Rodriguez v. Commissioner of Correction

Summary

The court affirmed the denial of habeas relief, holding that the petitioner failed to prove that his trial attorney labored under an actual conflict of interest that adversely affected his performance. The attorney's prior acquittal on nonviolent bribery charges, the limited publicity, the different nature of the charges, and the individual voir dire inquiry materially distinguished the case from the circumstances giving rise to a constitutional conflict. The court also held that counsel was not required to ask specifically about the criminal prosecution during individual voir dire.