wn p res su re t o ch eat an d o f t h es e d efen d an t s ’

d i fferi n g l ev el s of au t h o ri t y

. A c ri m i n al d efen d an t i s “ en t i t led t o rep res en tat i o n o n

ap p eal b y effect i v e, i .e., co n fl i ct -free, co u n s el as a m a t t er o f co ns t i t u t i o n al l aw.”

Ga r la n d v. S t a t e , 2 83 Ga. 2 0 1, 2 0 3 (6 57 SE2 d 8 4 2 ) (2 00 8 ). Th at ri g h t i s g u aran t eed

b y t h e Si xt h Am en dm en t

. Un i ted S t a t es v. G o n z a l ez -Lo p ez , 5 4 8 U.S. 1 40 (1 2 6 SCt

.

2 5 5 7

, 1 65 L E2 d 40 9 (2 0 0 6 ) (ad d res s i n g ri g ht to ret ai ned co u ns el o f ch o i ce). See al s o

Ha l l v. Ja cks o n ,

_

_ _ G a.

_ _ _ (2 ) (a) (Cas e No

. S2 0 A1 5 74

, d eci d ed Feb ru ary 1

, 2 0 2 1 )

(cri m i n al d efen d an t s i n Geo rg i a are co n st it u t i o n al l y en t i t l ed t o e f f e c t iv e as s i s t an ce

17o f co u ns el

, wh ich i n cl u d es t h e ri g h t t o rep res en t at i o n t h at i s free o f act u al co n fl ict s

o f i n t eres t s ).

It fo l l o ws th at “ [w] e hav e ju ri s d i ct i on t o co n s i d er [t h i s] ap p eal u n d er t h e

co l l at eral o rd er d o ct ri n e

. . . [s i n ce t h e t ri al ] co u rt ’ s d en i al o f [t h e] m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw

as co u ns el s at i s fi es each o f t he t h ree req u i rem en t s [o f t h e d o ct ri n e] an d i s t h erefo re

i m m ed i at el y ap peal ab l e.” Un i t ed S t a t es v. B a r t o n , 7 1 2 F3 d 1 1 1

, 1 1 6 (I) (2 d Ci r.

2 0 1 3 ) (ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ). See al s o Un i t ed S t a tes v. Cu l b er t s o n , 5 9 8

F3 d 4 0

, 4 9 (III) (B) (2 d Ci r. 2 0 1 0 ) (“ o rd ers d en y i n g m o t i o n s fo r at t o rn ey s to

wi t h d raw as co u n s el

. . . m eet t h e req u irem en t s of t h e co ll at eral o r d e r d o c t r i n e”);

Br o wn v. Un i t ed S t a t es , s u p r a (co u n s el co u l d h av e d i rect l y ap p eal ed d en i al o f h i s

m o ti o n t o wi t h d raw u n d er t h e co l l at eral o rd er d o ct ri n e). So t h e in s t an t ap p eal s h o u ld

n o t b e d is m i s s ed o n ju ri s d i ct i o n al g ro u n d s

.

3

. Mer i t s o f t h e mo t i o n t o wi t h d

r a w a s co u n s el

.

T h e d efen d an ts co rrect l y as sert t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n den y i n g t h e i r

at t o rn e y ’ s m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw as co u n s el

. Den i al o f t h e m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw wo u ld

b e su s t ai n ab l e o n l y i f th e t ri al co u rt h ad d et erm i ned th at n o rea l co n fl i ct o f i n t eres t

ex i s t s.

18W h en d efen s e co u n s el ad v i s es t h e t ri al co urt b efo re o r at t ri al t hat

h e i s l ab o ri n g un d er an act u al co n fl i ct o f i n t eres t

, t h e co u rt u s u al l y m u s t
d efer t o t h at rep res en t at io n an d ap p oi n t new co u ns el fo r t h e d efen d an t

,

as t h e at t o rn ey i s i n t h e b es t p o s i t i o n t o be aware of co n fl i ct i n g i n t eres t s

an d m ak es t h e rep res en t at i o n as an o ffi cer o f t he co u rt

. Th e t ri al co u rt

m ay , ho wev e r , ex p lo re t h e ad eq u acy o f th e b as i s o f d efen s e co u n s el ’ s

rep res en t at i o n reg ard i n g a co n fl i ct o f i n t eres t s wi t ho u t im pro p erl y

req u iri n g d is cl os u re o f t h e co nfi d en ti al co m m u n i cat i o n s of t he cl i en t

. If

t h e t ri a l co u r t d

oes n ot d et er mi n e t h a t n o r ea l co n

fl i ct o f i n t er es t exi s t

s b u t s t i l l d

en i es a req u e s t fo r n ew co u n s el b a s ed on a n a t t o rn ey’s

r ep r es en t a t i o n t h at a co n

f l i ct o f i n ter es t exi s ts

, r ever

s a l i s r eq u ir ed

.

W i l l ia ms v. S ta te

, 3 0 2 Ga. 4 04

, 4 0 9 (3 ) (8 0 7 SE2 d 4 18 ) (2 0 17 ) ( c i t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ; em

p h as i s ad d ed ).

Geo rg i a’ s req ui rem en t o f an affi rm at i ve d et erm i n at i on t h at no real co n fl i ct

ex i s t s i s co n s i s ten t wi th t h e h o l d i n g o f th e Un i ted St at es Su p rem e Co u rt t h at

v i o l at i o n s o f th e Si x t h A m en d m en t ri g h t t o co u n s el “ are s t r u c t u ral erro r.” Un i t ed

S t a t es v. Go n z a lez -Lo

p ez , 5 4 8 U.S. 14 0 (1 2 6 SCt

. 2 5 5 7

, 1 6 5 LE2 d 4 0 9 ) (2 0 0 6 )

(ad d res s i n g ri g h t t o ret ai n ed co u n s el o f ch o i ce). Th e co n seq u en ces o f s t ru ct u ral erro r

“ are n eces s ari l y u n q uan t i fi ab l e an d i n det erm in at e.” Id

. at 1 5 0

. St ru ct u ral erro r i s n ot

s u b ject t o h arm l es s erro r an al y si s

. “ Harm l es s -erro r an al y s i s i n s u ch a co nt ex t wo u ld

b e a s p ecu l at i v e i nq u i ry i n t o w hat m i g h t h av e o ccu rred i n an al t ern at e un i v ers e.” Id

.

A t t h e en d o f t h e h eari n g i n t he p res en t cas e o n t h e m o t i on to wi t h d r a w , t h e

t ri al co u rt an n o u nced t h at h e w o u l d d en y t h e m o ti o n an d ex p l ai ned t h at co u n sel ’ s

19show ing w a s no t “ s p eci fi c en o u g h .” Th at ex pl an at i o n i s i n co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e requir e d

affi rm at i v e d et erm i n at io n t h at n o real co nfl i ct o f i n t ere s t e x i s t s

. If t h e reco rd co u ld

s u s t ai n a fi n di n g t h at n o real co n fl i ct ex i s ts

, a rem an d fo r t h at d et erm i n at i o n wo u ld

b e i n o rd er. Bu t i t can n o t

.

Co u ns el av erred i n h is m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw t h at t h ere w ere act u al co nfl i ct s o f

i n t eres t s i n jo i nt ly rep res en ti n g t h e d efen d an t s th at wo u l d req u i re h i m t o o m i t i s s u es

t h at h e wo u ld o t h erwi s e rai se, t hat al l s i x d efen d an t s h a d d e c l i n ed t o wai v e t h e

co n fl i ct s , an d t h at t h e Gen eral Co u n s el ’ s o ffi ce o f t h e St at e Bar o f Geo rg ia h ad o ral l y

ad v is ed h i m 2 t h at h e co u l d n ot et h i cal l y co n t i n u e rep res en t i n g t h e d efen d an t s d u e to

t h e co n fl i ct s

. At th e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i on , co u n s el ex p l ai n ed t h at t h e s i x d efen d an t s

wo rk ed at d i fferen t lev el s o f au t h o r i t y w i t h i n t he s ch o o l s y s t em , fro m ex ecu t i v e

d i rect o rs t o cl as s ro om t each ers , s o t h e s t ren g t h o f th e ev i d en ce ag ai n s t each d efen d an t

d i ffered b a s e d o n t h ei r res p ect i v e p o s i t i o n s in th e hi erarch y

. An d

, as n ot ed ab o ve,

t h ey recei v ed d i fferen t v erd i ct s at t ri al

. Co un s el ad v i s ed t h e tri al co u rt t h at h e co u ld

n o t et hi cal l y rep res en t t he d efen d an t s b ecau s e h e wo u l d h a v e t o m ak e cl ai m s

co m p ari n g t h e rel at i v e s t ren g t h o f t h e ev i d en ce ag ai n s t each d efen dan t an d h e wo u ld

2 Th e o ffi ce o f t h e Gen eral Co u n s el o f t h e St at e Bar o f Ge o r g i a o ffers s u ch

g u i d an ce t h ro u g h i t s Et h i cs Hel p l i n e , 4 0 4 -5 2 7 -8 7 41 , 8 0 0 -6 8 2 -9 8 06

.

20b e u n ab l e to rai s e cert ai n is s u es t h at wo u l d b en efi t s o m e d efen d an t s wh il e h arm i n g

o t h ers , t hereb y

p i t t in g o n e d efen d an t ag ai ns t an o th er.

Co u ns el ci t ed

, as t h e cl eares t ex am p l es o f po t en ti al l y v i ab l e i s s u es t h at co u ld

n o t b e p ro p erl y rai s ed d u e t o th e co n fl i ct i n g i n t eres t s, cl ai m s reg ard i n g s ev eran ce o f

d efen d an t s an d cl ai m s reg ard in g co m p el l ed s t at em en t s o f p u bl i c e m p l o y ees u n d er

Ga r ri t y v. New Jer

s ey , 3 8 5 U. S. 4 9 3 (8 7 SCt 6 1 6

, 17 LE2 d 56 2 ) (1 9 67 ). An d h e

fu rt her ad v i s ed t h e co u rt t h at t h e co n fl i ct s w o u l d l im it h i s ab i li t y t o rai s e m u l t i p l e

o t h er fai r t ri al i s su es co n cern i n g ev i d en t i ary ru l i n g s , cro s s -ex am i n at i on o f wi t n es s es ,

an d i n effect i v e as s i st an ce o f co u n s el

.

As n o ted ab o ve, “ [a] cri m i n al d efen d an t i n Geo rg i a is co n s ti t ut i on al l y en t i t l ed

t o t h e effect i v e as s i st an ce o f co u n s el d u ri n g h i s tri al

, m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al p ro ceed i n g,

an d d irect ap p eal . On e co m po n en t o f t he ri g ht t o t h e effect iv e as s i s tan ce of co u n s el

i s t h e r i g h t t o rep res en t at i o n th at i s free o f act u al co n fl ict s o f i n teres t s .” Ha l l v.

Ja cks o n , s u p ra (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ). A n act u al co n fl ict o f i n t eres t s

e x i s t s “ wh en th e co n fl i ct s i g n ifi can t l y an d ad v ers el y affect s t h e ap p el l at e l awy er ’s

rep res en t at i o n o f th e defen d an t.” Id

. at

_ _ _ (2 ) (a). See al s o Ta n ner v. S ta t e , 3 0 3 Ga.

2 0 3

, 20 7 (2 ) (8 1 1 SE2 d 3 1 6 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (An act u al co n fl i ct o f i n t eres t “ ad v ers el y affect s

21co u ns el ’ s p erf o r m an ce, [an d i s] n o t j u s t a m ere t h eo ret i cal d i v i s i o n o f l o y al t i es .”)

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

In t h i s cas e, co n t rary t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g , co u n s el s h owed t h at t h ere are

act u al co n fl i ct s o f i n teres t s , n o t a m ere t h eo ret i cal d iv i s i o n o f l o y al t i es , b ecau s e h i s

“ i n ab i l i t y t o rai s e wh at [h e] b el i ev e[s ] t o b e v al i d

. . . cl ai m s i n t h e am en d ed m o t i o n

fo r n ew t ri al [an d o n ap p eal w i l l] s i g n i fi can t l y an d ad v e r s e l y affect [ h i s ]

rep res en t at i o n o f [t h e d efen dan t s ] .” Ha l l

, s u p ra at

_ _ _ ( 2 ) ( a )

. S ee al s o S t a t e v.

Ab er n a t hy

, 2 8 9 Ga. 6 0 3

, 6 0 5 (1 ) (7 1 5 SE2 d 4 8 ) (2 0 1 1) (“ A s ig ni fi can t effect o n t h e

rep res en t at i o n m ay b e fo u n d, fo r ex am p l e, wh ere co u n s el i s s h o wn to hav e refrai n ed

fro m rai si n g a p o t en t i al l y m eri t o ri o u s i s s u e d u e t o t h e co n fl i ct [.] ”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Becau s e co un s el s h owed t h at t h ere ex is t act u al co n fl i ct s o f i n t eres t s t h at wo u ld

cau s e h i m to refrai n fro m rai s in g p o t en t i al l y m eri t o ri o u s i s s u es , t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed

i t s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g t h e m o t i o n to wi t hd raw. See Bo ur a ss a v. St a t e , 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p.

4 6 3

, 4 7 1 (2 ) (8 1 1 SE2 d 1 1 3) (2 0 1 8 ) (“ W e rev i ew a t ri al ju d g e’ s d eci s i o n o n a

co u ns e l ’ s m otio n to wi t h d raw fo r ab u s e o f d i scret i o n.”), vacat ed o n ot h er g ro u n d s 3 0 6

Ga. 3 29 (8 3 0 SE2 d 18 9 ) (2 0 19 ). Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g t h erefo re sh o u l d b e rev ers ed

.

I am au t h o ri zed t o s t at e t h at Pres i d i n g J u d g e Barn es , Pres i d i n g J u d g e M i l l er,

Pres i d i n g J u d g e Do y le an d J u d g e Rees e jo i n i n t h i s d i s s en t

.

22

# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 28 2 . BUCKNER-W EBB et al . v . THE STATE.

D O Y LE , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

I jo i n wi t h t h e d i s s en t i n Di v i s i o ns 1 an d 3 fu l l y , b u t jo i n Di v i s i o n 2 as t o

ju d g m en t o n l y . In ad d it i on , I wri t e s ep arat el y t o Di v i si o n 3 t o p o i nt o u t t h at b as ed

u p o n m y rev i ew o f t h e reco rd , t h e t ri al co u rt cl earl y ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n b y

d en y i n g d efen s e co u n s el ’ s m o t i o n t o wi th d raw.

23In Gl a ss er v. Un i t ed S t a t es , 3 t h e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt h el d t h at

cri m i n al d efen d an t s h av e a Si x t h Am en d m en t ri g h t t o as s i s t an ce o f co u ns el t h at i s

“ u n t ram m el ed an d un i m

p ai red b y a co u rt o rd er req u i ri n g t h at o n e l awy er s hal l

s i m u l t an eo u s l y

rep res en t co n fl i ct i ng i n t eres t s .” 4 “ D efen se co u n s el h av e an et h i cal

o b l i g at i o n t o av o i d co n fl i ct i n g rep res en t at i o ns an d t o ad v is e t h e co u rt p ro m p t l y

wh en a co n fl i ct o f i n t eres t ari s es d u ri n g t h e co u rs e o f t ri al

. ” 5

[S] i n ce t h e d eci s i o n i n Gl a s s er , m o st co u rt s h av e h el d t h at an

at t o rn ey ’ s req u es t fo r t he ap p o i n t m en t o f s ep arat e co u n s el , b as ed o n

h i s rep res en tat io n s as an o ffi cer o f t h e co u rt reg ard i n g a co n fl i ct o f

i n t eres t s , s h o ul d b e g ran t ed . . . [b ecau s e t ] h e at t o rn ey rep res en t i n g
[m u l t i p l e] d efen dan t s i n a cri m i n al m at t er i s i n t h e b es t p os i t i o n

p ro fes s io nal l y

an d et h i cal l y

t o d et erm i ne wh en a co n fl i ct o f i n teres t

ex i s ts o r wi l l p ro b ab ly

d ev el o p i n t h e co u rs e o f a t ri al

. 6

3 3 1 5 U. S. 6 0 (6 2 SC 4 5 7 , 8 6 LE 6 80 ) (1 9 4 2).

4 Id . at 7 0

.

5 Cu yl er v. S u l li va n , 44 6 U. S. 3 3 5

, 34 6 (1 0 0 SC 1 7 0 8, 64 LE2 d 3 3 3 ) (1 9 8 0 ).

6 (Pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) Ho l l o wa y v. S t a t e , 4 3 5 U. S. 4 7 5, 4 8 6 (II) (9 8 SCt

1 1 7 3

, 5 5 LE2 d 42 6 ) (1 9 7 8 ). W e n o t e t h at i n t h is cas e t h e tri al co u rt was co n s i d eri n g

a m o t i o n t o wi t h draw b a s ed o n d efen s e co u ns el ’ s rep res en t at i on s o f co n fl i ct s o f

i n t eres t ari s i n g i n p r e p arat io n o f a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, as o p p os ed t o ap p el l at e

co n si d erat io n o f an i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f co u n sel ar g u m e n t b as ed o n t ri al

co u ns el ’ s co n cu rren t rep res en t at i o n o f m u l t ip l e d efen d an t s

. See, e.g ., To l ber t v. S t a t e , 2 9 8 Ga. 1 4 7

, 1 4 8-1 5 7 (2 ) (a)-(d ) (7 8 0 SE2 d 2 9 8) (2 01 5 ).

24A t ri al co u rt m ay “ ex p l o r[e] t h e ad eq u acy

o f t he b as i s o f d efen s e co u n s el ’ s

rep res en t at i o ns reg ard i n g a co nfl i ct o f i n t eres t s wi t h o u t i m p ro p erl y req u i ri n g

d i s cl os u re o f t h e co n fi d en t ial co m m u n icat i o ns o f t h e cl i en t .” 7 In d o i n g s o,

h o wev er, i t m

u s t “ refrai n fro m

em b arras s i n g co u n s el i n t h e d efen s e o f an accu s ed

b y i n s i s t in g , o r i n d eed , ev en s u g g es t i n g , t h at co u ns el u n dert ak e t o co n cu rren t l y

rep res en t i n t eres t s wh i ch m i g h t d i verg e fro m t h o s e o f h i s fi rs t cl i en t , wh en t h e

p o s s i b i l i ty

o f t h at d i v erg en ce i s b ro u g h t h o m e t o t h e co u rt .” 8

In t h i s cas e, aft er a h eari n g an d ex p art e co n feren ce wi t h d efen s e co u n s el o n

t h e m o t i o n , t h e t ri al ju dg e an n o u n ced i n o p en co u rt t hat h e h ad n o t h eard co n fl i ct s

o f i n t eres t “ s p eci fi c en o u gh ” wi t h reg ard t o d efen s e co u n s el ’ s jo in t rep res en t at io n

o f al l s ix d efen d an t s , an d h e n ot ed t h at h e fo u n d t h at “ t h e co n fl i ct s . . . are n o t

s u ffi ci en t t o req u i re s ev eran ce an d n ew co u n s el .” 9 Th e co u rt ’ s ack n o wl ed gm en t

7 Ho l l o wa y , 4 3 5 U. S. at 4 8 7

.

8 (Pu n ct u at i o n an d em

p h as i s o m it t ed .) Id

. at 4 8 6

, q u o t i ng Gl a s s er , 3 1 5 U. S.

at 7 1 , 7 6

.

9 As th e d i s s en t n ot es , d efe n s e co u n s el g av e cl ear ex am p l es o f ap p el l at e

arg u m en t s h e wo u l d b e u n ab l e t o m ak e i f h e rep res en t ed al l o f t h e defen d an t s d u e to

co n fl i ct i n g i n t eres t s, i n cl u d in g cl ai m s reg ard i n g sev eran ce, co m p el l ed s tat em en t s o f

p u b l i c em p l o y ees , ev i d en t i ary ru l i n gs , cro s s -ex am i n at i on , an d in effect i v e as s i s t an ce

o f co u ns el

.

25t h at d efen s e co u n s el d i d , h o wev er, p ro v i d e an l eas t a n ex am pl e o f a co n fl ict

req u i red t h e co u rt t o g ran t t he m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw. 1 0

In s t ead

, t h e t ri al co u rt rep eat ed l y p res s ed d efen s e co u n s el fo r m o re s p eci fi c

ex am p l es o f t h e co nfl i ct . Th e co u rt was u n d ers t an d ab l y an g ry ab o u t t h e d el ay

cau s ed b y t h e p u b l ic d efen der’ s o ffi ce’ s d eci s i on t o as s ig n a s i n gl e at t o rn ey t o

rep res en t t h e s i x i nd i g en t d efen d an t s wh en i t was k n o wn at t h e o ut s et t h ere co u l d

b e a co nfl i ct an d ab o u t t he t wo -an d -a-h al f y ears i t t o o k d efen s e co u n s el t o rev i ew

t h e t ri al t ran s cri p t t o i d en t i fy p ot en ti al ap p el lat e arg u m en t s

. 1 1 Th e co u rt al s o

ex p res s ed co n cern on m

u lt i p l e o ccas i o n s ab o u t t h e co s t t o t h e St at e t o fu n d

s ep arat e co u ns el fo r each o f t h e d efen d an t s . An d wh en t ri al co u n sel ad v i s ed t h e

co u rt t hat g i v i n g d et ai l ed ex am p l es o f t h e co nfl i ct wo u l d req u i re h im t o v i o l at e h i s

1 0 See Ho l l o wa

y , 4 3 5 U

. S. at 4 8 5; W

il l ia ms v. S t a t e , 3 0 2 Ga. 4 0 4

, 4 0 9 (3 ) (8 0 7

SE2 d 4 1 8 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (h o l d i n g t h at i f a t ri al co u rt d et erm i n es “ t h at [a] real co n fl i ct o f

i n t eres t ex i s t s b u t s t i l l d en i es a req u es t fo r new co u n sel b as e d o n an at t o rn ey ’ s

rep res en t at i o n t hat a co n fl ict of i n t eres t ex is ts

, r ever s a l is r eq u i r ed ”) (em

p h a s i s

s u p p li ed ).

1 1 Fo r ex am

p l e, at o n e p o i n t

, i n res p o n s e t o d e f en s e co u n s el ’ s co m

m en t t h at

co n ti n u i n g t o r e p res en t in g al l s i x d efen d an t s was a co n fl i ct o f i n t eres t t h at m i g ht

res u l t i n h i s p ro fes s i o n al d i s ci p l i n e, t h e t ri al co u rt s t at ed

, “ W el l

, I feel l i k e g i v i n g y o u

s o m e d i s ci p l i n e ri g ht n o w. W h at I w o u l d l i k e t o d o i s ju s t pu l l a t rap d o o r an d h av e

s o m e al l ig at o rs d o w n th ere i s wh at I wo u l d l ik e t o d o wh en y o u co m e t o t h i s c o u rt

t wo an d a h al f y ears [l at er wh en ] ev ery b o d y is wai ti ng , wh y , wh y

– an d y o u are n ot

ev en cl o se t o b ei n g t h ro u g h wi t h t h e b ri ef, are y o u ? ”

26et h i cal o b l i g at io n s , t he t ri al co u rt ag ai n i m p ro p erl y p res sed fo r m o re s p eci fi ci t y

an d i n ti m at ed t h at as l o n g as t h e co u rt o rd ered t h e d efen s e co u n sel t o rep res en t al l

s i x d efen d an t s , co u n sel co u l d n o t b e d i s ci p li n ed , reg ard l es s o f wh et h er t h e

rep res en t at i o n was u n et h i cal o r h arm fu l t o t h e d efen d an t s

. 1 2

In l i g h t o f d efen s e co u ns el ’ s “ rep res en t at i o n s as an o ffi cer o f t h e co u rt

reg ard i n g . . . co nfl ict [s ] o f i n t eres t ,” t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i scret i o n b y

d en y i n g t h e m ot i o n t o wi t h draw. 1 3

I am au t h o ri zed t o s t at e t h at Pres i d i n g J u d g e Barn es , Pres i d i n g J u dg e M i l l er,

an d J ud g e Rees e jo in i n t h i s d i s s en t

.

1 2 See Ho l l o wa

y , 4 35 U

. S. at 4 8 5 (h o l di n g t h at ev en t h o u g h “ d efen s e co u n s el

m i g h t h a v e p res en t ed t h e req u es t s fo r ap p o i n t m en t o f s ep arat e co u n s el m o re

v i g o ro u sl y

an d i n g reat er d et ai l[

, ]

. . . t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s res po n ses hard l y en co u rag ed

p u rs u i t o f t h e s ep arat e-co un s el cl ai m

. . . an d as to pres en t i n g t he bas i s fo r t h at cl ai m i n m o re d et ai l, d efen s e co un s el was co n fro n t e d w i t h a ri s k o f vi o l at i n g, b y m o re d i s cl os u re, h i s d u ty

o f co n fi d en t i al i t y

t o h i s cl i en t s

. ”).

1 3 Id . at 48 5

.

27