Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

conflict of intrest/

i have a brother and his attorney informed me today that i had to get a state attorney for my brother because the attorney said the panel stated there was conflict of intrest what does this mean what would the panel on a homicide case consider a conflict of intrest, we just wenet to court last week and there wasnt a conflict of intrest than. and when the attorney referrs to the panel is he speaking of the district attorney office.


Asked on 1/11/07, 11:25 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Stone Law Offices of Michael B. Stone Toll Free 1-855-USE-MIKE

Re: conflict of intrest/

I am assuming that your brother is a defendant in a homicide case. A "conflict of interest" means that an attorney would have to violate his or her duty to one client in order to represent another. It's kind of like the Biblical precept that "No man can serve two masters." Often, when there is more than one defendant in the same case, or for a variety of other reasons, the public defender declares a conflict of interest and another attorney is appointed, such as from a "panel" or list of experienced attorneys. No attorneys from the district attorney's office ever represent criminal defendants.

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Answered on 1/11/07, 11:38 pm


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