ALBANY – A trial judge correctly relieved a defendant’s assigned counsel and appointed a conflict-free lawyer, despite the defendant’s objections to having new counsel, the state Court of Appeals determined.
The court’s unanimous ruling in People v. Watson, 19, affirmed Acting Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Richard Carruthers‘ decision to remove defendant Lawrence Watson’s counsel. And the Thursday ruling reversed the Appellate Division, First Department, decision that Watson should get a new trial due to the removal of Robert Fisher of New York County Defender Services (NYCDS).
