Court Opinion

ID: 9646708
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 13:08:42.840137+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:58:19.105892
License: Public Domain

NIX, Justice,
concurring.
Although I join the majority opinion, I would like to stress that in cases of multiple representation, a criminal defendant is only denied his Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel where the actual existence of a conflict is shown. Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 100 S.Ct. 1709, 64 *215L.Ed.2d 333 (1980). The acceptance of any lesser standard would require this Court to engage in speculation in its efforts to assure effective representation and would result in overturning otherwise valid convictions solely because of dual representation.
“The duty of the courts to assure full enjoyment of constitutional rights should not be confused with the conjuring of imaginary demons which serve only to impede law enforcement and frustrate justice.” Commonwealth v. Breaker, 456 Pa. 341, 352, 318 A.2d 354, 359-360 (1974) (Nix, J. dissenting).