People v. Austin M.

This case presents issue as to whether defense counsel in juvenile court proceeding labored under per se conflict of interest where counsel represented respondent and his corresponding brother under circumstances where respondent’s brother was one of three alleged victims of sexual abuse named in respondent’s delinquency petition. Appellate Court, in affirming trial court’s eventual adjudication that found respondent guilty of misdemeanor criminal sexual abuse, held that no such victim-based conflict of interest existed because neither respondent nor his brother implicated each other as part of their defenses against sexual abuse allegations lodged by third party. (Dissent filed.)