Lindh v. O'HARA

HERRMANN, Chief Justice:

This appeal raises the questions of the source and nature of compensation for court-appointed attorneys representing indigent defendants in criminal cases.

i.

A security officer was stabbed at the Smyrna Correctional Center. Five inmates (later known as the “Smyrna Five”) were charged with assault with intent to murder, assault on a prison guard, and conspiracy. Upon request of the Public Defender, the Superior Court appointed counsel for four of the five defendants on the ground of conflict of interest among them. The appellants are three of the four attorneys thus…