Commonwealth v. Thibeault

This appeal involves ultimately a claim by the defendant-appellant Thibeault that he was deprived of effective assistance of counsel by reason of the fact that his trial attorney was under an order of suspension from practice during the period when he represented him at trial and sentencing.

The narrative begins with the indictment of Thibeault on August 27, 1987, on charges of trafficking in cocaine in an amount in excess of 28 grams, and possessing marihuana with intent to distribute. He was arraigned on October 1, 1987, and tried, jury-waived, on January 3, 1989. The judge found Thibeault…