Maricopa County Public Defender's Office v. Superior Court

OPINION

NOYES, Judge.

These special actions arise from two unrelated cases in which the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office (“the public defender”) moved to withdraw on grounds that an ethical conflict existed between its duty to zealously represent a current client (the defendant) and its duty of loyalty to a former client (an adverse witness). In each case, the trial court denied the motion because counsel failed to disclose confidential information about the former client. The public defender then filed petitions for special action, arguing that the trial court abused its discretion and…