Document: 465 U.S. 259 104 S.Ct. 1051 79 L.Ed.2d 288 Robert FLANAGAN, James Keweshan, Joseph Landis and Thomas McNamee, Petitionersv.UNITED STATES. No. 82-374. Argued Nov. 30, 1983. Decided Feb. 21, 1984. Syllabus Petitioners, four Philadelphia police officers, were indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring to deprive citizens of their civil rights committing substantive offenses. Prior the return indictment, petitioners had retained certain law firm act as joint counsel, continued representation after even though indictment did not make same allegations against all petitioners. After three moved sever case from fourth petitioner's dismiss conspiracy count, District Court granted Government's motion disqualify its multiple representation. The Appeals affirmed, noting that it jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, because disqualification order was appealable prior trial collateral order. Held: immediately hence no review entry final judgment in case. Pp. 263-270. (a) policy embodied which limits courts appeals "final decisions district court," is inimical piecemeal appellate court do terminate litigation. This at strongest field criminal law. 263-265. (b) To come within "collateral order" exception rule, must (1) "conclusively determine disputed question," (2) "resolve an important issue completely separate merits action," (3) "be effectively unreviewable on appeal judgment." Coopers & Lybrand v. Livesay, 437 463, 468, 98 2454, 2457, 57 351. A counsel analogous any types interlocutory orders—orders denying motions reduce bail or double jeopardy speech debate grounds—that this has found cases collateral-order exceptions. Nothing about distinguishes run pretrial affect defendants yet await completion proceedings review. Such fails satisfy stringent conditions qualification order, overriding policies apply full. 265-270. 679 F.2d 1072 (CA3 1982), reversed. Edward H. Rubenstone, Philadelphia, Pa., Andrew L. Frey, Washington, D.C., respondent. Justice O'CONNOR delivered opinion Court. 1 In Firestone Tire Rubber Co. Risjord, 449 368, 101 S.Ct 669, 66 571 (1981), held denial 1291 reserved questions immediate appealability denials grants both cases. Id., 372, n. 8, S.Ct., 672 8. We decide today Court's defense prosecution 1291. 2 * Petitioners are officers who formed "grandpop" decoy squad Police Department. Petitioner Flanagan would pose aged derelict, likely target street criminals. When gave standard alarm, other members team move arrest. 3 Eastern Pennsylvania September 1981. alleged conspired arrests without probable cause unlawfully arrested abused eight people. One count charged with violation 18 241. remaining 12 counts petitioners, various combinations, offenses 242. 4 Sprague Rubenstone counsel. decided continue handed down, Landis, however, petitioner Flanagan's, arguing government's evidence alone so much greater than them severance necessary avoid prejudicial spillover. addition, based asserted differences involvement activities count. Government responded moving asking inquire into required Federal Rule Criminal Procedure 44(c).1 5 early December 1981, following hearing briefing motion, 527 F.Supp. 902 (D.C.1981) disqualified participation actual conflict interest developed but there clear potential conflict. Most notably, supporting papers showed Flanagan's interests diverge petitioners' interests. also voluntarily, knowingly, intelligently waived right conflict-free concluded, authority and, indeed, obligation 44(c) when "the likelihood great may escalate conflict." App. Pet. Cert. A-27. presumed obtained privileged information each therefore representing them. 6 appealed United States Third Circuit, affirmed decision June 1982. 1982). Although challenged, noted meaning Cohen Beneficial Industrial Loan Corp., 337 541, 69 1221, 93 L.Ed. 1528 (1949). went hold proper very arise. July 1982 denied rehearing stayed issuance mandate permit filing petition writ certiorari 7 filed 1982, one year returned They contended choice they knowingly deprived Sixth Amendment assistance Fifth due process present common through January 459 ----, 103 721, 74 948. parties briefed argued jurisdictional question—whether now reverse we conclude case.2 II 8 "Finality condition historic characteristic procedure." Cobbledick States, 309 323, 324, 60 540, 84 783 (1940). Thus, statute applicable Courts court." rule requires "that party ordinarily raise claims error single merits." supra, U.S., 374, 673. prohibits until conviction imposition sentence. Berman 302 211, 212, 58 164, 166, 82 204 (1937). 9 serves several It helps preserve respect judges minimizing appellate-court interference numerous pre-judgment stages reduces ability litigants harass opponents clog succession costly time-consuming appeals. crucial efficient administration justice. For these reasons, "[t]his long Congress [section 1291] . ." Hollywood Motor Car Co., 458 263, 265, 102 3081, 3083, 73 754 (1982). 10 "this law." Ibid. More 40 years ago reasons "especially compelling justice." 325, 541. Promptness bringing become increasingly crime increased, dockets have swelled, detention facilities overcrowded. 11 As Amendment's guarantee Speedy Trial indicates, accused strong speedy resolution charges him. "there societal providing exists from, times opposition to, accused." Barker Wingo, 407 514, 519, 92 2182, 2186, 33 (1972). time passes, prosecution's meet burden proof greatly diminish: witnesses disappear, testimony becomes more easily impeachable events recounted remote. Delay increases cost extends period during released commit crimes." MacDonald, 435 850, 862, 1547, 1553, 56 (1978). between arrest punishment prolongs public anxiety over community safety if person serious free bail. adversely prospects rehabilitation. See 520, 2187. Finally, committed community, collective psychological moral swiftly responsible Prompt acquittal wrongly accused, forces prosecutorial investigation continue, prompt sentence rightly accused. Crime inflicts wound begin heal end. importance led departures "only observance practically defeat all." 324-325, 540-541 (footnote omitted). allowed departure only "limited category falling 'collateral order' delineated Cohen. 3083.3 "narrow exception," 673, must, minimum, conditions. First, "must conclusively question"; second, action"; third, 351 (1978) 13 Because trials, interpreted requirements utmost strictness orders prosecutions requirements. 3083. Each type involves " 'an legal practical value be destroyed vindicated before trial.' 266, 3083 (quoting 860, 1552). 14 An reviewed trial. finally resolved independent issues tried, moot awaits Stack Boyle, 342 1, 72 96 (1951). Orders Speech Debate grounds likewise appealable. resolve guilt innocence, occur fully effective. guaranteed Double Jeopardy Clause convicted second offense: "placed jeopardy"—that is, tried offense. Abney 431 651, 97 2034, 52 651 (1977). Similarly, legislative activities: questioned" them—that Helstoski Meanor, 442 500, 99 2445, 61 30 (1979). Refusals Clause, like reduction, truly collateral, irretrievably lost postponed completed. 15 disqualifying lacks critical characteristics reduction refusing Unlike request constitutional objection counsel's danger becoming upon Moreover, cannot said assert, whether Due Process Assistance Counsel Amendment, tried. sui generis regard. 7, 1552, 7. Rather, just merely excessively delayed trial, id., 860-861, virtually defendants, circumstances. claim, claim "would largely satisfied resulting failure carry proof." 859, 1552. 268, 3084 (vindictive protected post-conviction review). "Bearing discomfiture innocent painful obligations citizenship." Roche Evaporated Milk Ass'n, 319 63 938, 943, 87 1185 (1943). 16 thus Accordingly, Stack, Abney, provide assertion satisfies coverage exception. Nor does gain support direct inquiry regardless nature claimed petitioners.4 17 correctly concede effective extent one's like, example, represent oneself. Faretta California, 422 806, 95 2525, 45 562 (1975). Obtaining reversal such require showing prejudice defense, since reflects protection defendant's concern objective fairness proceeding. McKaskle Wiggins, --- 944, 951 78 ---- (1984). concededly violated denies appointment altogether, see Gideon Wainwright, 372 335, 83 792, 799 (1963), replaced interest, Holloway Arkansas, 475, 1173, 55 426 No need made obtain circumstances presumed. sum, concede, establishing violating third exception: "effectively 265. If, hand, absent some specifically demonstrated still falls outside consider, satisfied—that plainly ineffective. sufficient note condition—that collateral—is requiring violation. 19 On assumption, final, Its validity adequately complete. effect been violated, fairly assessed substance known. right. concluded impairment factor judging occurred, separable conclusion applies element claim. circumstances, satisfied: "issue action." 20 short, prejudice, qualify straightforward application laid down Further, justify expanding small class covered rule—either eliminating interpreting less strictly done. costs expansion great, rewards small. 21 decision, 12, (opinion Jackson, J.), interrupts interruption exacts presumptively prohibitive price. 264-265. court's result dismissal prosecution. delay. smaller where rejected vindictive charges. (1943) (no lack jurisdiction); Heike 217 423, 430-431, 539, 541-542, 54 821 (1910) rejecting statutory immunity prosecution). Here, Allowing severely undermine behind rule. III 22 '[T]he dominant practice.' Moore, Practice (2d ed. 1953), 113. Particularly true prosecutions." DiBella 369 121, 126, 654, 657, 614 (1962). judicial trial-court exceptions rare. one. 23 accordingly remand should dismissed. 24 ordered. provides: "Whenever two jointly joined ., represented assigned associated practice law, shall promptly personally advise defendant his including Unless appears good believe arise, take measures appropriate protect counsel." Among Appeals, six circuits addition Circuit disqualifications Curcio, 694 14, 19-20 (CA2 1982); Smith, 653 126 (CA4 1981) (entertaining discussion question); Garcia, 517 272, 275 (CA5 1975); Phillips, 699 798, 801 (CA6 1983); Agosto, 675 965, 968, (CA8), cert. affirmance sub nom. Gustafson 834, 77, (1982); Hobson, 825, 826 (CA11), denied, 906, 208, 166 Ninth Greger, 657 1109, 1110-1113 461 1891, 77 281 (1983). Title 3731 provides suppressing excluding evidence. That provision case, concerns finality requirement involve problems arise state 1257. Cox Broadcasting Corp. Cohn, 420 469, 1029, 43 328 express view existence

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