Court Opinion

ID: 9651460
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 16:19:47.558479+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:12:34.092044
License: Public Domain

MANDERINO, Justice
(dissenting).
I dissent. The twelve witnesses in this case have knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily chosen to be represented by the two attorneys who are the petitioners.
*533The majority’s decision, denying the witnesses their choice of attorneys, is rooted in a presumption that the witnesses are guilty of crimes, even though there is not one shred of evidence in this record to warrant such a conclusion, and even though under state and federal law, the witnesses must be presumed innocent — not guilty. I cannot agree with the novel proposition that the state can deprive a citizen of his right to be represented by the attorney of his choice by speculating that he may be guilty.