Opinion
Criminal Case No. 13-cr-0073-WJM
02-25-2013
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. 2. CASSIE REED Defendant.
Judge William J. Martínez
ORDER REGARDING JOINT DEFENSE AGREEMENT DISCLOSURES
This matter comes before the Court sua sponte. This Court has the inherent authority to require disclosure of the precise nature of a criminal defendant's representation to ensure that no conflict of interest exists which would deprive a defendant of his Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel. See United States v. Stepney, 246 F.Supp.2d 1069 (N.D. Cal. 2003). Accordingly the Court ORDERS as follows:
1. On or before March 22, 2013, any Defendant who has entered into a joint defense agreement shall submit such agreement to the Court (filed under Restriction Level 3) for in camera review.
2. On or before March 22, 2013, any defendant who has not entered a joint defense agreement shall submit a filing (under Restriction Level 3) informing the Court of as much.
3. Should any defendant contemplate entering into a joint defense agreement after this Order, that defendant shall submit such agreement to the Court (filed under Restriction Level 3) for in camera review PRIOR to its execution.
BY THE COURT:
___________
William J. Martínez
United States District Judge