Opinion ID: 1923504
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Simultaneous Representation of William Long

Text: Kormondy also argues a conflict of interest based on the simultaneous representation of William Long, a key State witness, by the Public Defender's Office in Long's violation of probation case. At the evidentiary hearing, Earl Loveless, the chief assistant public defender, testified that the Public Defender's Office (specifically Joseph Kirkland, an assistant public defender) was assigned to represent Long after the office had already established an attorney-client relationship with Kormondy. Loveless also testified that Kirkland had not spoken to Long when the conflict was discovered. As soon as the conflict was discovered, Kirkland wrote a letter to Loveless explaining that there was a conflict of interest. The Public Defender's Office then withdrew from representing Long in his violation of probation case. Based on this testimony, the trial court found that the Public Defender's Office did not have a conflict when it continued to represent Kormondy. We agree with the trial court that Kormondy failed to show that there was an actual conflict of interest. As soon as the Public Defender's Office discovered the dual representation, the office withdrew from representing Long. The Public Defender's Office properly followed the procedure outlined in rules 4-1.7 and 4-1.16 of the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar, which state that when a conflict arises after representation has been undertaken, the lawyer should withdraw from representation. Accordingly, the trial court properly denied relief on this claim.