Opinion ID: 2188660
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Was defendant denied the effective assistance of counsel because his trial attorney had previously represented a State's witness?

Text: The stated issue was raised before trial. The law firm of defendant's trial counsel had previously represented James Berry, who was a State's witness in this case, on a drug offense. Defendant argues that because the firm's interests would prohibit his lawyer from sharply cross-examining the firm's former client, the trial counsel's interest would be materially adverse to those of defendant. Before the trial began, the prosecutor informed the court of the potential conflict. Defendant was subsequently brought into the courtroom. He then stated that he was aware of his attorney's firm's prior representation of Berry, and he consented to the attorney's continued representation. Defendant's argument is highly speculative. Nothing in the record suggests that defense counsel was prevented from serving as a vigorous partisan of defendant's interests. See State v. Bellucci, 81 N.J. 531, 541, 410 A. 2d 666 (1980). Berry's case was wholly unrelated to defendant's case. There is no indication that defense counsel was forced to choose between betraying Berry's confidences or compromising his duty to defendant by not cross-examining Berry fully and uninhibitedly. Defense counsel was not prevented from cross-examining Berry fully and he appears to have conducted his cross-examination ably. Moreover, defendant consented in open court to counsel's continued representation. Defendant now claims that his consent was thrust on him at the last moment and was neither knowing nor voluntary. However, defendant's consent appears on the record, and there is no suggestion that he was coerced or deceived into consenting.