California Court of Appeal

Convictions are reversed where defendant's state constitutional right to counsel was violated by his attorney's mid-trial resignation from the State Bar with charges pending, notwithstanding the attorney's belief that his status remained active throughout the proceedings. Article 1, section 15 of the California Constitution guarantees a criminal defendant the right to representation by a fully licensed member of the State Bar during his entire trial.

Appellate Information

• Decided 12/12/2008
• Published 12/12/2008

Judges

• McADAMS, J.

Court

• California Court of Appeal

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Jennifer M. Sheetz (Under appointment by the Court of Appeal), Mill Valley, for Appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Edmund G. Brown Jr., Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Rene A. Chacon, Supervising Deputy Attorney General, Bruce Ortega Deputy Attorney General, for Respondent.