Opinion ID: 2614963
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: ER 1.1: Competence

Text: The Committee found, and the Commission agreed, that Respondent violated ER 1.1, which requires that [a] lawyer shall provide competent representation ... [that] requires the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness and preparation reasonably necessary for the representation. We note that some of Respondent's acts and omissions, if viewed independently of one another, are not objectionable and may be explained by legitimate lawyering and trial strategy. Nevertheless, an examination of Respondent's conduct, in the aggregate, tells a much different story. Respondent's handling of the criminal matter fell far short of what is required of an experienced, competent attorney charged with such a serious task. It is true that any chosen defense may obviate the need for some investigatory work, but that strategy must be based on some reasonable investigation. The investigation takes on added importance when, as here, the stakes are high: Competent handling of a particular matter includes inquiry into and analysis of the factual and legal elements of the problem, and use of methods and procedures meeting the standards of competent practitioners. It also includes adequate preparation. The required attention and preparation are determined in part by what is at stake; major litigation and complex transactions ordinarily require more elaborate treatment than matters of lesser consequence. ER 1.1 (comment); see also In re Murray, 147 Ariz. 173, 175, 709 P.2d 530, 532 (1985) (disbarring an attorney for engaging in a pattern of misconduct that included his failure to interview witnesses in a criminal matter in violation of former professional rules requiring competence). Respondent's preparation was clearly deficient in light of what was at stake. According to Respondent, his client faced a mandatory prison sentence ranging from twelve to twenty-two years. Considering this, we fail to see how, for example, not reading the grand jury transcript, not examining physical evidence, and not discussing the possibility of lesser included offenses can be reconciled with any sensible defense strategy. Respondent properly cautions that hindsight is a meager measure of counsel's competency. Respondent's Opening Brief at 18 (quoting State v. Flewellen, 127 Ariz. 342, 344, 621 P.2d 29, 31 (1980)). Even allowing for this, we concur with the Committee and the Commission and reject Respondent's lying in the weeds defense as an explanation for his mishandling of the criminal matter. Respondent failed to take the most elementary steps in preparing a defense  steps that any competent lawyer would have taken. We are unpersuaded that this failure was dictated by rational strategy. If it was, it was certainly improper for him to fail to adequately investigate the facts before evolving this strategy. Cf. Geoffrey C. Hazard, Jr. & W. William Hodes, The Law of Lawyering: A Handbook on the Model Rules of Professional Conduct 7 (Student Edition 1985) (distinguishing erroneous but rational choice of trial tactics that will not violate ER 1.1 from the failure to inquire into key facts that may violate ER 1.1). Nor was it proper for Respondent to assume that an investigation was unnecessary because he believed that one had already been conducted. We therefore agree with the Committee and the Commission and conclude that Respondent failed to provide competent representation in violation of ER 1.1.