Opinion ID: 400903
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Disqualification of Kennedy as Sweeney's Trial Counsel

Text: 19 In support of its motion to disqualify Kennedy from representing Sweeney at trial, the government pointed out that Sweeney, with Cunningham, is charged with having conspired to obstruct the hearing on the authenticity of the Falco memorandum introduced at the trial of Spain. The government stated that it would call as a witness McCreery, who would testify to the conversation in which Kennedy told her that the subpoenaed envelopes were safe and that the government would have to find them if it wanted them. 20 The government claimed that Kennedy ought to be a witness at Sweeney's trial to rebut, corroborate, or explain McCreery's testimony. On this basis it argued that Kennedy must be disqualified as counsel under Rules 5-101(B) and 5-102(A) of the Disciplinary Rules of the American Bar Association Code of Professional Responsibility (Disciplinary Rules), which prohibit a lawyer from accepting or continuing employment in contemplated or pending litigation if he knows, or if it is obvious, that he or a lawyer in his firm ought to be called as a witness. 5 21 Sweeney opposed the motion, arguing that McCreery's testimony would be inadmissible, on either hearsay or attorney-client privilege grounds, and that, in any event, Kennedy too would be prevented from testifying on this issue on grounds of attorney-client privilege. In addition, Sweeney, a practising lawyer who stated that he had read and understood all of the paperssubmitted on the government's motions and was fully aware of his rights and the possible consequences of waiving those rights, explicitly waived both his right to call Kennedy as a witness and his right to be represented by counsel free of the potential conflict of interest. He urged the court to recognize his constitutional right to be represented by counsel of his choice. 22 Although the court concluded that Sweeney was capable and desirous of making a knowing waiver, in its October 29 opinion the court granted the government's motion to disqualify Kennedy and his firm from serving as Sweeney's trial attorneys. At 19-20. On the premise that McCreery's testimony might be admissible at trial, and that if it were, Kennedy ought to be a witness, id. at 19, the court concluded that Disciplinary Rule 5-102(A) required the disqualification of Kennedy, slip op. at 26. Unlike Tigar's disqualification, however, which was total, Kennedy's disqualification was limited to participation in the trial itself. Id. at 25. The court permitted Kennedy and his firm to continue pre-trial discovery in the case, ... participate in the preparation for trial, and advise ... the attorney who will defend the case, but not to be the attorney of record or conduct the trial, or sit at counsel table. Id. at 20. The court adhered to its decision on reconsideration.