Court Opinion

ID: 9466698
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 01:24:22.563731+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:39:53.760007
License: Public Domain

BOWNES, Circuit Judge
(dissenting).
I concur in parts I and III of the opinion, but respectfully dissent as to parts II and IV.
My brethren draw different conclusions than I from the same facts. I do not agree “that to the extent Louis Pallotta’s testimony would have helped Martorano, it would also in virtually equal measure have helped Halloran.” Majority Opinion at 917. My view of the record is that Louis Pallotta could not have given any testimony that would have directly benefited Halloran because he had no personal knowledge concerning Halloran’s alleged involvement in the extortion scheme. It seems clear to me that one of the reasons Louis Pallotta was not called, as Attorney Weinberg admitted at the hearing, was because it was feared that on cross-examination he would make damaging statements as to Halloran’s reputation and character. In my opinion, the standard annunciated by my brother Campbell in United States v. Donahue, 560 F.2d 1039, 1045 (1st Cir. 1977), was met. An alternative strategy plainly existed which involved “some potential for conflict of interest.” Id. Unlike my brethren, I “cannot say for sure that the potential conflict did not influence the choices made by those representing both defendants.” Id.
While I agree with my brethren that a majority of the three regular circuit judges determines whether there shall be an in banc hearing, I do not agree that the requirements of FRAP 35(a) were met in this case. There is no disagreement between us as to the controlling cases. The only difference is whether the Donahue standard applies. This is purely a judgment call. All that the in banc hearing has produced is a *922different result. It has not secured or maintained uniformity of decisions in this area, something that is obviously impossible under our case-by-case approach to the problem of dual representation. And while the question is obviously of exceptional importance to Martorano, it does not rise to anywhere near that level as far as circuit precedent is concerned. No new gloss has been put on Foster or Donahue. The case is just another illustration that reasonable men of essentially the same background, training and experience can differ in their assessment of the facts.