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Name: Campbell v. Rice
Case #: 99-17311
Court: US Court of Appeals
District 9 Cir
Citation: 302 Fed.3d 892
Summary

Appellant contended that his attorney had a potential conflict of interest because she was being prosecuted for drug violations by the same district attorney’s office as appellant. Appellant was excluded from the private in-chambers hearing concerning the potential conflict. The appellate court reversed and remanded. Campbell’s due process right to be present at the in-chambers hearing was violated, and the violation was a structural error that was prejudicial per se. Campbell had an active role to play in the hearing and his exclusion from the hearing compromised the integrity of the entire trial.

Opinion Date: 09/12/2002