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715 P.2d 81

Worthen v. State

Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma

Decided February 14, 1986

Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma · decided 1986-02-14

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently October 1991

2 state decisions

Relies on Cuyler v. Sullivan · Skelton v. State · Howerton v. State

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1986-02-14

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¶1ORDER REVERSING CONVICTION AND REMANDING FOR NEW TRIAL

¶2Appellant, John Michael Worthen, was convicted in Comache County District Court, Case No. CRF-88-220, of Distribution of Marijuana, After Former Conviction of Two or More Felonies, in which he received a sentence of eighteen years’ imprisonment and a fine of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500). Since this case must be reversed and remanded, we deem it unnecessary to set forth the facts.

¶3Appellant was represented at trial by court appointed counsel, who had previously served as assistant district attorney and successfully convicted appellant in the two former convictions which were used for enhancement of punishment.

¶4The United States Supreme Court held in Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 100 S.Ct. 1708, 1717, 64 L.Ed.2d 333 (1976), that a defense counsel has an ethical obligation to avoid conflicting representations and to advise the court promptly to avoid conflict of interest arising during the course of trial.

¶5This Court has condemned such behavior in the past. See, Skelton v. State, 672 P.2d 671 (Okl.Cr.1983); Howerton v. State, 640 P.2d 566 (Okl.Cr.1982).

¶6IT IS THEREFORE THE ORDER OF THIS COURT, that this case be REVERSED and REMANDED FOR NEW TRIAL.

ED PARKS, P.J.TOM BRETT, J.HEZ J. BUSSEY, J., dissents.
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