United States v. Jeffries

OPINION OF THE COURT

RIVES, Judge:

This case presents a two-fold claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, raising the questions: Is an accused deprived of conflict-free counsel when his attorney also represents a potential witness? Is an accused denied effective assistance when one member of the defense team is alleged to have been unprepared and ineffective? Here, we find no error and affirm.

I

Prior to arraignment, the military judge mentioned that three conferences had been conducted under R.C.M. 802. In those sessions, the trial counsel argued that the civilian defense counsel, Mr. Miller,…