State ex rel. Jean Peters-Baker, Relator Missouri Cases

Relator, Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters-Baker, sought a writ of prohibition to bar Judge Bryan E. Round from enforcing an order disqualifying her entire office in a post-conviction case. The disqualification stemmed from an attorney, Jeanette Wolpink, joining the PAO after representing the movant, Tyrone Skinner, in his direct appeal. The Missouri Supreme Court made its preliminary writ of prohibition permanent, holding that the trial court's order failed to comply with the framework established in State v. Lemasters for imputing conflicts of interest and caused irreparable harm. The Court found the PAO's screening process was effective and no appearance of impropriety existed, and also determined the case was not moot despite Wolpink's departure from the PAO.