Court Opinion

ID: 9468982
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 02:28:46.194411+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:41:09.131476
License: Public Domain

KRAVITCH, Circuit Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part:
While I fully agree with the majority as to the standard of review applicable to this case and also agree that the trial judge’s findings of fact are not “clearly erroneous,” I cannot concur in the legal conclusions reached by the trial court and affirmed by the majority.1
*830As the majority notes, disqualification based on an “appearance of impropriety” requires a careful balancing of the likelihood of public suspicion against the social interests served by the attorney’s continued representation according to the facts of each case. In a criminal case, however, the “social interests” aspect of the balance is given an added dimension by the sixth amendment, which has been interpreted to afford an accused the constitutional right to counsel of one’s choice. E.g., Powell v. Alabama, 287 U.S. 45, 53 S.Ct. 55, 77 L.Ed. 158 (1932); United States v. Kitchin, 592 F.2d 900, 903 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 843, 100 S.Ct. 86, 62 L.Ed.2d 56 (1979); Gandy v. Alabama, 569 F.2d 1318, 1323 (5th Cir. 1978); United States v. Dinitz, 538 F.2d 1214, 1219 (5th Cir. 1976), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 1104, 97 S.Ct. 1133, 51 L.Ed.2d 556 (1977). Here, while the majority purports to give the defendant the “benefit of the doubt,” a thorough examination of the “balance” reached indicates a serious abrogation of the defendant’s constitutional rights. On the one hand, the likelihood of public suspicion is hardly as dramatic as the majority implies. Although the trial court found that the subject matter of the affidavits of Robinson and Alexander, when placed before the jury,2 would create a suspicion that the attorney involved was compromising his client’s interest, the facts showed (and the trial judge stated in his order) that both Robinson and Alexander were convicted felons and that Robinson’s affidavit contradicted his grand jury testimony. Moreover, as appellant points out, the affidavits themselves conflicted as to the time at which the meetings concerning marijuana offloading occurred. Given this rather damaging impeaching material which undoubtedly would be used to rebut the testimony of Robinson and Alexander, I question whether their testimony will “impugn severely” the integrity and credibility of the attorney in the eyes of the jury.3 As a result, this case is substantially different from cases in which the attorney is a target of an investigation, United States v. Salinas, 618 F.2d 1092 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 961, 101 S.Ct. 374, 66 L.Ed.2d 228 (1980), is representing multiple clients with conflicting interests, or in which the attorney will be called to testify against his client4 — all situations in which the risk of public suspicion is both clear and compelling. Moreover, where as here the risk of suspicion is not great, less intrusive methods, such as disciplinary proceedings, should be adequate to protect the public confidence in the bar.5
Against what the facts indicate is a fairly remote risk of public suspicion we must weigh the defendant’s sixth amendment right to counsel of his choice. While I concede this right is not absolute, e.g., United States v. Kitchin, 592 F.2d 900 (5th Cir. 1979), it nevertheless is so compelling that the Fifth Circuit previously has held that a criminal defendant must be given the opportunity to waive a conflict of interest and retain counsel of his choice in situations where disqualification might otherwise be *831appropriate. United States v. Garcia, 517 F.2d 272 (5th Cir. 1975) (potential conflict in attorney’s representing codefendant).6 In my opinion, the “social interests” of enforcing the constitutional rights of the defendant far outweigh any risk of public suspicion of the integrity of the judicial process that is presented by the facts of this case. Moreover, if the meager evidence presented here supports the “drastic action” of disqualification and consequent limitation of the constitutional right to counsel of one’s choice, I find it difficult to envision under what circumstances the social interests of an attorney’s continued representation will outweigh the risk of suspicion presented by an asserted conflict.
Disqualification of counsel in a criminal case on the “appearance of impropriety” should be a remedy sparingly used, resorted to only when the facts of the case indicate a grave danger of the erosion of public confidence in the judicial system, thus transcending any interest the defendant has in retaining counsel of his choice.7 Because this situation is not present here, I must dissent from the affirmance of disqualification.

. Although the trial court’s findings of fact are binding because they are not clearly erroneous, his legal conclusions, including the application of the Woods balancing test, are subject to an independent determination on appeal. E.g., *830United States v. Kreczmer, 636 F.2d 108, 110 (5th Cir. 1981).

. Because the incident reported in the Alexander and Robinson affidavits related to the indictment in this case, the trial court found that the information in the affidavits would likely reach the jury through the testimony of either or both men.

. I would also note that the evidence against the attorney was given ex parte and that no hearing, formal or otherwise, was held to test the accuracy of the evidence.

. The majority opinion fails to explain that the government originally asserted four grounds of disqualification against the attorney, including a conflict with his prior representation of government witnesses and the intention to call him as a witness at trial. The trial court specifically rejected all of the proffered grounds for disqualification except the “appearance of impropriety” ground. The attorney, therefore, concededly is not a target of a government investigation, nor is it likely he will be called to testify against his client.

. In Florida, bar disciplinary proceedings are conducted by the state bar under the authority of the Florida Supreme Court. Fla.Const.Art. 5 § 15, Integration Rule for the Florida Bar Arts. X, XI.

. Because the sole ground for disqualification is the “appearance of impropriety,” this case differs from those in which a disqualification resulted from an asserted conflict of interest which was certain to occur but, because its scope was unclear or its precise nature not understandable by the defendant, could not “knowingly and intelligently” be waived. E.g., United States v. Dolan, 570 F.2d 1177, 1181 (3d Cir. 1978). Here there is no allegation or evidence that the conflict alleged could not be waived by Hobson.

. Cf., Maxwell v. Superior Court, 30 Cal.3d 606, 180 Cal.Rptr. 177, 639 P.2d 248 (1982) (holding that a potential conflict between attorney and client created by the client’s assigning to the attorney exclusive “publicity rights” in the subject matter of the representation could be waived and was not sufficient grounds for disqualification).