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Commissioners waive conflict to allow county prosecutor's firm to represent sheriff in union litigation, agree to ethical wall
Summary
After executive session, Franklin County commissioners unanimously moved to waive a potential conflict so an outside prosecutor's firm could represent Sheriff Raymond in a union dispute; the firm will wall off information related to the union litigation as advised under RPC 1.7.
Franklin County commissioners on May 7 moved to waive a potential conflict of interest so that the county prosecutor’s outside firm can represent Sheriff Raymond in ongoing union litigation, with safeguards to isolate union‑related information.
The board read a statement in open session that summarized advice from the prosecutor’s office. The statement said the law firm Baker, Sturche, Cowden, Rice (associated in the matter with attorney Andy Cooley) is connected to representation in a case brought by Teamsters Local 839 against Sheriff Raymond and the county (Franklin County case number 25‑2‑50414‑11). The prosecutor’s office advised the commissioners on RPC 1.7 (the rule governing conflicts of interest for current clients) and informed the board that the firm’s attorney, Bob Christie, would represent Sheriff Raymond if the county waived the conflict.
As a condition, the board said Christie’s firm would “wall off” information related to the union litigation within the prosecutor’s office so that the firm’s handling of the sheriff’s representation would be separated from county work. A commissioner moved to waive the conflict and the motion passed on a voice vote. The board then recessed to a closed session for further litigation discussion.
Why it matters: the motion allows the county prosecutor’s outside counsel (or associated firm) to advise or represent the sheriff in the union dispute while the board attempts to preserve the county’s broader legal position by isolating union‑related material from other county matters handled by the firm.
Next steps: the board adjourned the public meeting and moved into closed session for additional litigation matters. The on‑record action was the waiver of a conflict with the condition the prosecutor’s office implement an ethical wall to separate union litigation information.
