Opinion ID: 441811
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Hill and MMI

Text: 17 Hill and MMI argue that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion to withdraw from representation of MMI made by counsel for Hill and MMI due to an allegedly clear possibility of a conflict of interests. Hill and MMI also contend that the trial court erred when it treated the motion, in part, as one for continuance. We disagree. 18 Holloway v. Arkansas, supra, requires a trial court either to accept counsel's representations concerning the existence of a conflict of interests or to take adequate steps of its own to insure that there is no conflict. United States v. Morando, 628 F.2d 535, 536 (9th Cir.1980). See generally Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 348, 100 S.Ct. 1708, 1718, 64 L.Ed.2d 333 (1980). In the present case, the trial court inquired on two occasions as to the basis for counsel's assertion that a conflict existed. Counsel merely stated that he had recently learned of a possible conflict. On neither occasion did counsel make an adequate showing of the existence of an actual conflict of interest to have warranted the trial court's granting the motion for withdrawal. See United States v. Mers, 701 F.2d 1321, 1328 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 104 S.Ct. 481 & 482, 78 L.Ed.2d 679 (1983). 2 Consequently, we conclude that the trial court did not err in denying the motion by counsel to withdraw from representation of MMI.