State v. Davis

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the trial court on remand determining that Defendant had failed to establish that defense counsel, Kirstin Coffin, had a conflict of interest, holding that there was no error.

Defendant was convicted of murder and sentenced to a fifty-year term of incarceration. On appeal, the Supreme Court held that the trial court had a duty to inquire into Coffin's alleged conflict of interest and remanded for a determination as to whether Defendant's claim had merit. After a hearing on remand, the trial court concluded that Defendant had failed to establish that Coffin was burdened by an actual conflict of interest as a result of her prior representation of Defendant. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) there was no error in the determination that Coffin was not burdened by an actual conflict of interest that adversely affected her performance; and (2) Defendant's remaining claim was without merit.