holloway arkansas argued november decided april petitioners three codefendants state criminal trial arkansas made timely motions weeks trial jury empaneled appointment separate counsel based appointed counsel representations confidential information received codefendants confronted risk representing conflicting interests therefore provide effective assistance client trial denied motions petitioners subsequently convicted arkansas affirmed concluding record showed actual conflict interests prejudice petitioners held trial judge failure either appoint separate counsel take adequate steps ascertain whether risk conflict interests remote warrant separate counsel face representations made counsel trial jury empaneled deprived petitioners guarantee assistance counsel sixth amendment pp trial duty refrain embarrassing counsel multiple defendants insisting even suggesting counsel undertake concurrently represent interests might conflict possibility inconsistent interests brought home formal objections motions counsel representations glasser pp attorney request appointment separate counsel based representations regarding conflict interests granted considering best position professionally ethically determine conflict exists probably develop trial obligation upon discovering conflict advise officer advises virtually oath pp prospect dilatory practices attorney present justify trial failure take adequate steps response repeated motions appointment separate counsel pp whenever trial improperly requires joint representation timely objection reversal automatic prejudice presumed regardless whether independently shown glasser supra pp assistance counsel among constitutional rights basic fair trial infraction never treated harmless error chapman california attorney representing multiple defendants conflicting interests physically present pretrial proceedings trial sentencing warrant departure general rule requiring automatic reversal pp rule requiring defendant show conflict interests counsel tried avoid timely objections joint representation prejudiced specific fashion susceptible intelligent evenhanded application pp burger delivered opinion brennan stewart white marshall stevens joined powell filed dissenting opinion blackmun rehnquist joined post harold hall argued cause filed brief petitioners joseph purvis assistant attorney general arkansas argued cause pro hac vice respondent brief bill clinton attorney general robert alston newcomb assistant attorney general howard eisenberg filed brief national legal aid defender assn amicus curiae urging reversal rollie rogers filed brief office colorado state public defender amicus curiae chief justice burger delivered opinion petitioners codefendants trial made timely motions appointment separate counsel based representations appointed counsel confidential information received codefendants confronted risk representing conflicting interests therefore provide effective assistance client granted certiorari decide whether petitioners deprived effective assistance counsel denial motions early morning june three men entered little rock restaurant robbed terrorized five employees restaurant course robbery one two female employees raped twice ensuing police investigation led arrests petitioners july three defendants charged one count robbery two counts rape august trial appointed harold hall public defender represent three defendants petitioners arraigned pleaded guilty two days later cases set consolidated trial commence september august hall moved appoint separate counsel petitioner defendants ha stated possibility conflict interest cases conducting hearing motion petitioners motions severance declined appoint separate counsel trial judge later presided petitioners trial conducted jackson denno hearing determine admissibility confession purportedly made petitioner campbell two police officers time arrest essence confession campbell entered restaurant codefendants remained armed rifle one flight stairs site robbery rapes apparently serving lookout taken part rapes trial judge ruled confession admissible ordered deletion references campbell codefendants trial one arresting officers testified campbell confession september jury empaneled hall renewed motion appointment separate counsel grounds one two defendants may testify able received confidential information responded know denied motion prosecution proceeded present case manager restaurant identified petitioners holloway campbell two robbers another male employee identified holloway petitioner welch third identified holloway victim single rape identified holloway welch two robbers unable identify man raped victim double rape identified holloway first rapist unable identify second rapist identified campbell one robbers second day trial prosecution rested case hall advised recommendation three defendants decided testify stated since appointed previously filed motion asking appoint separate attorney defendant possible conflict interest conflict probably coming since one wants testify right let testify conflict interest every time try one person one blames one hall talked one defendants talked individually collectively talk collectively position less muzzled right witness hall examine right examine right prosecuting attorney hall one defendant takes stand somebody needs protect two interest one testifying ca since talked one individually well talked assume individually collectively say want testify think perfectly right sic testify want business defendant said wants testify witnesses direct examination hall honor ca even put direct examination ask interposing put stand tell advised rights want testify tell man go ahead relate wants need honor allowed make objection sir counsel take care objections hall honor trying say ca proceed like tell hall right witnesses anyhow jury rejected versions events presented three defendants alibi witness returned guilty verdicts counts appeal arkansas petitioners raised claim representation single appointed attorney objection violated federal constitutional guarantees effective assistance counsel resolving issue relied characterized majority rule record must show material basis alleged conflict interest reversible error occurs single representation ark ii years ago glasser held requiring attorney represent two codefendants whose interests conflict district denied one defendants sixth amendment right effective assistance counsel case government tried five codefendants joint trial conspiracy defraud two defendants glasser kretske represented initially separate counsel second day trial however kretske became dissatisfied attorney dismissed district judge thereupon asked glasser attorney stewart also represent kretske stewart responded noting possible conflict interests representation glasser kretske might lead jury link two men together glasser also made known objected proposal district nevertheless appointed stewart continued glasser retained counsel represent kretske men convicted glasser contended stewart representation trial ineffective conflict interests two clients held assistance counsel guaranteed sixth amendment contemplates assistance untrammeled unimpaired order requiring one lawyer simultaneously represent conflicting interests record disclosed stewart failed government witness whose testimony linked glasser conspiracy failed object admission arguably inadmissible evidence failure viewed result stewart desire protect kretske interests thus indicative stewart struggle serve two masters identifying conflict interests declined inquire whether prejudice flowing harmless instead ordered glasser conviction reversed kretske conviction however affirmed one principle applicable emerges glasser without ambiguity requiring permitting single attorney represent codefendants often referred joint representation per se violative constitutional guarantees effective assistance counsel principle recognizes cases multiple defendants appropriately represented one attorney indeed cases certain advantages might accrue joint representation justice frankfurter view joint representation means insuring reciprocal recrimination common defense often gives strength common attack glasser supra dissenting opinion since glasser decided however courts taken divergent approaches two issues commonly raised challenges joint representation unlike case trial counsel nothing advise trial actuality possibility conflict several clients interests first appellate courts differed strong showing conflict must made certain reviewing must asserted conflict existed conclude defendants deprived right effective assistance counsel compare ex rel hart davenport lollar app people chacon cal state kennedy app lovano see also cases collected second courts differed respect scope nature affirmative duty trial judge assure criminal defendant deprived right effective assistance counsel joint representation conflicting interests compare lawriw carrigan foster foxworth wainwright williams need resolve two issues case however trial counsel pretrial motions august september accompanying representations made officer focused explicitly probable risk conflict interests judge failed either appoint separate counsel take adequate steps ascertain whether risk remote warrant separate counsel hold failure face representations made counsel weeks trial jury empaneled deprived petitioners guarantee assistance counsel conclusion supported reasoning glasser upon trial judge rests duty seeing trial conducted solicitude essential rights accused trial protect right accused assistance counsel equal importance duty see accused assistance counsel duty refrain embarrassing counsel defense accused insisting indeed even suggesting counsel undertake concurrently represent interests might diverge first client possibility divergence brought home emphasis added additionally since decision glasser courts held attorney request appointment separate counsel based representations officer regarding conflict interests granted see shuttle smith supp state davis state brazile la see commonwealth lafleur mass app holding courts acknowledged given effect several interrelated considerations attorney representing two defendants criminal matter best position professionally ethically determine conflict interest exists probably develop course trial state davis supra second defense attorneys obligation upon discovering conflict interests advise problem ibid finally attorneys officers address judge solemnly upon matter declarations virtually made oath state brazile supra emphasis deleted find considerations persuasive state argues however credit hall representations trial tantamount transferring defense counsel authority trial judge rule existence risk conflict appoint separate counsel state view ultimate decision matters must remain trial judge otherwise unscrupulous defense attorneys might abuse authority presumably purposes delay obstruction orderly conduct trial state obvious interest avoiding abuses holding undermine interest untimely motion separate counsel made dilatory purposes holding impair trial ability deal counsel resort tactics cf dardi cert denied people kroeger cal holding preclude trial exploring adequacy basis defense counsel representations regarding conflict interests without improperly requiring disclosure confidential communications client see state davis supra case trial simply failed take adequate steps response repeated motions objections representations made prospect dilatory practices present justify failure iii issue remains whether error committed petitioners trial requires reversal convictions generally assumed glasser requires reversal even absence showing specific prejudice complaining codefendant whenever trial improperly permits requires joint representation see austin erickson gougis hall state commonwealth ex rel whitling russell note criminal codefendants sixth amendment case separate counsel geo courts commentators argued however appellate courts reverse automatically cases rather affirm unless defendant demonstrate prejudice see woods cert denied geer representation multiple criminal defendants conflicts interest professional responsibilities defense attorney rev argument rests two aspects decision glasser first although concluded stewart forced represent conflicting interests reverse conviction kretske stewart client kretske failed show denial glasser constitutional rights prejudiced manner emphasis added second justified reversal glasser conviction part emphasizing weakness government evidence guilt close question error circumstances ground reversal brushed aside immaterial since real chance might provided slight impetus swung scales toward guilt emphasis added assessing strength prosecution evidence defendant course one step applying standard see schneble florida harrington california read opinion glasser however holding whenever trial improperly requires joint representation timely objection reversal automatic glasser stated determine precise degree prejudice sustained glasser result district appointment stewart counsel kretske difficult unnecessary right assistance counsel fundamental absolute allow courts indulge nice calculations amount prejudice arising denial cf snyder massachusetts tumey ohio patton moreover concluded assistance counsel among constitutional rights basic fair trial infraction never treated harmless error chapman california supra accordingly defendant deprived presence assistance attorney either throughout prosecution critical stage least prosecution capital offense reversal automatic gideon wainwright hamilton alabama white maryland attorney representing multiple defendants conflicting interests physically present pretrial proceedings trial sentencing warrant departure general rule joint representation conflicting interests suspect tends prevent attorney example case may well precluded defense counsel campbell exploring possible plea negotiations possibility agreement testify prosecution provided lesser charge favorable sentencing recommendation acceptable generally speaking conflict may also prevent attorney challenging admission evidence prejudicial one client perhaps favorable another arguing sentencing hearing relative involvement culpability clients order minimize culpability one emphasizing another examples readily multiplied mere physical presence attorney fulfill sixth amendment guarantee advocate conflicting obligations effectively sealed lips crucial matters finally rule requiring defendant show conflict interests counsel tried avoid timely objections joint representation prejudiced specific fashion susceptible intelligent application normal case rule applied error occurs trial scope readily identifiable accordingly reviewing undertake confidence relatively narrow task assessing likelihood error materially affected deliberations jury compare chapman california supra hamling case joint representation conflicting interests evil bears repeating advocate finds compelled refrain trial also possible pretrial plea negotiations sentencing process may possible cases identify record prejudice resulting attorney failure undertake certain trial tasks even record sentencing hearing available difficult judge intelligently impact conflict attorney representation client assess impact conflict interests attorney options tactics decisions plea negotiations virtually impossible thus inquiry claim harmless error require unlike cases unguided speculation accordingly reverse remand proceedings inconsistent opinion ordered footnotes see jackson denno probable judge response know referred back counsel statement able response read judge later statements see infra directly contradictory record reveals trial defense counsel alert defense counsel obligation avoid assisting presentation counsel reason believe false testimony least testimony contrary version facts given earlier confidence cf aba project standards relating administration criminal justice defense function inquiring glasser whether waiver also confirmed defendant may waive right assistance attorney unhindered conflict interests case however arkansas contend petitioners waived right see aba project standards relating administration criminal justice function trial judge whenever two defendants jointly charged whose cases consolidated represented attorney trial judge inquire potential conflicts may jeopardize right defendant fidelity counsel indication record state suggest hearing held response motion august disclosed information demonstrating insubstantiality hall september representations based nearly ascertained codefendants newly formed decision testify respecting probable conflict interests far tell record trial judge cut opportunity defense counsel make conclusory representations oral argument hall represented trial request disclose basis representations conflict interests see tr oral arg occasion case determine constitutional significance trial response petitioners midtrial objections american bar association standards relating administration criminal justice defense function cautions except preliminary matters initial hearing applications bail lawyer lawyers associated practice undertake defend one defendant criminal case duty one defendants may conflict duty another potential conflict interest representing multiple defendants grave ordinarily lawyer decline act one several except unusual situations careful investigation clear conflict likely develop several defendants give informed consent multiple representation considered representation regarding conflict clients interests comes officer given weight commensurate grave penalties risked misrepresentation risks undoubtedly present inherent adversary system courts abundant power deal attorneys misrepresent facts case require inquiry extent power compel attorney disclose confidential communications concludes damaging client cf aba code professional responsibility dr compelled disclosure creates significant risks unfair prejudice especially disclosure judge may called upon later impose sentences attorney clients justice powell justice blackmun justice rehnquist join dissenting disavowing per se rule separate representation holds today trial judge failure case either appoint separate counsel take adequate steps ascertain whether risk remote warrant separate counsel worked violation guarantee assistance counsel embodied sixth fourteenth amendments accepts defense counsel representations possible conflict interests among clients inability conduct effective adequate trigger trial duty inquiry trial held appropriate hearing defense counsel motions separate representation task decide whether omission assumes proportion constitutional violation agree particular circumstances case failure inquire requires reversal petitioners convictions opinion contains seeds per se rule separate representation merely upon demand defense counsel respectfully dissent useful contrast today decision relevant previous ruling glasser case trial ordered glasser retained lawyer stewart represent glasser codefendant kretske even though stewart identified inconsistency defense counseled joint representation reversed glasser conviction lawyer required undertake simultaneous representation conflicting interests glasser decision rest determination possibility inconsistent interests glasser kretske brought home instead proceeded find record support glasser claim impairment sixth amendment right assistance counsel evidence indicative stewart struggle serve two masters seriously doubted see also today decision goes well beyond limits glasser agree representations made defense counsel case informative affidavit counsel stewart glasser sufficient bring play trial duty inquire possibility conflicting interests question however whether constitution violated simply failure conduct inquiry without additional determination record reveals case joint representation face conflicting interests approach case premised ultimate finding conflict interest ineffective assistance counsel rather presumes prejudice failure conduct inquiry equating failure violation sixth amendment guarantee justification approach appears difficulty post hoc reconstruction record determine whether different outcome even different defense strategy might obtained trial engaged requisite inquiry ordered separate representation although difficulty may taken account allocation burden persuasion questions conflict prejudice see infra convinced need prophylactic gloss requirements constitution area criminal law cf miranda arizona several aspects opinion suggest rule separate representation upon demand defense counsel leaves little room maneuver trial judge seeks inquire substantiality defense counsel representations apparently trial judge must order separate representation unless asserted risk conflict remote warrant separate counsel ante formulation suggests minimal showing part defense counsel also offers view defense counsel case expected make kind specific proffer present glasser risk violating disclosure duty confidentiality clients ante although concededly necessary decision case trial inquiry must conducted without improperly requiring disclosure confidential communications client ante intimations coupled policy automatic reversal see ante path may cleared potentially disruptive demands separate counsel predicated solely representations defense counsel ii recognition limits role adding protective layers requirements constitution detract sixth amendment obligation provide separate counsel upon showing reasonable probability need view proper accommodation interests defendants securing effective assistance counsel state avoiding delay potential disruption costs inherent appointment multiple counsel achieved means sweep less broadly approach taken follow lead several courts appeals recognized trial duty inquiry cases without minimizing constitutional predicate conflicting interests ordinarily defense counsel obligation raise objections joint representation early possible commencement trial motion made supported satisfactory proffer trial duty conduct careful inquiry satisfy conflict interest likely result parties involved valid objection deberry hearing burden defense counsel clients possession relevant facts make showing reasonable likelihood conflict prejudice upon showing separate counsel appointed carried duty inquiry extent defendant later attacks conviction grounds conflict interest arising joint representation bear heavy burden indeed persuading reviewing reason deprived fair trial foster however proper timely motion made hearing held lack satisfactory judicial inquiry shifts burden proof question prejudice government carrigan since trial judge case failed inquire substantiality defense counsel representations september ante burden shifted state establish improbability conflict prejudice agree state burden met simply assertion defenses petitioners mutually inconsistent infrequent consequence improper joint representation nevertheless record must offer basis reasonable inference conflicting interests hampered potentially effective defense see donahue state demonstrated basis found record case affirm judgment arkansas propose resolve tension assertion constitutional right claim privilege reject assumption defense counsel unable discuss concrete terms difficulties joint representation particular case without betraying confidential communications persuaded courts unable pursue meaningful inquiry without insisting breach confidentiality experience somewhat analogous area claims exemption disclosure requirements freedom information act ed supports point see epa mink vaughn rosen app cert denied addition lawyer trial multiple defendants presents increased opportunities delay setting trial date disposing pretrial motions selecting jury conduct trial additional lawyers also may tend enhance possibility trial errors moreover light professional canons ethics cf aba code professional responsibility dr allen district tr oral arg rule requiring separate counsel virtually upon demand may disrupt operation public defender offices see carrigan mere representation two defendants single attorney automatically give rise constitutional deprivation counsel settled circuit specific instance prejudice real conflict interest resulting joint representation must shown exist said appellant denied effective assistance counsel mari vowteras cir cert denied wisniewski cir lovano cir cert denied cases trial carefully inquired possibility prejudice elicited personal responses defendants involved record barren inquiry concern government deberry supra noted approval view first circuit foster cir lack satisfactory judicial inquiry shifts burden proof question prejudice government since proper timely objection interposed case occasion identify circumstances might trigger duty inquiry absence motion course later motion may appropriate conflict known become apparent trial proceeds guard strategic disruption trial however may require substantial showing justification midtrial motions unlikely separate counsel able develop independent defense case degree overlap identification testimony state witnesses consistency alibis advanced petitioners campbell welch half brothers used alibi since campbell identified actual participant rapes might argued separate counsel encouraged endorse earlier confession effort show less culpable two codefendants given common alibi welch campbell found difficult extricate half brother cause event argument appeal jury nullification noted campbell denial direct involvement rapes effect guilt principal ark conceivably holloway gave independent alibi might wished argue state apprehended two real culprits arrest due mistaken identification unlikely separate counsel succeeded tack witness identified holloway also identified one two codefendants moreover petitioners argue joint representation impeded effective state witnesses sum case inquiry possibility conflicting interests reasonably might revealed basis separate representation