Zimmerman’s attorneys dismissed due to conflict of interest

Posted on October 7, 2015

Kirk Zimmerman (right) is on trial for the alleged murder of his ex-wife. (Pool photo)

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington man accused of murder will have to find new representation after his attorney was dismissed Wednesday in McLean County Court.

Kirk Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to one count of first degree murder for allegedly killing his ex-wife, Pamela Zimmerman, at her office in November 2014.

The prosecution had filed a motion saying the law firm of Skelton & Wong, Zimmerman’s defense attorneys, should be dismissed due to conflict of interest. The conflict is due to the fact during investigation of the case by the Bloomington Police Department Skelton & Wong at one point represented three witnesses the state intends to call to the stand during trial.

The witnesses were being investigated as potential suspects, but were eventually ruled out by police. Since none of the three waived their attorney-client confidentiality rights, the defense would have been limited during cross examination.

McLean County Judge Scott Drazewski ruled this creates too much conflict of interest and dismissed Skelton & Wong from the case.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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