Defense Counsel's Attempt to Bribe Victim's Mother Did Not Warrant Habeas Relief

Shue v. Hargett, 2015 WL 4009306 (2/2/15) (Wyo.) (unpub'd) - Mr. Shue's public defender offered the mother of the victim $15,000 from a $250,000 settlement Mr. Shue had just received in exchange for her recommendation of a suspended sentence. Instead of accepting the offer, the ungrateful mother told the prosecutor about the bribe attempt. The public defender was fired, but Mr Shue hired him for the sentencing. The unethical conduct the lawyer engaged in did not warrant habeas relief because there was no proof that that conduct affected the sentence, where the court promised it would not consider the bribe.