Q: Question about the attorney cliant relationship . The attorney is a conflict panel attorney hired by local government.
The cliant is accused of a felony. The attorney later becomes a judge and the former cliant is now before his former attorney now judge.
.is a conflict panel attorney considered a state attorney , and can the judge heater the case ?
Please and thank you . I think this is a hard one
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- California
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
In California, a conflict panel attorney, although hired by the local government, is generally not considered a state attorney in the traditional sense. They are typically private attorneys appointed to represent defendants when the public defender has a conflict of interest. Their role is to provide independent legal representation to their clients, similar to a public defender.
Regarding the situation where a former conflict panel attorney becomes a judge and encounters a former client in court, California law and ethical guidelines for judges demand strict adherence to conflict of interest standards. If a judge has previously represented a person as an attorney in the same matter, or if their impartiality might reasonably be questioned due to a prior attorney-client relationship, the judge is expected to recuse themselves from the case. This is to ensure fairness and the integrity of the judicial process.
In your specific scenario, where the judge formerly represented the individual as a conflict panel attorney in a felony case, it would be highly advisable for the judge to recuse themselves to avoid any appearance of bias or conflict of interest. The California Code of Judicial Ethics provides clear guidelines on this matter, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
