Opinion ID: 761821
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Due process right to counsel

Text: 39 Mikaelian claims that this meeting violated his due process right to counsel. He cites California State Bar Rule 2-100, which forbids a member of the bar representing a client from communicating directly or indirectly about the subject of the representation with a party the member knows to be represented by another lawyer, without the other lawyer's consent. See United States v. Lopez, 4 F.3d 1455, 1463 (9th Cir.1993) (secret meetings by defendant with federal prosecutor violated prosecutor's ethical duty to avoid communicating with represented defendant without counsel's consent). This situation, however, did not involve a meeting with the defendant, but was more akin to meetings between opposing counsel. Moreover, AUSA Larson immediately called and wrote to Mikaelian's counsel, informing him of the meeting. 40 As pertains to Mikaelian's Sixth Amendment right to counsel, Mikaelian has not shown an effect of a constitutional dimension. United States v. Morrison, 449 U.S. 361, 366, 101 S.Ct. 665, 66 L.Ed.2d 564 (1981). Mikaelian does not point to any prejudice he suffered. After the paralegal meeting, AUSA Larson continued to offer Mikaelian more chances to cooperate if the defense would submit a written proffer, which it did not.