State of Iowa v. Robert Lynn Vaughan

MANSFIELD, Justice.

In this case, we are asked to determine whether a new trial is required when the district court replaces a conflicted defense attorney with a conflict-free attorney more than three months before trial, and there is no showing that the previous conflict had ongoing adverse effects on the representation. We conclude a new trial is not required in these circumstances. For this reason, we affirm the district court’s judgment of conviction and sentence. We also vacate the decision of the court of appeals ordering a new trial.

I. Background Facts and Proceedings.

Around 2:80 a.m.…