Leversen v. Superior Court

Opinion

GRODIN, J.

Petitioner is counsel for defendant Walter Gibbs in a criminal trial that we have stayed pending this proceeding. He seeks a writ of mandate directing the trial court to allow him to withdraw as counsel because of a conflict of interest stemming from confidential information re ceived in the course of his firm’s representation, in other proceedings, of a witness, Richard Crisan, called by codefendant Velma Hogan.

The question presented is what standards govern disposition of a motion made during a criminal trial by defendant’s attorney to be relieved as counsel because of a…