Destiny Viera v. State of Rhode Island

Syllabus

These two consolidated criminal cases came before the Court pursuant to two petitions for writs of certiorari filed by the petitioner, Destiny Viera, which petitions this Court granted on September 8, 2025. Ms. Viera sought review of two substantially identical July 24, 2025 orders of the Superior Court removing David A. Cooper, Esq., as her attorney in two criminal cases due to what the trial justice characterized as a \potential conflict of interest .\ Ms. Viera contended that the trial justice's sua sponte removal of Attorney Cooper violated her right to the counsel of her choice as provided by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article 1, section 10 of the Rhode Island Constitution. The Supreme Court held that, in view of the present status of the criminal proceedings against Ms. Viera, the trial justice's removal of Attorney Cooper was not called for at the time when it was ordered. Accordingly, the Court quashed the July 24, 2025 orders of the Superior Court.