Opinion ID: 537466
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Defendant Williams' Denial of Effective Assistance of Counsel.

Text: 45 Defendant Williams also contends that she was denied effective assistance of counsel because her attorney also represented defendant White. Specifically, she contends an actual conflict of interest existed because her counsel failed to cross-examine Meredith, Sr. and arsonist Willie Weems, although their testimony made the defense of shifting the blame to White a viable option. Defendant claims the trial court failed to inquire about the joint representation and failed to advise defendant about the right to separate representation as required by Fed.R. of Crim.P. 44(c). Williams made no objection below to the joint representation. 46 Multiple representation is not a per se violation of the sixth amendment right to effective assistance of counsel. Holloway v. Arkansas, 435 U.S. 475, 482 (1978). To establish a sixth amendment violation, a defendant who raises no objection below must show that an actual conflict of interest adversely affected his lawyer's performance. Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 348 (1980). 47 At oral argument, defendant conceded that the trial court's failure to conduct a Fed.R.Crim.P. 44(c) inquiry did not automatically require reversal. This is in accord with the position of those circuits which have addressed the issue. See United States v. Crespo de Llano, 830 F.2d 1532, 1539 (9th Cir.), reh. den., 838 F.2d 1006 (9th Cir.1987) (citations omitted). It is also in accord with the advisory committee notes to Rule 44(c) which state: 48 The failure in a particular case to conduct a rule 44(c) inquiry, would not, standing alone, necessitate the reversal of a conviction of a jointly represented defendant. 49 Williams argues that counsel's failure to cross-examine Meredith, Sr. and Weems demonstrated an actual conflict of interest because their testimony revealed that White was more culpable then Williams thus enhancing the liklihood of success of the shifting blame defense. 50 A conflict of interest must be actual, not hypothetical or merely possible. Cuyler, 446 at 350; United States v. Carter, 721 F.2d 1514, 1537 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 819 (1984). The defendant must demonstrate that the interests of the jointly represented defendants were so inconsistent that the pursuit of a plausible argument in favor of one would damage the defense of the other. Carter at 1536; United States v. Romero, 780 F.2d 981, 986 (11th Cir.1986). In order for a shifting blame defense to give rise to an actual conflict of interest, the defense must be realistically available to defense counsel. United States v. Carter, 721 F.2d at 1537; Romero, at 986. 51 Defendant Williams relies heavily on the failure of her trial counsel to cross-examine Meredith, Sr. and Weems on the roles Williams and White played in connection with the fire at the residence owned by Williams. At trial, Meredith, Sr. testified that Williams wanted no part in the fire at first, but stood in line with the rest of the perpetrators to collect her share of the commission after the fire occurred. Weems, the arsonist, testified that prior to the fire, Williams had him review the insurance policy to make sure the property was adequately insured; Williams agreed to the fire and paid Weems a deposit, a sum Weems required to insure Williams was definite about the plan. Williams testified and denied ever speaking with Meredith, Sr. or Weems prior to the fire, and denied she was involved in any fraudulent scheme to set her home on fire. 52 We agree that the evidence of defendant White's participation in the overall scheme, and in particular his involvement in the Williams' fire, was stronger than the evidence the government had against Williams. However, that does not diminish the force of the evidence that Williams was identified as a participant in the scheme to set the home she owned on fire. 53 We think defendant Williams has failed to show that she stood to gain significantly by abandoning the defense pursued by her trial counsel. She does not contend that her co-defendant would have exculpated her. Her only allegation of actual conflict relates to her contention that White is more blameworthy than she is. She does not contend the evidence against her was insufficient to convict. We conclude defendant Williams failed to demonstrate an actual conflict of interest. See Carter, 721 F.2d at 1537, United States v. Benavidez, 664 F.2d 1255, 1260-61 (5th Cir.), reh. denied, 671 F.2d 1380 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 457 U.S. 1121 and 457 U.S. 1135 (1982).