[Read the full article on The Berkeley Scanner]
Synopsis:
At a court hearing pertaining to the upcoming trial of Jason Fletcher, RLS attorneys Michael A. Morguess, Julia D. Fox, and Michael L. Rains successfully defeated a prosecution motion to disqualify them from representing Jason Fletcher.
Jason Fletcher is a former San Leandro Police Officer accused by prosecutors of wrongfully killing Steven Taylor while responding to a call for service at a Walmart in San Leandro in 2020.
During the hearing, the Alameda County Judge Thomas Reardon expressed concern over pictures and statements posted by the Alameda District Attorney's Office on Facebook.
The picture featured DA Price and two prosecutors standing with the family of Steven Taylor. The picture accompanied a statement by the DA Office's announcing their motion to disqualify RLS from representing Jason Fletcher. The statement also impugned the reputation of the defense attorneys, and RLS, based on the DA's allegation that RLS unethically acquired "attorney work product" regarding the Fletcher case from a former prosecutor the firm once represented against the DA's office. Michael Rains and RLS firmly denies any "work product information" was misappropriated according to ethical standards.
Judge Reardon, whose service on the bench has spanned across 3 different Alameda County District Attorneys, stressed that DA Price's statement and behavior was unprecedented. Judge Reardon stressed that "overzealous commentary" on an open case may harm the defendant's right to a fair trial and unbiased jury of his peers.
RLS Principal Michael L. Rains expressed his intention to renew the fight to recuse DA Price's office from prosecution of his client, Jason Fletcher.
