Opinion ID: 768314
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Possibility of Conflict.

Text: 31 In light of the apparent issues and anticipated witnesses, the court's awareness that Einhorn was a police commissioner presented a non-frivolous conflict issue of a kind that created a duty of inquiry on the part of the district court. We need not decide whether a conflict in fact existed or, if it did, whether it was subject to waiver. At a timely hearing, that would have been decided and if a waiver could have obviated a conflict found to exist, a waiver could have been elicited and evaluated. We do decide that, on the facts apparent prior to trial, the possibility of conflict was sufficiently evident that pre-trial inquiry was required. 32 It is undisputed that during the time Einhorn represented Rogers, Einhorn was a member of the New Haven board of police commissioners, a body that exercises policymaking, budgetary and personnel powers over the New Haven Police Department. The Charter of the City of New Haven provides: 33 There shall be in the department of police service a board of police commissioners consisting of six commissioners who shall advise and consult with the chief of police concerning matters pertaining to the chief's duties and to the conduct of the department, and together with the chief shall make all rules and regulations relating to the administration of the department which it may deem necessary or advisable, which rules shall be printed and made available to the public. In general, the board of police commissioners shall be responsible for policy making, with the advice of the chief of police, and for the evaluation of such policies. 34 New Haven, Conn., Charter art. XX, 102. Further, as a matter of state law, the board of police commissioners has the sole power of appointment, promotion and removal of police officers. Conn. Gen. Stat. 7-276. Einhorn also stated that the board approves the police department budget. See Lauria, Sentencing of Alexander Rogers, at 35. 35 At the hearing conducted immediately prior to sentencing, the court addressed Einhorn and explained its view as to why no conflict existed: 36 While your standing as a commissioner is another civic matter in which you have dedicated and committed substantial portions of your life to the community, for which you are to be commended, the fact is that I don't see a conflict because your role as a police commissioner, I don't find to have, in the first place, had any theoretical conflict with the function of the police officers that have been involved in the matter, nor have I observed any shortcoming in your conduct on behalf of Mr. Rogers of the defense of his case, in any way suggestive of your being deferential or preferential to the police at all. So you can rest assured, as far as that's concerned. 37 Id. at 29-30. This view confirms Einhorn's good faith; but that is not in issue. What matters is that a conflict was possible, as was confirmed by the events at trial, all of which were predictable or ascertainable at the outset. 38 Rogers argues that Einhorn's conflict was manifested by his failure to call New Haven Police Lt. White to the stand. Putting aside whether that would have been wise, Lt. White and New Haven Police Det. Robert Proto participated in the arrest and prosecution of Rogers, and their conduct predictably raised potential issues for trial. 2 39 Rogers's motion to suppress was predicated on allegations of overreaching by New Haven police officers. He testified that the officers who arrested him threatened that he might be prosecuted for manufacturing pipe bombs before they asked him to sign the consent form. This alleged threat was the ground for Rogers's claim of duress. He also testified that when he initially refused to sign the consent form, Lt. White said, Fuck him. We're gonna arrest him anyways and we're gonna get a search warrant. 40 Predictable lines of cross examination at trial would have also focused on the role of New Haven police officers. Fassett, who agreed to cooperate with the government after pleading guilty to another drug conspiracy, had met with Det. Proto. Derenzo testified pursuant to subpoena after meeting with Det. Proto. Bellucci testified pursuant to a cooperation agreement obtained after proffer sessions attended by Det. Proto and various Assistant United States Attorneys. 41 At sentencing, Einhorn conceded that the board of police commissioners approves the New Haven Police Department's budget and makes decisions regarding appointments, promotions and dismissals, but we have no involvement in actual crimes. I am not a policeman, so we have absolutely no involvement in criminal investigations. Id. at 34-35. Einhorn added, I don't have the foggiest notion, and none of the commissioners do, about any police activities, what investigations are ongoing, what have happened, what are happening. We're just like the board of finance or any of the municipal boards. Id. at 36. 42 Whatever force this explanation may have, it came after trial. And it fails to dispel the possibility of conflict. Commissioner Einhorn had responsibility for police policy, police personnel, the police budget and non-specific oversight. It is certainly possible that such responsibilities can produce an institutional loyalty. That effect is not necessarily detrimental to criminal defense. Institutional loyalty could impel a commissioner (variously) to root out abuses, or to avoid unfair attacks on the police, or to dampen suspicions that would be stirred in a lawyer who has no relationship with the police. If Einhorn had a divided loyalty, it is hard to say which way it cut, but it is enough to observe (as someone else has) that divided loyalties are rarely divided down the middle. 43 Given these circumstances, a possible conflict existed, prompting a duty of inquiry. Because the district court failed to perform this duty, we vacate Rogers's conviction pursuant to the automatic reversal rule set forth in Levy, 25 F.3d at 153-54. 44