Tag: conflict of interest
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Colorado justices say conflicted lawyer not OK, but automatic reversal not required for defendant
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court agreed on Monday it was highly problematic that an El Paso County defense lawyer seemingly failed to tell his client he was simultaneously being prosecuted by the same district attorney’s office, but a majority stopped short of finding the conflict merited an automatic reversal of the defendant’s convictions. Matthew…
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‘Pretty shocking’: Colorado justices review case where defendant’s lawyer was also being prosecuted
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared hesitant last week to endorse automatic reversal of an El Paso County defendant’s convictions because he was seemingly unaware his lawyer was simultaneously being prosecuted by the same district attorney’s office. However, some justices agreed the system failed to adequately protect the rights of Matthew Rodolfo Vansant Lopez from…
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Appeals court reinstates Denver sex assault convictions in 12-year-old case
Following a rare appeal by the prosecution, Colorado’s second-highest court last month reinstated a defendant’s sexual assault convictions, reversing a judge’s order for a new trial based on the alleged ineffectiveness of defense counsel. Stephen J. Ahuero’s criminal case, which began in 2012, previously reached both the Court of Appeals and the state Supreme Court.…