Can lawyers in the same county public defender's office represent co-defendants, even at a preliminary hearing or in unrelated cases?

Plain-English summary

The Board addressed two questions about criminal representation by a county public defender's office. It first noted that a county public defender's office is a "law firm" for purposes of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct under Rule 1.0(c), and that the opinion does not reach the separate legal question of what constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel.

On the first question, the Board concluded that an assistant county public defender should not represent co-defendants at a felony preliminary hearing. The Board relied on Rule 1.7, including Comment [15]'s statement that the potential for conflict in representing multiple criminal defendants "is so grave that ordinarily a lawyer should decline to represent more than one co-defendant," and described both the "directly adverse" conflict of Rule 1.7(a)(1) (for example, if one co-defendant testifies against the other or must be cross-examined) and the "material limitation" conflict of Rule 1.7(a)(2) (for example, discrepant testimony, incompatible positions, or a favorable plea offered to one in exchange for testimony). The Board concluded such a conflict would be extremely difficult to cure under Rule 1.7(b), particularly the requirements of competent and diligent representation to each client and adequate written informed consent. Because the office is a firm, the conflict of one assistant public defender is imputed to the others under Rule 1.10(a) and Rule 1.0(c), so two different assistant public defenders in the same office should not separately represent the co-defendants either.

On the second question, the Board concluded that an assistant county public defender should not represent one co-defendant in a felony case while simultaneously representing the other co-defendant in an unrelated misdemeanor case, again because of a Rule 1.7(a)(1)/(a)(2) conflict that likely could not be cured under Rule 1.7(b), and that the conflict is imputed to other lawyers in the office under Rule 1.10(a) and Rule 1.0(c). The Board added, answering a related question it was not directly asked, that an assistant county public defender may represent a criminal defendant when a former client from an unrelated matter is a witness, but may not use or reveal information protected under Rule 1.9(c).

In practice

The opinion holds that, under the Ohio conflict rules as they stood at the time of the opinion, a county public defender's office is treated as a single law firm, so a Rule 1.7 conflict that bars one assistant public defender from a representation is imputed across the office under Rule 1.10(a) and Rule 1.0(c). Per the opinion, that bars both joint representation of co-defendants at a felony preliminary hearing and the splitting of co-defendants between two assistant public defenders in the same office, and it reaches the felony/unrelated-misdemeanor pairing as well. The opinion treats the Rule 1.7(b) cure as available in theory but, on these facts, as one that likely could not be met. Where a former client is merely a witness in an unrelated matter, the opinion permits the representation subject to the Rule 1.9(c) limits on using or revealing the former client's information.

Common questions

Q: Can one public defender represent two co-defendants just at the preliminary hearing?

A: No. The opinion concluded that representation should be free of conflict at all stages, including the preliminary hearing, and that an assistant public defender should not represent co-defendants there.

Q: Can two different lawyers in the same public defender's office each take one co-defendant?

A: No. The opinion concluded the conflict of one assistant public defender is imputed to the others under Rule 1.10(a) and Rule 1.0(c) because the office is a law firm.

Q: What if one client is in a felony case and the other is in a completely unrelated misdemeanor?

A: The opinion concluded the same office should not represent both, because of a Rule 1.7 conflict that likely could not be cured under Rule 1.7(b).

Q: Can a public defender represent a defendant when a former client will testify in the case?

A: Yes, the opinion concluded such representation is permitted, but the lawyer may not use or reveal the former client's information that is protected under Rule 1.9(c).

Background and rules framework

The opinion interprets Ohio Prof. Cond. R. 1.7 (current-client conflicts, distinguishing the directly-adverse conflict of Rule 1.7(a)(1) from the material-limitation conflict of Rule 1.7(a)(2), with the Rule 1.7(b) cure conditions and the Rule 1.7(c) non-waivable categories), Rule 1.10(a) (imputation of conflicts within a firm), Rule 1.0(c) (definition of "firm," which the Board applies to a public defender's office), and Rule 1.9(c) (duties to former clients) (Model Rules 1.7, 1.10, 1.0, 1.9). It draws on Comments [11] and [15] to Rule 1.7.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

• Ohio Prof. Cond. R. 1.7(a)-(c) and Comments [11], [15]; R. 1.10(a); R. 1.0(c); R. 1.9(c) (Model Rules 1.7, 1.10, 1.0, 1.9)

Statutes:

• Ohio Rev. Code 120.16(A)(1), 120.16(F); R.C. 120.15(B)(4) (county public defender duties and personnel)
• Ohio Crim. R. 5, 10 (initial appearance, preliminary hearing, arraignment)

Cases:

• Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984), counsel's duty of loyalty and to avoid conflicts
• Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335 (1980), duty to avoid conflicting representations and to advise the court of conflicts
• Columbus Bar Assn. v. Ross, 107 Ohio St.3d 354, 2006-Ohio-5, conflict in representing co-defendants where one becomes a witness against the other

Other opinions cited:

• Cincinnati Bar Assn. Op. 95-96-01: joint representation of co-defendants by a public defender creates a non-waivable conflict
• State Bar of Texas Op. 579 (2007): a public defender's office is a law firm and one lawyer's conflict precludes the office
• Vermont Bar Assn. Op. 98-13: representing a defendant where another client is a State's witness
• ABA Standards for Criminal Justice, Prosecution Function and Defense Function 4-3.5 (3d ed. 1993)

See also

• Ohio BPC Op. 2008-005: City Law Director's Firm and Criminal Defense
• Ohio BPC Op. 1988-002: Public Defender Running for Prosecutor
• Ohio BPC Op. 1993-010: Conflicts Between Divisions of a Legal Aid Society

Source

• Landing page: https://ohioadvop.org/advisory-opinion-index/
• Original PDF: https://www.ohioadvop.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Op_08-004.pdf

Original opinion text

Reproduced from the official source for research purposes. The linked source is authoritative.

The Supreme Court of Ohio
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ON GRIEVANCES AND DISCIPLINE
65 SOUTH FRONT STREET, 5TH FLOOR, COLUMBUS, OH 43215-3431
(614) 387-9370 (888) 664-8345 FAX: (614) 387-9379
www.sconet.state.oh.us

                                    OFFICE OF SECRETARY




                                OPINION 2008-4
                             Issued August 15, 2008

SYLLABUS: Pursuant to Rule 1.7(a)(1) and (a)(2), an assistant county public
defender should not represent co-defendants at a preliminary hearing in a felony
case due to the inherent risk of a conflict of interest that likely could not be
ameliorated under Rule 1.7(b). Two different assistant public defenders in the
same county public defender’s office should not separately represent the co-
defendants at a preliminary hearing because the conflict of interest of one
assistant public defender is imputed to the other pursuant to Rule 1.10(a) and
Rule 1.0(c).

Pursuant to Rule 1.7(a)(1) and (a)(2), an assistant county public defender should
not represent one co-defendant in a felony case while simultaneously
representing the other co-defendant in an unrelated misdemeanor case due to
the inherent risk of a conflict of interest that likely could not be ameliorated under
Rule 1.7(b). A different assistant public defender in the same county public
defender’s office should not represent the co-defendant in the unrelated
misdemeanor case because the conflict of interest of one assistant public
defender is imputed to the other pursuant to Rule 1.10(a) and Rule 1.0(c). If a
former client in an unrelated matter is a witness in a defendant’s criminal case,
an assistant county public defender may represent the criminal defendant, but
may not use or reveal information of the former client that is protected from
disclosure under Rule 1.9(c).

OPINION: This opinion addresses ethical questions regarding criminal
representation of co-defendants by a county public defender’s office in the same
proceeding and in separate unrelated proceedings. The opinion does not
address legal questions regarding what constitutes ineffective assistance of
counsel.

1. Is it proper for an assistant county public defender to represent co-
   defendants at a preliminary hearing in a felony case? If not, is it
   proper for two different assistant public defenders in the same
   county public defender’s office to separately represent the co-
   defendants at the preliminary hearing?
   Op. 2008-4 2

2. Is it proper for an assistant county public defender to represent one
   co-defendant in a felony case while simultaneously representing
   the other co-defendant in an unrelated misdemeanor case? If not,
   is it proper for a different assistant public defender in the same
   county public defender’s office to represent the other co-defendant
   in the unrelated misdemeanor case?

Introduction

The requester of the opinion states that as a matter of policy the county public
defender’s office where he serves as an assistant county public defender does
not represent co-defendants in criminal cases. As reasons for not representing
co-defendants in criminal cases, the requester cites the likelihood that a co-
defendant will be called by the State to testify at another co-defendant’s trial or
be given a plea offer to testify against another co-defendant. Nevertheless, a
question has arisen as to whether representation of co-defendants at a
preliminary hearing is ethically permissible. Additionally, a question has been
raised as to whether representation of one co-defendant in a felony proceeding
and the other co-defendant in an unrelated misdemeanor proceeding is ethically
permissible.

A county public defender provides legal representation to indigent adults and
juveniles charged with commission of an offense or act that violates a state
statute for which the penalty or adjudication includes potential loss of liberty, and
also provides representation in postconviction proceedings as defined in R.C
120.16. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 120.16(A)(1) (West Supp 2008).

A county public defender appoints assistant county public defenders and
personnel necessary to the function of the county public defender’s office. Ohio
Rev. Code Ann. § 120.15(B)(4).(West 2002).

A county public defender’s office is considered a law firm for purposes of the
Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. Prof. Cond. Rule 1.0(c).

Applicable Rules of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct

Rule 1.7 of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct is the general rule that
governs conflicts of interest of current clients. Rule 1.10 is the general rule that
governs imputation of conflicts of interest.

      RULE 1.7: CONFLICT OF INTEREST: CURRENT CLIENTS

   (a) A lawyer’s acceptance or continuation of representation of a
   client creates a conflict of interest if either of the following applies:

           (1) the representation of that client will be directly adverse to
           another current client;

Op. 2008-4 3

         (2) there is a substantial risk that the lawyer’s ability to
         consider, recommend, or carry out an appropriate course of
         action for that client will be materially limited by the lawyer’s
         responsibilities to another client, a former client, or a third
         person or by the lawyer’s own personal interests.

 (b) A lawyer shall not accept or continue the representation of a
 client if a conflict of interest would be created pursuant to division
 (a) of this rule, unless all of the following apply:

         (1) the lawyer will be able to provide competent and diligent
         representation to each affected client;

         (2) each affected client gives informed consent, confirmed in
         writing;

         (3) the representation is not precluded by division (c) of this
         rule.

 (c) Even if each affected client consents, the lawyer shall not
 accept or continue the representation if either of the following
 applies:

         (1) the representation is prohibited by law;

         (2) the representation would involve the assertion of a claim
         by one client against another client represented by the
         lawyer in the same proceeding.

     RULE 1.10: IMPUTATION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:
                      GENERAL RULE

 (a) While lawyers are associated in a firm, none of them shall
     represent a client when the lawyer knows or reasonably should
     know that any one of them practicing alone would be prohibited
     from doing so by Rule 1.7 or 1.9, unless the prohibition is based
     on a personal interest of the prohibited lawyer and does not
     present a significant risk of materially limiting the representation
     of the client by the remaining lawyers in the firm.

Question One

 Is it proper for an assistant county public defender to represent co-
 defendants at a preliminary hearing in a felony case? If not, is it
 proper for two different assistant public defenders in the county

Op. 2008-4 4

   public defender’s office to separately represent the co-defendants
   at a preliminary hearing?

Rule 1.7 of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct does not absolutely prohibit a
lawyer from representing multiple criminal co-defendants, but a comment to the
rule strongly warns lawyers against such representation due to the potential for
conflict of interest. Comment [15] to Rule 1.7 states “[t]he potential for conflict of
interest in representing multiple defendants in a criminal matter is so grave that
ordinarily a lawyer should decline to represent more than one co-defendant.”
And, without doubt, the potential for conflict of interest in the representation of
multiple criminal defendants is grave due to the high stakes of a potential loss of
a defendant’s liberty.

In representation of multiple criminal defendants both types of conflict of interest
identified in Rule 1.7(a)(1) and (a)(2), “directly adverse” conflicts of interest and
“material limitation” conflicts of interest, may occur.

Under Rule 1.7(a)(1), a “directly adverse” conflict of interest occurs when a
lawyer’s representation of a client will be directly adverse to another current
client. As Comment [11] explains a “directly adverse” conflict of interest occurs in
the following situations: 1) when one of a lawyer’s clients asserts a claim against
another client of the lawyer; 2) when a lawyer must cross examine a witness who
is a client represented in a different matter; 3) when a lawyer, represents a client
against a person the lawyer represents in some other matter, even if the matters
are wholly unrelated.

Under Rule 1.7(a)(2), a “material limitation” conflict of interest occurs when there
is a substantial risk a lawyer’s ability to consider, recommend, or carry out an
appropriate course of action for a client will be materially limited by the lawyer’s
responsibilities to another client, a former client, or a third person or by the
lawyer’s own personal interests. As Comment [15] explains: “A ‘material
limitation’ conflict exists when a lawyer represents co-plaintiffs or co-defendants
in litigation and there is a substantial discrepancy in the clients’ testimony,
incompatible positions in relation to another party, potential cross-claims, or
substantially different possibilities of settlement of the claims or liabilities in
question. Such conflicts can arise in criminal cases as well as civil.”

Under Rule 1.7(b) both types of conflicts of interest may be ameliorated if the
requirements of (b)(1), (b)(2), and (b)(3) are met: a lawyer must be able to
provide competent and diligent representation to each affected client; each
affected client must give informed consent, confirmed in writing; and the
representation must not be precluded by Rule 1.7(c).

Under Rule 1.7(c)(1), it is never acceptable, not even with client consent, for a
lawyer to accept representation that is prohibited by law. Under Rule 1.7(c)(2), it
is never acceptable, not even with client consent, for a lawyer to represent a
client asserting a claim against another client represented by the lawyer in the
same proceeding.
Op. 2008-4 5

When a lawyer represents co-defendants in a criminal proceeding, material
limitation conflicts of interest will frequently occur, for example, if there is
substantial discrepancy in the testimony of co-defendants, if one co-defendant’s
position is incompatible to the other co-defendant, if one co-defendant is offered
a favorable plea bargain in exchange for testimony against the other co-
defendant. And, a directly adverse conflict will occur if one co-defendant accepts
a favorable plea bargain in exchange for testimony against the other co-
defendant; if the testimony of one co-defendant is unfavorable to the other co-
defendant; or if a lawyer must impeach on cross examination one of the co-
defendants he or she represents in the proceeding.

In a criminal proceeding, a conflict of interest in representation of co-defendants
would be extremely difficult for a lawyer to ameliorate under the requirements of
Rule 1.7(b); particularly, it would be difficult to meet the requirement that there be
diligent and competent representation to each client. And, the adequacy of
informed consent, confirmed in writing would also be a challenge, particularly in
light of the important constitutional rights of a criminal defendant.

“Representation of a criminal defendant entails certain basic duties. Counsel’s
function is to assist the defendant, and hence counsel owes the client a duty of
loyalty, a duty to avoid conflicts of interest.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.
668, 688 (1984). “Defense counsel have an ethical obligation to avoid conflicting
representations and to advise the court promptly when a conflict of interest arises
during the course of trial.” Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 346 (1980) (footnote
omitted).

In Columbus Bar Assn. v. Ross, 107 Ohio St.3d 354, 2006-Ohio-5, the Supreme
Court of Ohio stated: “The mere representation by one lawyer of two defendants
charged with the same offenses does not of itself constitute a conflict of interest;
whether a conflict exists must be determined by the facts of each case. Attorney
Grievance Comm. v. Kent (1995) 337 Md. 361, 379, 653 A.2d 909. A conflict of
interest exists, however, ‘where a single attorney in a criminal case represents
both the defendant and the chief witness for the State in the same case.’ Id. at
380, 653 A.2d 909. Indeed, the availability of ‘a plea by one defendant in
exchange for testimony against the other in the same matter is virtually certain to
place lawyers involved in representing both in an untenable position.’ People v.
Mattison, 67 N.Y.2d 462, 469-470, 503 N.Y.S.2d 709, 494 N.E.2d 1374.”

A Cincinnati Bar Association ethics opinion written under the now superseded
Ohio Code of Professional Responsibility advised that joint representation of co-
defendants by a lawyer from the county public defender’s office, even at the
arraignment hearing creates a conflict of interest that is not subject to waiver.
Cincinnati Bar Assn. Op. 95-96-01 (undated).

A lawyer who represents a criminal defendant should be free of conflict of
interest at all stages of a criminal proceeding from initial appearance, to
preliminary hearing, to arraignment, and through trial and post-conviction
Op. 2008-4 6

proceedings. At each stage of a criminal proceeding important rights of a
defendant are at stake, including the Sixth Amendment right to counsel. As
examples, an accused person is to be provided with information as to the right to
representation by the county public defender or assigned counsel immediately
upon arrest, when brought before a magistrate (or judge) or when formally
charged, which ever occurs first. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 120.16(F) (West Supp.
2008). At the initial appearance before a judge or magistrate, the defendant is
informed of his or her rights, including the right to counsel and the right to have
counsel assigned at no cost if unable to employ counsel, the right to a
preliminary hearing in a felony case when the initial appearance is not pursuant
to indictment, and the right, where appropriate, to jury trial. If the defendant has
not been admitted to bail for a bailable offense, the judge or magistrate admits
the defendant to bail as provided for in the rules. In misdemeanor cases, the
defendant may be called to plead at the initial appearance, but in felony cases
the defendant shall not be called to plead either at the initial appearance or at a
preliminary hearing. Crim R. 5(A), 5(A)(2), 5(A)(4), 5(A)(5). At the arraignment,
the indictment, information, or complaint is read or the substance of the charge is
stated and a defendant is called upon to plead to thereto, and if the defendant is
not represented by counsel, the judge or magistrate informs the defendant of his
or her rights and determines the defendant understands his or her rights,
including the right to retain counsel or the right to have counsel appointed without
cost. Crim R. 10(A), (C).

The preliminary hearing in a felony case is an important proceeding for a
defendant. At the conclusion of the prosecutor’s evidence and the defendant’s
evidence and statement, if any, the court will either order the defendant
discharged, or find probable cause to believe a felony has been committed by the
defendant and bind the defendant over to the court of common pleas. Crim R.
5(B)(4).

A preliminary hearing is conducted under the rules of evidence. Crim R. 5(B)(2).
During a preliminary hearing, the defendant and the judge or magistrate has full
right of cross-examination and the defendant has the right of inspection of
exhibits prior to their introduction. Crim R. 5(B)(2). If an unrepresented
defendant offers evidence on his or her own behalf at a preliminary hearing, the
court must first advise the defendant of the following: (a) that any such
evidence, if unfavorable to him or her in any particular, may be used against him
or her at later trial; (b) that he or she may make a statement, not under oath,
regarding the charge, for the purpose of explaining the facts in evidence; (c) that
he or she may refuse to make any statement, and such refusal may not be used
against him or her at trial; (d) that any statement he or she makes may be used
against him or her at trial. Crim R. 5(B)(3).

Standard 4-3.5(c) of the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice Prosecution
Function and Defense Function states: “Except for preliminary matters such as
initial hearings or applications for bail, defense counsel who are associated in
practice should not undertake to defend more than one defendant in the same
criminal case if the duty to one of the defendants may conflict with the duty to
Op. 2008-4 7

another. The potential for conflict of interest in representing multiple defendants
is so grave that ordinarily defense counsel should decline to act for more than
one of several co-defendants except in unusual situations when, after careful
investigation, it is clear either that no conflict is likely to develop at trial,
sentencing, or at any other time in the proceeding or that common representation
will be advantageous to each of the co-defendants represented and, in either
case, that: (i) the several defendants give an informed consent to such multiple
representation; and (ii) the consent of the defendants is made a matter of judicial
record. In determining the presence of consent by the defendants, the trial judge
should make appropriate inquiries respecting actual or potential conflicts of
interest of counsel and whether the defendants fully comprehend the difficulties
that defense counsel sometimes encounters in defending multiple clients.” ABA
Standards for Criminal Justice Prosecution Function and Defense Function § 4-
3.5 (3rd ed. 1993).

The conflict of interest of one lawyer in a county public defender’s office is
imputed to other lawyer’s in the public defender’s office. This imputation occurs
because a public defender’s office is a law firm as defined in Rule 1.0(c) and the
members of a law firm share a Rule 1.7 conflict of interest pursuant to Rule
1.10(a). For a similar view, see State Bar of Texas, Op. 579 (2007), noting that a
public defender’s office is a law firm as defined by their rules and advising that “a
conflict of interest precluding a lawyer in the public defender’s office from
representation of a client precludes the representation of the client by any other
lawyer in that office.”

Thus, in answer to Question 1, the Board advises that pursuant to Rule 1.7(a)(1)
and (a)(2), an assistant county public defender should not represent co-
defendants at a preliminary hearing in a felony case due to the inherent risk of a
conflict of interest that likely could not be ameliorated under Rule 1.7(b). Two
different assistant public defenders in the same county public defender’s office
should not separately represent the co-defendants at a preliminary hearing
because the conflict of interest of one assistant public defender is imputed to the
other pursuant to Rule 1.10(a) and Rule 1.0(c).

Question 2

   Is it proper for an assistant county public defender to represent one
   co-defendant in a felony case while simultaneously representing
   the other co-defendant in an unrelated misdemeanor case? If not,
   is it proper for a different assistant public defender in the same
   county public defender’s office to represent the other co-defendant
   in the unrelated misdemeanor case?

Simultaneous representation of one co-defendant in a felony case and the other
co-defendant in an unrelated misdemeanor case is not absolutely prohibited by
Rule 1.7 of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct; however, such
representation is unwise due to the potential conflict of interest. Comment [11] to
Op. 2008-4 8

Rule 1.7 explains that a “directly adverse” conflict of interest “may arise when
effective representation of a client who is a party in a lawsuit requires a lawyer to
cross-examine another client, represented in a different matter, who appears as
a witness in the suit.”

In a lawyer’s simultaneous representation of one co-defendant in a felony case
and the other co-defendant in an unrelated misdemeanor case, a “directly
adverse” conflict of interest will occur when effective representation of the co-
defendant in the felony case requires cross examination of the client represented
in the misdemeanor case.

An ethics committee in Vermont advised that “[a] lawyer may not represent a
criminal defendant in a criminal case where another client in an unrelated matter
is a State’s witness, notwithstanding that each client may make an informed
consent after full disclosure of any relevant facts concerning such dual
representation, because such dual representation would involve an inherent risk
of violation of one or more Disciplinary Rules. Vermont Bar Assn. Op. 98-13
[undated].

In Columbus Bar Assn. v. Ross, 107 Ohio St.3d 354, 2006-Ohio-5, an Ohio
attorney received a six-month stayed suspension for violating DR 5-105(B)
(conflict of interest) and DR 1-104 (professional liability insurance notification).
Attorney Ross represented Brown who was indicted by a federal grand jury and
charged with trafficking cocaine, while representing Hollins in state court
proceedings stemming from an unrelated drug charge. Id. at 354. The U.S.
attorney inquired about the propriety of the dual representation because she had
evidence that Hollins was Brown’s drug supplier in the federal case. Id. at 354-

55. Attorney Ross discussed the allegation with the clients and the potential for a
    conflict of interest, but they denied any drug deals. Id. at 355. Respondent did
    not consider the prosecutor’s evidence reliable enough to warrant his withdrawal
    from either case. Id. at 355. Attorney Ross requested the prosecutor move the
    federal court to reduce Brown’s sentence based on his substantial assistance to
    the government, but the prosecutor refused unless Brown named Hollins as his
    supplier. Id. The U.S. attorney asked the court to inquire whether Brown and
    Hollins fully understood and consented to the dual representation, but upon
    assurances by Brown that Hollins was not his supplier and he wanted Ross as
    his attorney, the court allowed Ross to remain as Brown’s counsel. Shortly
    before Brown’s trial date, Ross moved to withdraw as counsel because he could
    not get Brown a reduced sentence. Brown through new counsel pleaded guilty
    and agreed to offer incriminating testimony, including that Hollins was his
    supplier. Later, Hollins was indicted as a conspirator, and respondent continued
    to represent him until removed by another federal district judge. Id. at 355. In
    respondent’s disciplinary case, the Supreme Court of Ohio found that respondent
    violated DR 5-105 by continuing to represent Hollins and Brown after the
    government identified Hollins as Brown’s supplier of drugs. Id. at 357. The court
    stated that Ross “disregarded all cautionary guidance in continuing to represent
    Brown and Hollins.” Id. at 358. “When the prosecution asked Brown to
    Op. 2008-4 9

incriminate Hollins, a trial or plea negotiations in which their interests were
irreconcilable became practically inevitable.” Id. at 359.

When a conflict of interest occurs in the simultaneous representation of a co-
defendant in a criminal case and the other co-defendant in an unrelated
misdemeanor case, it would be extremely difficult for a lawyer to ameliorate the
conflict of interest under the requirements of Rule 1.7(b), particularly the
requirement that there be diligent and competent representation to each client.
The adequacy of the informed consent, confirmed in writing would also be a
challenge, especially in light of the important constitutional rights of a criminal
defendant. Thus, the Board’s view is that an assistant county public defender
should not represent one co-defendant in a felony case while simultaneously
representing the other co-defendant in an unrelated misdemeanor case due to
the inherent risk of a conflict of interest that likely could not be ameliorated under
Rule 1.7(b).

As already stated, the conflict of interest of one lawyer in a county public
defender’s office is imputed to other lawyers in the public defender’s office. This
imputation occurs because a public defender’s office is a law firm as defined in
Rule 1.0(c) and the members of a law firm share a Rule 1.7 conflict of interest
pursuant to Rule 1.10(a).

Although the Board was not asked to address whether an assistant county public
defender may represent a criminal defendant when a former client he or she
represented in an unrelated matter is a witness in the criminal case, this related
question begs answer. Such representation is not prohibited under the Ohio
Rules of Professional Conduct, as long as the assistant county public defender
does not use or reveal information of the former client that is protected from
disclosure under Rule 1.9(c).

                     Rule 1.9 Duties to Former Clients

   (c) A lawyer who has formerly represented a client in a matter or
   whose present or former firm has formerly represented a client in a
   matter shall not thereafter do either of the following:

          (1) use information relating to the representation to the
          disadvantage of the former client except as these rules
          would permit or require with respect to a client or when the
          information has become generally known;

          (2) reveal information relating to the representation except
          as these rules would permit or require with respect to a
          client.

Thus, in answer to Question 2, the Board advises that pursuant to Rule 1.7(a)(1)
and (a)(2), an assistant county public defender should not represent one co-
defendant in a felony case while simultaneously representing the other co-
Op. 2008-4 10

defendant in an unrelated misdemeanor case due to the inherent risk of a conflict
of interest that likely could not be ameliorated under Rule 1.7(b). A different
assistant public defender in the same county public defender’s office should not
represent the co-defendant in the unrelated misdemeanor case because the
conflict of interest of one assistant public defender is imputed to the other
pursuant to Rule 1.10(a) and Rule 1.0(c). If a former client in an unrelated matter
is a witness in a defendant’s criminal case, an assistant county public defender
may represent the criminal defendant, but may not use or reveal information of
the former client that is protected from disclosure under Rule 1.9(c).

Advisory Opinions of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and
Discipline are informal, nonbinding opinions in response to prospective or
hypothetical questions regarding the application of the Supreme Court
Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, the Supreme Court Rules for
the Government of the Judiciary, the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct,
the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct, and the Attorney’s Oath of Office.