Commonwealth Ex Rel. Whitling v. Russell

176 A.2d 641, 406 Pa. 45, 1962 Pa. LEXIS 644

• Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: January 2, 1962
• Docket: Appeal, 39
• Status: Published

Opinion

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Benjamin R. Jones,

Upon this appeal a very narrow issue is presented: two defendants, with antagonistic defenses, having been called for trial and the trial court having appointed as counsel for one defendant an attorney previously retained to represent the other defendant, was the latter prejudiced by the conflict of interest created by such appointment? Basically, this question evaluates the right of a defendant, even in a non-capital case, to be represented, if at all, by counsel without conflicting interests.

Richard Whitling [appellant] and his brother, Ralph Whitling, were indicted, tried and convicted in the Court of Quarter Sessions of Clarion County upon the charge of sodomy. Prior to the trial, appellant retained as his counsel Attorney Gerald McGill, but Ralph Whitling had not retained any counsel. Prior to the trial when it became apparent to the trial judge that Ralph Whitling was not represented by counsel, the trial judge requested Attorney McGill, appellant’s counsel, to also represent Richard Whitling. Both defendants were tried together. Appellant contends that he objected to this dual representation on the part of his counsel by protesting to Attorney McGill at that time at counsel table. Appellant’s position was that he was innocent of the sodomy charge but that his co-defendant, Ralph Whitling, was guilty and, at tidal, he testified against Ralph Whitling although Ralph Whitling testified in appellant’s behalf. Both defendants were convicted and each was sentenced to a minimum term of five years and a maximum term of ten years, to pay a |500 fine together with the costs of prosecution. No appeal from such convictions was taken.

Appellant, now confined in the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon, presented a petition for a writ of habeas corpus to the Court of Common Pleas of Clarion County which, after a hearing, denied such writ. An appeal was then taken to the Superior Court and that Court by a 4-2 decision (reported in 195 Pa. Superior Ct. 277, 171 A. 2d 819), affirmed the action of the court below. 1 This Court granted an allocatur.

The Superior Court fully recognized that the representation of both defendants by Attorney McGill created a conflict of interest (p. 280) : “There is no question that a conflict of interest existed in [Ralph Whitling’s] counsel, also representing the co-defendant, under the circumstances of this case. Counsel should hot báve accepted the appointment at: the- time- it wás inUde and advised - the - court ;of the conflicting cihcuhi'stances’ if,'-as-' [Ralph. Whi-tling] •'testified; hé knew' óf them ; and- the’' court -below; when the conflict became apparent1 as the trial proceeded,- should’ have taken steps ‘to immediately, remedy-the .situation.”- Despite its recognition of -the existence of" a conflict of-interest Under • the circumstances,' the-’ Superior Court stated that it 'was appellant’s burden 'to- show “that the’-cOhflict--Of interest resulted ;in;such- ineffective: and■ improper- representation as to result-in’basic and:-fundamental-error” and, in -the- instant-situation,-’’ap'pellánt had-not- su-stámed''this burden: ■ With that -'conclusión wé cannot-ágre'é; -';1- ■’■■■’• • ‘

-If, in-.the -representation of-’more-than one defend; antj a-conflict of interest- arises;- the mere - existence- Of such a- conflict- vitíátes the 'proceedings,- even- though no 'actual harm results.- - The- potentiality that- such harmmay-result, father than-that such harm did result, furnishes the’ appropriate : criterion. As pointed' 'out by Judge Montgomery in his dissenting opinion, the Superior Court in Pile v. Thompson, 62 Pa. Superior Ct. 400, well stated: v ; the rule is not intended to'’Be remedial -of'actual- wrong, ■ but- preventive- Of the possibility' of5 it.”-'' - As’ well: expressed by.- appellant at the hearing ■ iii' the Court-' b’élów: - :“I don’t' see how'”' my ah torney' expected- to'- paint' me white : and paint RalpIi black-and' get a Not Guilty Verdict for us both.”' ' ■ •'

In Jedwabny v. Philadelphia Transportation Company, 390 Pa; 231, 135 A. 2d 252, a trespass ■ action; in which the'trial judg'e awarded'a new trial to appellant because of the'existence of- a conflict óf interest Oh'the part" Of ’''an''attorney, former ..Chief " Justice' 'JONES speaking'for' this Court' stated' that an “attorney' Caiinot serve'the' Opposed interests'of his' two- clients fully and faithfully” and. that,,“No .attorney .can. serve.two opposing litigants any more so than one man..can serve two masters.” - Accordingly, -we. held-tliat the-action of the trial judge in that civil action was “affirmatively proper.” ‘‘ -

One of the most important factors in a criminal trial ,,is the attitude of the defendant’s counsel and often the ■strength -of. the defendant’s cause, unfortunately, is judged and gauged by, the ability, demonstrated by defendant’s counsel. We cannot say- -that counsel in the instant case was not effective. But could he not have been moré effective and moré able to utilize the .evidence if he. had not been burdened by the .chore of defending, two.defendants whose positions were inconsistent and at variance? Of necessity, counsel in the instant case had to.temper his. strategy and tactics to a middle-of-the-road - position; From- the- time Of his Appointment - as: counsel for both defendants a conflict of interest arose and the existence of such a conflict alone, .would. justify judicial correction of the situation. Under the instant facts it is evident. that .the .conflict- ;of interest created by Attorney McGill’s appointment - as- counsel for both defendants was highly prejudicial to appellant’s rights. The very purpose of the riile which prohibits an attorney from representing conflicting interests is to preclude such an attorney from putting himself in a position, where he may be ■required-to choose between conflicting duties or to be led-to'an attempt to reconcile conflicting interests rather than to enforce,- to their full extent, the rights of the party whom he should alone represent: 7 C.J.S., Attorney and Client, §47. Under the instant circumstances it is evident that the order of the Superior Court must be reversed. .........

Order reversed.

1 Judge Montgomery filed a dissenting opinion, in which Judge Flood joined.