Opinion ID: 1651956
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Prior Representation of Michael Carson

Text: Echols next contends that a conflict of interests existed as a result of Price's prior representation of Michael Carson on a juvenile matter. Carson was called as a witness for the prosecution against Echols's codefendant, Jason Baldwin. Carson testified that Baldwin had made a jailhouse confession about the murders. Carson testified as follows: I said, just between me and you, did you do it. I won't say a word. He said yes and he went into detail about it. It was just me and Jason [Baldwin]. He told me he dismembered the kids, or I don't know exactly how many kids. He just said he dismembered them. He sucked the blood from the penis and scrotum and put the balls in his mouth. Echols I, 326 Ark. 917, 941, 936 S.W.2d 509, 519-20. The record reflects that Echols's counsel did not cross-examine Carson, but Baldwin's counsel did so rigorously. The trial court found that Echols could have no complaint about Carson's testimony because it was not admissible against him, only his codefendant, Baldwin. The trial court also found significant Price's testimony that if he had cross-examined Carson, he may have inadvertently suggested to the jury a connection between Echols and Carson's testimony. Finally, the trial court noted that although Echols had the services of two court-appointed attorneys, he made no effort at all to discredit co-counsel, Scott Davidson, concerning his representation of Echols. These findings are supported by the record. During the Rule 37 proceedings, Price testified that the trial judge was aware of his former representation of Carson. Because of that situation, the defense team had agreed that Davidson would be the one to conduct any cross-examination of Carson. Subsequently, however, Price and Davidson decided not to cross-examine Carson for several reasons. First, Price stated that he had no impeaching evidence to add to Baldwin's counsel's cross-examination, as he had already supplied Baldwin's counsel with any potential impeachment material on Carson. Second, he relied on the trial court's ruling that, although Echols and Baldwin were tried as accomplices, Carson's testimony would only be admitted against Baldwin. Indeed, the trial court instructed the jury that Carson's testimony was only admissible against Baldwin. Lastly, Price felt that if he had cross-examined Carson, he would be running the risk of opening the door to a line of questioning that may influence the trial judge to change his mind about the applicability of Carson's testimony to Echols. Echols has failed to demonstrate that counsel actively represented conflicting interests. He has further failed to demonstrate that his defense was in any way prejudiced by the alleged conflict. We thus affirm on this point.