John S. Freund v. Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General

TJOFLAT, Circuit Judge:

This habeas corpus case provides a classic example of how a conflict of interest can prevent a law Arm from adequately representing a criminal defendant. The resolution of this case lies at the intersection of legal ethics and the constitutional protections afforded criminal defendants. The petitioner and another man faced murder charges in a Florida state court for a gruesome, drug-related killing. The State sought the death penalty. In light of the information gathered during the police investigation following the murder, the State did not have a strong case against…