Opinion ID: 2576322
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Withdraw as Counsel

Text: ¶ 45 We next address Cruz's argument that his attorney should have withdrawn from representing him in the criminal proceedings below. Specifically, Cruz asserts that, because the Utah Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit an attorney from acting as an advocate at a trial in which the attorney may be called as a material witness, Utah R. Prof'l Conduct 3.7(a), his attorney should have withdrawn as Cruz's counsel in the criminal proceeding so that he could testify that he told Cruz to falsely claim ownership of the seized property. Cruz further asserts that his attorney refused to withdraw because his attorney wanted to avoid being charged with perjury for advising Cruz to admit to ownership of property that he did not own. Cruz argues that this situation created a conflict of interest that prevented his attorney from effectively representing him. See State v. Lovell, 1999 UT 40, ¶ 22, 984 P.2d 382 (noting that the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to conflict-free representation). ¶ 46 We are unpersuaded because, as we have noted, there is no definitive indication in the record suggesting that Cruz's attorney actually advised him to lie. Absent evidence of that crucial fact, Cruz's attorney had no obligation to withdraw or to take the stand in the criminal trial. In short, Cruz's argument that his attorney had a conflict of interest is without factual basis.