THI RD DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, M CFA DDEN and M CM I LLI A N, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Jul y 1, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A0 25 6 . THE STATE v . M ANTOOTH.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

In t h i s i n t erl o cu t o ry ap p eal

, we are as ked t o co n si d er wh et h er a cri m i n al

d efen d an t h as s t an d i n g to o b ject t o a p ro s ecu ti n g at to rn ey ’ s d eci s io n t o recu s e h i m s el f

aft er th e p ro s ecu to r h as d et erm i n ed t h at h e h as a n a c t u a l or p o ten t i al co n fl i ct o f

i n t eres t i n t h e cas e. Fo r t he reas o n s s et fo r t h b e l o w , w e an s wer in t h e n eg at i v e an d

rev ers e t he t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er v acat i n g t he recu s al

.

W e rev i ew th i s i s su e of l aw d e n o v o

. See Ti sd a le v. Ci t y o f Cu mmi ng , 3 2 6 Ga.

Ap p

. 1 9, 2 0 (7 5 5 SE2 d 8 3 3 ) (2 0 1 4 ). Fo l l o wi n g h er arres t i n Feb ru ary 2 0 1 3

, Do n n a

M an t o o th w as ch arg ed wi t h DUI p er s e (OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 (a) (5 )) an d an o p en

co n tai n er v i o l at i o n (OCGA § 4 0 -6 -2 5 3 ). Be c au s e o f M an t oo t h ’ s rel at i o n s h i p t o a

m em b er o f t h e Co b b Co u n t y So l i ci t o r-Gen eral ’ s s taff, t h e Co b b Co u n ty So l i ci t o r

-Gen eral (t h e “ So l ici t o r-Gen eral ”) recu s ed h i m s el f an d n o t i fi ed t h e At t o rn ey Gen eral

o f Geo rg i a, p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -6 5

, o f h i s o ffi ce’ s co n fl i ct o f i n t eres t i n t h i s

cas e. Th e At to rn ey Gen eral t h en ap p o i n t ed th e DeKal b Co un t y So l i ci t o r-Gen eral to

act as a s o l i ci t or-g en eral p ro t em p ore i n t h e cas e ag a i n s t M an t o o th

. M o re t h an t wo

y ears l at er, M an t o o t h m ov ed t o v acat e t h e So li ci t o r

- G e n eral ’ s recu s al

, arg u i n g t h at

t h ere was n o act u al co n fl i ct o f i n t e r e s t an d t h at h e h ad recu s ed hi m s el f wi t h o u t a

h eari n g o r t he d efen d an t ’ s co n s en t

. Fo ll o wi n g a h eari n g , t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed

M an t o o th ’ s m ot i o n an d al s o g ran t ed t h e St at e a cert ifi cat e o f i m m ed i at e rev i ew. W e

g ran t ed t h e St at e’ s ap p l i cat io n fo r i nt erl o cu to ry rev i ew, 1 an d t h i s ap peal fo l l o wed

.

1

. In i ts fi rs t en u m erat io n o f erro r, t h e St at e as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

g ran t i n g M an t o o t h ’ s m o ti o n t o v acat e t he recu sal b ecau s e a cri m i n al d efen dan t d o es

n o t h av e s t an d i n g t o o b

ject t o t h e recu sal o f a s o li ci t o r-g en eral

.

W e t u rn fi rs t t o t h e rel ev an t l eg al fram ewo rk

. OCGA § 1 5 -1 8-6 5 (a) p ro v i d es :

W h en a s ol ici t o r-g en eral ’s o ffi ce i s d i sq u al i fi ed fro m i n t eres t o r

rel at io ns h ip to en g ag e i n t h e p ro s e cu t i o n o f a p art i cu l ar cas e or cas es ,

s u ch s o l i ci t or-g en eral s h al l n o t i f y t h e At t o rn ey Gen eral o f th e

d i s q u al i fi cat i o n

. Up o n recei p t o f s u ch n o ti fi cat i o n , t he At to rn ey Gen eral

1 W e n o t e th at a jo i n t am i cu s cu ri ae b ri ef h as b een fi l ed b y t h e Pro s ecu t i n g At t o rn ey s ’ Co u n ci l o f Geo rg ia, t h e Di s t ri ct At t o rn ey s’ As s o ci at i o n o f Geo rg i a, an d

t h e Geo rg i a As s o ci at i o n o f So l i ci t o rs -Gen eral

.

2s h al l req u es t t h e s erv i ces o f an d t hereaft er ap p o i n t a s o l i ci t o r-g en eral

,

a d i s t ri ct at t o rn ey , a ret ire d p r o s ecu t i n g at t o rn ey as p ro v i d ed i n Co de

Sect io n 1 5 -1 8 -3 0

, o r o t h er co m p et en t at to rn ey to act i n p l ace of th e

s o l i ci t o r-g en eral

, or m ay d es i g n at e an at t o rn ey fro m t h e Dep art m en t o f

Law. Th e ap p o i n t m en t of t h e s ol i ci t o r-g en eral pro t em p o re s h al l s p eci fy

i n w ri t in g t he n am e o f t h e cas e o r cas es t o wh i ch s u ch ap po i n t m en t sh al l

ap p l y

. 2

Th e Geo rg i a Ru l es o f Pro fes s io n a l C o n d u c t m ak e cl ear t h at i t i s th e d u t y o f t h e

i n d i v i d u al at t o rn ey to d et er m i n e wh et her a co n fl i ct o f i n t eres t ex i s t s , an d i f s o,

wh et h er t o d ecl i n e rep res en t at i o n . Ru l e 1 .7 (a) p ro v i d es :

A l awy er s h al l n o t rep res en t o r co n t i 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 o w n i n t eres t s o r t h e l awy er’ s d ut i es

t o an o t h er cl ien t

, a fo rm er cl i en t

, o r a th i rd p ers o n wi l l m a t e r i al l y an d

ad v ers el y affect t he rep res en t at i o n o f t he cl ien t , ex cep t as p erm it t ed i n (b ).

Co m m en t 1 t o Ru l e 1 .7 ex p l ai n s t h at “ [l ] o y al t y an d i n d e p en d en t j u d gm en t are

es s en t i al el em en t s i n t h e l awy er’ s rel at i o n s h i p t o a cl ien t

. If an i m p erm i s s ib l e co n fl i ct

o f i n t eres t ex i s t s befo re rep res en t at i o n i s u n dert ak en t h e rep res en t at i o n s h o u l d b e

2 T h i s st at u t e s erv ed as t h e m o d el fo r t h e 2 0 0 2 rev i s i o n o f OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -5

p ro v id i n g fo r t h e recu s al o r d i s q u al i fi cat i o n of d i s t ri ct at t o rn ey s

. See Ga. L. 2 0 0 2

, p. 1 2 1 1 , § 1 (SB 2 7 6 ).

3d ecl i ned .” 3 An d o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as rei t erat ed t h at “ t h e p ri m ary res p o n s i b i l i t y fo r

r e s o l v in g qu es t i o n s o f co n fl i ct o f i n t eres t ” res t s wi t h t h e l awy er u n d ert ak i n g t h e

rep res en t at i o n. Ber n o cch i v. Fo r cu cci

, 2 79 Ga. 4 6 0

, 4 6 3 (2 ) (6 14 SE2 d 77 5 ) (2 0 0 5 )

(rel y i n g o n Co m

m en t 1 5 t o Ru le 1 .7 ). 4

M an t o o t h arg u es , n o n et h el es s , th at s h e h as st an d in g t o ch al l en g e t h e o rd er

b as ed o n t h e St at e’ s al l eg ed fai l u re t o p ro v e an y l eg al b as is fo r t h e recu s al an d fu rt h er

at t em p t s t o d is t i ng u i s h h er cas e fro m t h o s e rel i ed u po n b y t h e S t at e t hat in v o l v ed a

“ l e g i t i m at e co n fl i ct o f i n t eres t .” Ho wev er, p ret erm i t t i ng wh et h er t h e St at e can

– o r

i s ev en req u i red t o

–

p ro v e t h at t h e So l ici t o r-Gen eral h ad a “ l e g i t i m a t e” co n fl i ct o f

i n t eres t

, M an t o o t h h as s h o wn us n o l eg al au t h o ri ty s u p p o rt i n g t h e pro p o s i t i o n t h at a

cri m i n a l d e f

en d an t h as s t an d i n g t o ob ject to a p ro secu t i n g at t o rn ey ’ s v o l u n t ary

recu s al

. In d eed

, Geo rg i a l aw d i ct at es o t h erwi s e. Th i s Co urt h as s p eci fi cal l y h el d t h at

3 In ad d i ti o n , a s o l i ci to r-g en eral i s req u ired t o s wear an o at h t h at h e “ wi l l wel l

, fai t h fu l l y , an d i m

p art i al ly an d wi t h o u t fear, fav o r, o r affect i o n d i s ch arg e [h i s ] d u ti es

as s o l i ci t o r-g en eral .” OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -6 1.

4 W e n o te t h at th e Su p rem e Co u rt al s o h el d t h at o p p o si ng co un s el m ay rai s e t h e

q u es ti o n “ wh ere t he co nfl ict i s s u ch as cl earl y t o cal l i n t o q u es t i o n th e fai r o r effi ci en t
ad m i n is t rat i o n o f j u s t i ce.” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed

. ) Ber n o cch i

, 2 7 9 Ga. at

4 6 3 (2 ) (cau t i o n i n g t h at s uch o b ject io n s s h ou l d b e v iewed wi th cau t i on as t h ey can b e m i s u sed fo r p u rp o s es o f h aras s m en t ). Ho wev er, we d o n o t r e a d t h i s h o l d i n g to
i n cl u d e th e rev ers e, i

. e., t h at a p art y m ay ch al l en g e op p o s in g co u ns el ’ s d et erm i n at i o n

t h at a co n fl i ct d o es ex is t , an d d ecl i n e t o ex t en d t h e Su p rem e Co urt ’ s h o l d in g h ere.

4a d efen d an t “ d o es n o t h av e a s u b s t a n t i v e r i g h t t o hav e h i s cas e t ri ed b y a s p eci fi c

p ro s ecu to r s o as t o m ak e n o t i ce n eces s ary i n o rd er t o o p p o s e t h e [s o l i ci t o r-g en eral ] ’ s

d i s q u al i fi cat i o n

. ” Nel v. St a t e , 2 5 2 Ga. Ap p. 7 6 1

, 76 2 (1 ) (5 5 7 SE2 d 44 ) (2 0 01 ). An d

we are aware o f n o ot h er ju ri sd i ct i o n t h at p erm i t s a cri m i n al defen d an t t o ch o o s e h i s

or h e r p ro s ecu t or. See Go n za l es v. Ra p el j e , No

. 06 -CV-1 0 1 91

, 20 1 5 U

. S. D i s t

. LEXIS

4 4 5 2 4 at * 1 4 -1 5 (E.D. M i ch

. Ap ri l 6

, 2 0 1 5) (“ Co u rt is awa r e o f n o S u p rem e Co u rt

(o r, fo r t h at m at t er, an y ) p reced en t es t ab l i s h in g t h at a d efen d an t ’ s ri g h t to co u n s el o f

ch o ice ex t en d s t o t h e ri g h t t o ch o o s e a p ro s ecu t or.”).

M an t o o t h fu rt h er arg ues t h at

, ev en if h er rel at i on s h i p to an em p l o y ee p res en t ed

a co n fl i ct

, t h e So l i ci to r-Gen eral s h o u ld hav e i m p os ed an e t h i c a l screen aro u n d t h e

em pl o y ee rat h er t h an v o l u n t ari ly recu s e h i s en t ire of f i ce. Ho w ev er, t h at wo u l d req u i re

t h e So li ci t o r-Gen eral t o rem ai n i n t h e d i ffi cu lt p o s i t i o n o f h av i n g t o zeal o u s l y

ad v ocat e fo r t h e co n v i ct i o n of t h e fam i l y m em b er o f an em

p l oy ee o r face accu s at i on s

o f s h o wi n g i n ap pro p ri at e fav o ri t i s m

. W h i le i m pl em en t i n g p ro p er s creeni ng m eas u res

aro u n d a n o n -l awy er m ay be u s efu l i n p rev en t i n g t h e i m p ro p er s hari n g o f co n fi d en t i al

i n fo rm at i o n , 5 we bel i ev e t h e det erm i n at i o n o f wh et h er s creen i n g m eas u res wo u l d b e

s u ffi ci en t i n t h i s cas e o r wh et h er recu s al o f t h e en t i re o ffi ce i s n eces sary i s b es t l eft

5 See Ho d ge v. URFA-S

ext o n

, LP

, 2 9 5 Ga. 1 3 6, 1 4 0 (1 ) (7 5 8 SE2 d 3 14 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

5t o t he in d i v i d u al p ro s ecu t in g at t o rn ey

. Un d e r the c i r c um s tan ces p res en t ed i n t h i s cas e,

we w i l l n o t s eco n d g u es s t h e So l i ci t o r-Gen eral ’ s vo l u n t ary recu s al

. 6 See W i l s o n v.

S t a t e , 2 5 7 Ga. 3 5 2

, 3 5 3 ( 3 5 9 SE2 d 6 6 1 ) (1 9 8 7 ) (co u n s el “ i s i n t h e bes t p o s i t i o n

p r o fes si o n al l y an d et h i cal l y to d et erm i n e wh en a co n fl ict o f i n t eres t ex i st s o r w i l l

p ro b ab l y de ve l o p in t h e co u rs e o f a t ri al ”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed ). Becau s e

M an t o o th do es n ot hav e t h e ri g h t t o ch al l en g e t h e So l ici t o r

- G e n e r al ’ s v o l u n t ary

recu s al , t h e t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er g ran t i n g h er m ot i o n t o v acat e m u s t b e rev ers ed

.

2

. Al t ern at i vel y , t h e St at e al s o as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt l ack ed l eg al au t h o ri t y

t o v acat e t h e At t or

n e y G e ne r a l’ s a d m i n i st rat i v e ap p o i n t m en t o f a so l i ci t o r-g en eral p ro

t em p o re fo l l o wi n g t h e v o l u nt ary recu s al of th e p ro s ecu t o r’ s o ffi ce p u rs u an t t o OCGA

§ 1 5-1 8-6 5 (a). W e ag ree.

In ad d res s i n g t h i s en u m erat io n , i t i s h el p fu l t o ex am i ne t h e p ri o r i t erat i o n s o f

t h e rel ev an t s tat u t o ry fram ewo rk

. 7 Pri o r t o 19 9 6

, t h e O ffi ci al C o d e o f Geo rg i a

An n o t at ed d i d n o t sp eci fi cal l y ad d res s t h e d u t i es , p o wers , o r res p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e

6 W e al s o ex p res s n o o pi n i o n as t o th e rev ers e s i tu at io n

– wh et h er a s creen i n g

m eas u re w o u l d h av e been s u ffi ci en t i f t h e So l i ci t o r-Gen eral h ad el ect ed n o t t o recu s e.

7 See OCGA § 1 -3 -1 (a) (“ In al l i n terp ret at i o n s o f s t at u tes

, t he co u rt s s h al l l o o k

d i l i g en t l y fo r t he i n t en t i on o f t h e Gen eral A s sem bl y , k eep i n g in v i ew at al l ti m es t h e

o l d l aw, t h e ev i l

, an d t h e rem ed y .”); Eva n s v. St a t e , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 4, 1 0 6 (7 7 8 SE2 d

3 6 0 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

6St at e’ s ch i ef pro secu t i n g at t o r n e y i n St at e Co urt s , t h en k n o wn as “ s o l i ci t o rs .”

B e cau s e t h ere was “ n o s p eci fi c s t at u t o ry pro v is i on fo r d i s q u al i fy i n g a s t at e co u r t

s o l i ci t o r an d ap p o i n ti ng a s u bs t i t u t e t o p ro secu t e i n h i s p l ace,” co u rt s fo u n d i t

“ i n st ru ct i v e t o l o o k to t h e s t at u t o ry ru l es ap p l y in g t o d i s t r i ct at t o rn ey s

. ” S t a t e v.

Eva ns , 18 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 4 9

, 6 5 1 (3 ) (3 7 1 SE2 d 43 2 ) (1 9 88 ), o v erru l ed o n o t h er

g ro u nd s , S t a t e v. S

mi t h

, 2 68 Ga. 7 5 (4 8 5 SE2 d 4 91 ) (1 9 9 7). Th u s , rel y in g o n fo rm er

OCGA § 1 5 -1 8-5 (a), a p res i d i n g ju d g e h ad t h e au t h o ri t y t o a p p o in t a t em p o rary

s o l i c i t o r wh en t h e so l i ci to r was ab s en t

, i n d is po s ed

, o r d i s q ual i fi ed

. 8 See Cr a mer v.

S p a l d i n g Co un t

y , 2 6 1 Ga. 57 0

, 5 7 4 (4 ) (4 0 9 SE2 d 3 0 ) (1 9 9 1 ). An d t he t ri al ju d g e h ad

t h e au t h o ri t y

t o d i s q u al i fy

t h e p ro s ecu t i n g at t o rn ey , al t ho u g h th at au t h ori t y was n ot

8 Fo rm er OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -5 p ro vi d ed , i n p art :

(a) W hen a di s tri ct at t o rn ey i s ab s en t

, i n d i s p o s ed

, o r i s d is q u al ifi ed fro m

i n t eres t o r rel at i o ns h i p t o en g ag e in a p ro s ecu t i o n , t he p res id i n g ju d g e,

as t h e em erg en cy , i n h i s d i s cret i o n, req ui res , m ay :

(1 ) Ap p o in t a co m

p et en t at t o rn ey o f t h e ci rcu i t t o act i n h i s p lace; (2 ) Co m m an d th e s erv i ces o f a d i s t ri ct at to rn ey o f an y o t h er acces s i b l e ci rcu i t ; o r (3 ) M ak e a req u is i t i o n t o t h e Go v ern o r fo r t h e s e r v i ce of t h e At t o rn ey Gen eral

.

7u n b o u n d ed

. S e e , e.g ., St a t e v. Da vi s , 1 5 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 3 7

, 5 3 8 -3 9 (2 ) (2 8 4 SE2 d 5 1 )

(1 9 8 1) (t ri al co u rt erred i n d i s q u al i fy i ng t h e d i s t ri ct at t o rn ey fo r m ov i n g t o n o l -p ro s

t h e i n d i ct m en t ).

Effect i v e J u l y 1

, 1 9 96

, t h e Gen eral As s em b l y co m p reh en s i v el y rev i s ed t h e

l aws reg ard i n g t he o ffi ce o f st at e co u rt s o l i ci t or, ren am i n g t he o ffi ce t h at o f “ s o l i ci t o rg en eral .” 9 See S t a t e v. Ri s h

, 2 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. 72 9

, 7 3 1 (1 ), n.3 (4 76 SE2 d 5 0 ) (1 9 9 6 );

OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -6 0 e t s e q

. P e r t i n en t t o t h i s cas e, o n e of t h e ch an g es en act ed b y t h e

Gen eral A s s em

b l y w a s t h e ad o p t i o n o f a n ew p ro ces s fo r ap p o i n t i n g a s o l i ci t o rg en eral p ro t em

p o re aft er a v o l u n t ary recu s al

. See OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -6 5 (a). A n d aft er

t h e 2 0 0 2 rev i s i o n s t o OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -5

, t o t rack t h e l an g u ag e o f OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -6 5,

t h e o n l y m ech an i s m fo r ap p o i n t i n g ei t h er a s u b s ti tu t e d i s t ri ct at t o rn ey or s o l i ci t o rg en eral aft er a v o l u n t ary recu s al i s t hat co n tai n ed i n t h os e s t a t u t e s , i .e., t h e

p ro s ecu ti n g at to rn ey m

u st n o t i fy t h e At t o rn ey Gen eral o f t h e d i s q u al i fi cat i on , wh o i s

t h e on l y p ers o n t h en au t ho ri zed t o ap p o i n t a s u b s t i t u t e p r o s ecu t i n g at t o rn ey p ro

t em p o re. Th u s , fo l l owi n g t h e Gen eral As s em b l y ’ s co m p reh en si ve rev i s i o n s , t h e t ri al

co u rt n o l o n g er en

jo y s th e s am e au t h o ri t y i t o n ce d id i n d i s q u al i fy i n g an d ap p o i n t i n g

s u b s t i t u t e p ro s ecu t i n g at t o rn ey s

.

9 See Ga. L. 1 9 9 6

, p . 7 4 8, 7 4 9 § 2

.

8Al t h ou g h s u b s ect io n (d ) o f OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -6 5 reco g n iz e s tha t tr ia l co urt s ret ai n

t h e in h eren t au t h o ri t y to d i s q u al i fy an at t o rn ey wh o i s l eg al l y d is q u al ifi ed

, 1 0 t h ey n o

l o n g er h av e t h e s am e d i s cr e t i o n t o d o s o an d m u s t “ s p eci fy t h e l eg al b as i s o f s u ch

o rd er” wh i ch i s th en su b

j ect t o in t erl o cu t o ry ap pel l at e rev i ew. 1 1 Tel l i n g l y , t h ere i s n o

s i m i l ar l an g u ag e co n t ai n ed i n s u b s ect i o n (a) o f t h i s s t at u t e g ran t i n g t ri al co u rt s an y

au t h o ri t y t o i n t erv en e i n t he v o l u n t ary recu s al an d s u b s e q u en t ap p o in t m en t o f a

s u b s t i t u t e s o l i ci to r-g en eral th ro u g h t h e At t o rn ey Gen eral ’ s o ffi ce. W e al s o n o t e t h at

,

u n d er t h e p l ai n l an g u ag e o f OCGA § 1 5 -1 8-6 5 (a), n ei th er t h e s o l i ci t or-g en eral n o r

t h e At t o rn ey G en eral i s req ui red t o p ro v i d e a “ l eg al b as i s” fo r t h e d i s q ual i fi cat i o n o f

a s o l i ci t o r-g en eral

.

1 0 S e e Ber n o cch i

, 2 7 9 Ga. at 4 6 3 (2 ) (t ri al co u rt m ay s u a s p o n t e rai s e t h e

q u es ti o n o f a co n fl i c t o f in teres t wh en i t ap pears t h e at t orn ey h as n eg l ect ed h i s

res p o n s i b i l i t y

t o res o l v e s u ch q u es t i o n s).

1 1 OCGA § 1 5 -1 8 -6 5 (d ) p ro v i d es :

An y o rd er en t ered b y a co u rt d i s q u al i fy i n g a s o li c i t o r -g en eral ’ s o ffi ce

fro m en g ag in g i n t he p ro s ecu t i o n s hal l s p eci f y t h e l eg al b as i s o f s u ch

o rd er. Th e s o l i ci t o r-g en eral m ay , o n b eh al f o f t h e s t at e an d p ri o r t o th e

d efen d an t i n a cri m i n al cas e b ei ng pu t i n j eo p ard y , ap p ly fo r a cert ifi cat e

o f i m m ed i at e rev i ew as pro v id ed i n Co d e Sect i o n 5 -7 -2

, an d s u ch o rd er

s h al l b e s u b

ject t o ap p el lat e rev i ew as p ro v i d ed b y Ch ap t er 7 of Ti t l e 5

.

9Acco rd i ng l y , b ecau s e t he t ri al co u r t l a c k s au t ho ri t y t o v acat e t h e At t o rn ey

Gen eral ’ s ap p oi nt m en t o f a p ro s ecu t i n g at t o rn ey p ro t em p ore, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er

g ran t i n g M an t oo t h ’ s m o t i o n t o v acat e t h e recu s al m u s t b e rev ers ed o n t h i s g ro u n d as

we l l

. 1 2 See In re Ti d

wel l

, 2 7 9 G a. Ap p

. 7 3 4

, 7 4 1 (3 ) (6 3 2 SE2 d 6 9 0) (2 0 06 ) (t ri al

co u rt ’ s ap p o in tm en t o f s u bs t i t ut e p ro s ecu t in g at t o rn ey was i n erro r).

3

. Becau s e we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ord er fo r t h e reas o ns s et fo rt h in

Di v is i o n s 1 an d 2

, we n eed n o t ad d res s t h e St at e’ s rem ai n i n g en u m erat i o n s o f erro r.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Mi l l er

, P. J., a nd

McFa dd en , J., co n cu r

.

1 2 W e reject M an t o o t h ’s c o n t en t i o n t h at u n l i m i t ed v o lu n t ary recu s al s b y a

p ro s ecu ti n g a t t o r n e y wo u l d al l o w p ro s ecu t o rs t o p i ck an d ch oo s e wh o t hei r o ffi ces el ect t o p ro s ecu t e. Ot her rem ed i es ex i s t t o ad d res s a p u b l i c o ffi ci al

, s u ch as a d i s t ri ct

at t o rn ey o r s ol i ci t o r-g en eral

, wh o fai l s t o p erfo rm t h e d u t i es o f h i s o r h e r o ffi ce.

10