California Court of Appeal

In death penalty case where petitioner claims that the assigned D.A.'s role in the making of a film about the case shows a conflict of interest warranting recusal, petition for writ of mandate challenging denial of motion to recuse the entire Santa Barabara D.A.'s Office is granted as to the individual prosecutor, as there is a likelihood that petitioner will not get fair treatment if the assigned D.A. tries the case.

Appellate Information

• Decided 10/05/2006
• Published 10/05/2006

Judges

• YEGAN, J.

Court

• California Court of Appeal

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Law Offices of James E. Blatt;  James E. Blatt, Michael G. Raab, Encino, and Armand Arabian, for Petitioner., Thomas W. Sneddon, Jr., District Attorney, County of Santa Barbara and Gerald McC. Franklin, Senior Deputy District Attorney, for Real Party in Interest.


• For Appellees:
  
• Bill Lockyer, Attorney General, Robert R. Anderson, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Pamela C. Hamanaka, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Steven D. Matthews, Supervising Deputy Attorney General, David F. Glassman, Deputy Attorney General, for Respondent.