12/27/13 - The stateâs highest court has declined to hear a defense attorneyâs appeal seeking to overturn a ruling that disqualified him from representing two women charged with illegally selling synthetic marijuana in Genoa Township. In an order issued this week, the Michigan Supreme Court denied the application for appeal filed by attorney Timothy Corr, who sought to overturn a November 2012 decision from 53rd District Court Judge Suzanne Geddis. She ruled it would be a conflict of interest to simultaneously represent two clients - the owner of Smokers Depot, 42-year-old Ronda Lee Roszak, as well as the storeâs manager, 28-year-old Melissa Ann Dzierwa. The ruling came after the Livingston County Prosecutorâs Office said it planned to offer a plea deal to one of the two defendants. Corr said both women previously consulted with separate attorneys and had no plans to accept a plea deal. They maintain that the seized substances had been purchased at a trade show, along with a lab report indicating it did not contain any illegal chemicals. Corr argued that the decision was a violation of his clients Sixth Amendment rights to select representation of their choice, but the ruling was upheld in July by the Michigan Court of Appeals which said courts must ââ¦balance the defendantâs right to counsel of choice against the publicâs interest in the prompt and efficient administration of justice.â The recent order issued by the Supreme Court denying the appeal application simply said that the justices were not persuaded the questions presented should be reviewed. Messages seeking comment from Corr on the ruling have been placed by WHMI. (JM)
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