Opinion ID: 2567455
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Actual Conflict

Text: ¶23 The issue left for us to decide is whether the lawyers' Spokane misadventures created a real, present conflict of interest or a serious potential, future conflict of interest and, if it did, whether Mr. Maughan could waive any such conflict. ¶24 The State claims that the district court exceeded its discretion because the conflict brought on by the events in Spokane created an actual or potential conflict of interest that was both so real and so serious that Mr. Maughan was left powerless to spare either of his lawyers from disqualification. Mr. Maughan takes the opposite view. While he agrees with the State that the district court exceeded its discretion, he insists that there is nary an actual conflict to be found, and if a future one may be conjured, it is of little importance. These bipolar positions have one thing in common: they require us to examine the nature and extent of the alleged conflict. ¶25 The district court's memorandum decision said this about conflict of interest: There is a potential conflict that examination of Mr. Wagar at trial might raise issues which implicate either Mr. Mauro or Mr. Williams to the Defendant's detriment. The district court did not elaborate about what these issues might be or how they might prejudice Mr. Maughan. It did, however, limit its findings concerning the conflict of interest to a potential conflict. We affirm the district court's determination that the conduct of Mr. Maughan's lawyers did not create an actual conflict of interest and turn our attention to reviewing the existence and nature of a potential conflict between Mr. Maughan and his lawyers.