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

Heading: instructions regarding waiver on remand

Text: ¶33 We recognize the challenges that confront a district court when assessing whether a defendant has knowingly and voluntarily waived an attorney's potential conflict of interest. As we noted above, the specter of being whipsawed by claims of error no matter which way a judge rules is more than fanciful. We are sensitive to the possibility that a defendant may seek a waiver and then try to use it to his or her advantage later. State v. Johnson, 823 P.2d 484, 491 (Utah Ct. App. 1991). ¶34 We therefore instruct the district court on remand to appoint qualified conflict counsel to represent Mr. Maughan for the limited purpose of ascertaining whether Mr. Maughan desires to waive the potential conflict with respect to Mr. Williams and to ensure that Mr. Maughan's waiver is knowing and voluntary.