Fred J. Ford v. United States

J. SKELLY WRIGHT, Circuit Judge.

This appeal presents again1 the vexing problem of counsel for co-defendants in a criminal case. Specifically we are presented with the question of the responsibility of the trial judge with respect to the retention or assignment of single counsel to represent co-defendants on trial. In Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 70, 62 S.Ct. 457, 465, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942), in which Glasser’s conviction was reversed because his lawyer was assigned to represent his co-defendant as well, the Court stated: “[T]he ‘Assistance of Counsel’ guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment…