Opinion ID: 2508569
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Whether Trial Counsel Were Ineffective Due To Their Conflict Of Interest For Simultaneously Representing The Prosecutor's Key Witness And Dunlap.

Text: On appeal, Dunlap argues that trial counsel labored under three conflicts of interest that adversely affected their representation of him. First, because of the public defender contract, trial counsel faced a financial conflict of interest. Second, the plea agreement where Dunlap stipulated he received effective assistance of counsel created a conflict of interest. Third, the simultaneous representation of the prosecutor's key witness and Dunlap created a conflict of interest that was not waived by Dunlap. The first two conflicts of interest are being asserted for the first time on appeal and will not be considered by this Court. Sanchez v. Arave, 120 Idaho 321, 322, 815 P.2d 1061, 1062 (1991). Although the third alleged conflict, the simultaneous representation of the prosecutor's key witness and Dunlap, was not specifically ruled on by the district court, the issue was contained in Dunlap's post-conviction application. Therefore, we will consider the issue. In order to establish a violation of the Sixth Amendment, a defendant who raised no objection at trial must demonstrate that an actual conflict of interest adversely affected his lawyer's performance. Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 348, 100 S.Ct. 1708, 1718, 64 L.Ed.2d 333, 346 (1980). [T]he possibility of conflict is insufficient to impugn a criminal conviction. Id. at 350, 100 S.Ct. at 1719, 64 L.Ed.2d at 348. Dunlap bears the burden of showing `active representation of competing interests' in order to establish a conflict of interest implicating the protection of the Sixth Amendment. State v. Wood, 132 Idaho 88, 98, 967 P.2d 702, 712 (1998). Dunlap pled guilty on December 30, 1991 at approximately 1:45 p.m. Lieutenant Rice completed the interview and received a statement from Dunlap's cellmate, Gillette, the same day at approximately 12:30 p.m. After December 30, 1991, but before January 21, 1992, Dunlap's attorneys were made aware of Gillette's statement. Thus, the potential conflict arose after the plea agreement. There is no evidence that counsels' performance was adversely affected by the alleged conflict on December 30, 1991. Furthermore, since Dunlap has been granted a new sentencing hearing, his argument regarding counsels' deficient performance due to a conflict of interest fails because it is moot. He will have different counsel for his resentencing. Dunlap may still investigate Gillette and properly cross-examine him at the resentencing hearing.