Charlie Adelson, convicted of orchestrating the murder of FSU Law Professor Dan Markel, is seeking a retrial due to a claim of unfair legal representation. His new appellate attorney, Michael Ufferman, filed a motion with the First District Court of Appeals requesting that the case be sent back to the lower court. Ufferman argues that a conflict of interest involving Adelson’s former attorney violated his client’s 6th Amendment rights.
According to the motion, Ufferman claims that Adelson’s former defense attorney, Dan Raushbaum, had a conflicting role during the trial, as he was simultaneously representing Charlie Adelson’s mother, Donna Adelson, since 2022. This overlapping representation began prior to Charlie’s arrest.
Donna Adelson is an alleged co-conspirator in the 2014 murder-for-hire plot that resulted in Markel’s death. Prosecutors allege that Charlie hired hitmen to carry out the killing of his former brother-in-law amid a contentious custody dispute involving Charlie’s sister, Wendi Adelson.
The conflict of interest, Ufferman argues, stems from Raushbaum’s representation of both Charlie and Donna Adelson. Florida criminal defense attorney Don Pumphrey reacted strongly to the development, calling it a “plot twist.”
“He represented them both,” Pumphrey explained. “He automatically has the potential for a divided loyalty, but after Charlie Adelson is arrested and continued representation, that creates an actual conflict of interest.”
This alleged conflict was significant enough, according to Ufferman, to warrant a retrial. He noted that Donna Adelson had initially been placed on the defense’s witness list for Charlie’s trial in 2023 but was later removed. Ufferman contends that the removal served Donna’s interests more than Charlie’s, suggesting divided loyalties during the trial.
“There are indicators that loyalty was shown to Donna Adelson during Charlie Adelson’s trial representation,” Pumphrey said, emphasizing that Raushbaum’s decision to remove Donna from the witness list could raise questions about the fairness of the defense.
Ufferman believes that the conflict of interest impacted Charlie Adelson’s ability to receive a fair trial and has requested the Court of Appeals return jurisdiction to the lower court. If granted, a lower court judge would decide whether Charlie should be retried.
However, Pumphrey predicts that a retrial could prove challenging for Charlie Adelson. “I think the state’s case only gets stronger, not weaker, so if he does get a new trial, I think the state will be prepared,” Pumphrey said.
Donna Adelson, who is awaiting trial for her alleged role in the murder conspiracy, is set to appear in court next. As her legal battle continues, Charlie Adelson’s attempt to secure a new trial will be closely watched by those following the case.
While Ufferman’s motion lays out the argument for divided loyalties, the ultimate decision rests with the appeals court and potentially a future trial court. For now, both Adelson and his mother remain central figures in a high-profile case that has drawn national attention for its shocking details and legal complexities.
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