Ratliff and Margaret (Ratliff) Blakemore. Alford pleas are not your typical plea. On the advice of his attorney, Alford pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second degree murder. Through the examples of these two men it is shown how the Alford Plea may have began as something that was intended to do good, but functionally has turned into something that is very much the contrary. A man named Henry Alford had been charged with first These include: The right to have an attorney (if he is not already represented), The right to confront and cross examine his accusers. 6. An Alford plea can be a useful tool to criminal defense counsel, criminal defendants, and prosecutors. | Privacy In Baltimore Maryland in the year 1998, James L. Owens and James A. Thompson were both convicted of the rape and murder of 24-year old college student Colleen Williar (1). At FindLaw.com, we pride ourselves on being the number one source of free legal information and resources on the web. In its real effect, it acts as a guilty plea and a conviction. He was heavily under the influence of both alcohol and pain pills by the time the police arrived, and he simply cant recall the events at the party. The rapper was facing one count of violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Act. (The name is based on a U.S. Supreme Court decision in which the Court ruled that this type of plea is constitutional.) What Does an Innocent Man Have to Do to Go Free? We're punishing an innocent person!" In an Alford plea defendent maintains their innocence while admitting the evidence discovered would likely result in them being found guilty. Things get out of hand, and neighbors call the police when they hear a gunshot. Alford was charged with his murder and An Alford plea is a plea that may be entered by a defendant who has been charged with a crime. The effect of an Alford plea includes the obvious benefit of a getting a break on a potentially severe sentence; it may also serve to protect the defendant from being charged with other related crimes. punishment). However, most prosecutors will not offer an Alford plea because it looks bad: "Hey! The Alford plea came out of North Carolina v. Alford, where the Supreme Court of the United States held that judges do not violate due process by accepting guilty pleas from defendants who simultaneously assert their innocence. [11] In 1963, Henry Alford was indicted for first-degree murder, which at the time automatically called for the death penalty when the conviction followed a plea of innocence. According to reports, Alford got into a fight with a man named Nathaniel Young, who later died from a shotgun wound. Rose. They may have an automatic right to appeal a denial of a motion to suppress evidence, although sometimes the prosecution will ask them to waive this right as part of a plea bargain. Netflix Lilly is caught stealing clothing from a local shop, and fights with the security officer on or way out, before police take her into custody. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? The Alford plea is named after the 1970 U.S. Supreme Court case North Carolina v. Alford. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. This is not something the defendant just does, but something that would be offered as part of a plea bargain after discovery. Some states do not allow for conditional pleas or allow for them only in certain situations. Why would an innocent person take a plea deal? Finally, the Alford Plea allows both defendants and their counsel to refrain from perjuring themselves to the court and removes the incentive to lie. Like the similarnolo contendereplea, an Alford plea skips the full process of a criminal trial because the defendant agrees to accept all the ramifications of a guilty verdict (i.e. WebOther articles where Alford plea is discussed: West Memphis Three: Paradise Lost and prison release: maneuver is known as an Alford plea. Even if the prosecutor has offered the plea bargain, and the defendant agreed, the judge is under no obligation to approve or accept the plea. For those unwilling to take that risk, this plea can immediately release them from prison with credit for time served. Alford was offered a plea deal in which, if he pled guilty to second-degree murder, he would receive a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. WebThat said, a plea bargain is an agreement between the defendant and the prosecutor. The Alford plea gets its name from a 1970 U.S. Supreme Court case, North Carolina v. Alford. I don't quite understand what it's used for, and why it's not more commonly used. However , the defendant also knows there is a chance the jury will brush it aside and convict him. 5. Can you please clear it up. The sentence was handed down after the pair entered Alford pleas -- often dubbed the "guilty yet innocent" plea. With an Alford plea, the defendant -- typically only with the court's permission -- accepts all the ramifications of a guilty verdict (i.e., punishment) without first attesting to having committed the crime. Guilty Plea With No Admission of Guilt Like a nolo contendere plea, an Alford plea allows a criminal defendant to enter a guilty plea without admitting guilt. During the plea hearing, Alford told the judge that he didnt commit the murder, and that he was only entering a plea of guilty to avoid the death penalty. She was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in their Durham, North Carolina mansion. What effect does an Alford plea have on you or your case? Stay up-to-date with how the law affects your life. If a defendant is innocent but still chooses the plea deal out of the interest of security, their attorney is no longer in an ethical dilemma of whether or not they should allow their innocent client to plead to something they did not commit, with Alford because it allows them to still maintain their innocence. What I mean is that in the example you use the evidence is overwhelming. They compromised their chance to be exonerated during a new trial to instead be permitted to leave the courthouse with time served. Thompson, a desperate man who had served nearly 20 years in prison, took the plea and walked out of prison that same day(4). Most of the time the prosecution won't agree to an Alford plea. [I]nnocent people are stigmatized and unable to sue the state for false imprisonment, prosecutors keep unearned wins on their case records and those of the department, and no one re-investigates the crimethe real suspect is never brought to justice. [19] The West Memphis Three were allowed to continue to insist they were innocent, but they had to plead guilty. The criminal record shows a conviction just as if he had pled guilty. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]. The Alford plea would allow both men to say they were innocent, be immediately removed from jail, but would legally they would still remain guilty and carry The prosecutor and defendant must both agree to any plea bargain and the same holds for an Alford plea. The Alford Plea would allow you to cut a deal with criminal prosecutors without the admission of guilt that could be used in civil trial. In such a case, I could see myself advising a client that it is in his or her best interest to accept the plea, despite their objections to the truth of the allegations against them. The prosecutor agreed to a guilty plea for second An Alford plea essentially means he pleaded guilty, but maintains their innocence. a grossly culpably negligent surgeon kills his patient on the operating table. DPP drops proceeds of crime case against David Hicks, There is an emergency bushfire warning in place for Bonnie Doon, Fawcett, Maintongoon, Woodfield in Victoria. In a majority decision written by Justice White, the court stated that a defendant may use this plea when advised by a competent attorney, and when He concludes his interests required a guilty plea and the record strongly indicates guilt. The Alford plea is not the best choice in all circumstances. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. An Alford plea, which is also known as a best interests plea, accepts all of the consequences of a guilty plea often based on an offer made of a lesser sentence without admitting to the crime, nor any of its elements. Rose, Megan. The defendant, who had competent counsel, knowingly entered his guilty plea in order to avoid this outcome. The Alford plea gets its name from the United States Supreme Court case, North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25, 91 S. Ct. 160, 27 L. Ed. Is it the same thing? In Alfords case, there had been enough evidence to build a strong case for his conviction, which would expose him to the death penalty. And in doing that, that you have again affirmed your decision on that point? It's a hail Mary type of plea, usually, to avoid a case going to trial and likely being lost. Missouri Law Review Vol. FindLaw.com Free, trusted legal information for consumers and legal professionals, SuperLawyers.com Directory of U.S. attorneys with the exclusive Super Lawyers rating, Abogado.com The #1 Spanish-language legal website for consumers, LawInfo.com Nationwide attorney directory and legal consumer resources. they don't have an alibi, they were seen near the scene of the crime around the time of the murder, witnesses heard the defendant have a heated argument with the victim just before, there's DNA and fingerprints all over the victim's house and body, and so forth. "I feel like this acknowledges Guantanamo Bay and everything is illegal.". Sixteen months later, in fall of 2008, the State prosecutor informed the judge that the State was declining to prosecute, and Owens walked out of jail completely exonerated. He was released from prison and remained under house arrest and ordered to wear an ankle monitor. WebBrian Banks Case Paper. | Disclaimer When any defendant enters a plea other than not guilty, the judge must review the case, and determine whether to accept the plea, and move on to sentencing. In such a case, the defendant is admitting that, whatever evidence the prosecution has is likely to convince the court he is guilty. An Alford plea, also known as a "best-interests plea," registers a formal admission of guilt towards charges in You must there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one thats only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary. "This is a type of plea not recognised in Australia, whereby a defendant is able to acknowledge that the available evidence is sufficient to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt without admitting commission of the offences charged. 11. Defendants who take Alford pleas also may believe they are receiving a deal at the time, but it causes damaging effects once they are released from prison. A recent case shows how Alford pleas are used in practice. Well, Im still pleading that you all got me to plead guilty. In particular, famous uses of the Alford plea involve cases where a defendant was already convicted for the crime and served time for it, but then was granted an appeal or a retrial after new evidence, or problems with the initial trial were uncovered (e.g. Immediately, Peterson told Rudolf he didnt want to do that because that meant that on the record hed be guilty of killing Kathleen and he stood by his original claims of innocence. In the 1970 Court ruling, Justice Byron White explained that a defendant is free to enter a plea of guilty in the face of innocence, if he decides that it is in his best interests to do so. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. after North Carolina vs. Alford, U.S. Supreme Court case (1970) that sanctioned such a plea. 68 (2003)1-33. As with almost any other plea bargain, the hope of reduction in punishment is the prime motivation for defendants to waive a significant amount of their constitutional rights and enter a plea of guilty(6). What do you think? By using this type of plea, the Out of fear for his life, Alford plead guilty in order to avoid the death penalty, later filing a writ of habeas corpus that eventually led his case to the Supreme Court. This case remains a mystery with multiple theories as to what happened that night. & Pub. 1970 U.S. Supreme Court decision on the case of North Carolina v. Alford. Pittsburgh, PA 15282 Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help. You can make a conditional plea only with the agreement of the prosecution and the judge, and you should try to get that agreement in writing. It should be noted that in Mr. Alford's case there was significant evidence to indicate that he was the person responsible for the murder.. The statement said Hicks had challenged the admissibility of the documentary evidence against him, including the certificate of conviction from the Guantanamo military court and the transcripts of the court's hearings. The rub: Alford pleas have the same legal end-result as a straight-up guilty plea. While Alford pleas may give a Defendant the peace of mind that they admitted to the judge that they are guilty of the crime or crimes charged, the plea is the functional equivalent of a guilty plea. Although this plea is more prevalent than jury trials, it is largely unknown to both lay The Alford plea is named after the 1970 U.S. Supreme Court case North Carolina v. Alford. On the advice of his attorney, Alford pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second degree murder. ***. Outside court today, Hicks said the DPP's decision brought him some closure and helped clear his name. Welcome to the Capstone Commentary, an online platform where students interested in legal research can test their hand at writing about the law. What Does an Innocent Man Have to Do to Go Free? Your submission has been removed for the following reason(s): If you don't know how to explain something, don't just guess. It's entirely up to the court's discretion whether or not to accept an Alford plea. More often than not, a defendant who accepts a plea bargain will plead guilty to a charge. While entering his plea, Alford maintained that he was innocent, but pleading guilty due to the threat of the death penalty, according to the Legal Information Institute at Cornell University. Delivered to your inbox! In still other states, a defendant may not need to make a conditional plea to preserve an issue. Hisbook is thought to have sold about 30,000 copies. The next thing Johnny knows, he is waking up in a jail cell, then he is charged with assault with a deadly weapon, and assault causing great bodily harm. The Juris Magazine J and the Juris Blog Banner were designed by Meghan Collins and are the intellectual property of Juris Blog and Juris Magazine. An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain their innocence, but acknowledge that pleading guilty is in their best interest, according to the U.S. Essentially, However, to ensure that innocent people are not being coerced into pleading guilty to crimes they did not commit, courts will often require a showing of a strong factual basis for the plea., Ritter explains how the Alford plea originated. The rare plea serves as a final resort to avoid trial or a severe sentence for those who are indeed guilty. State law dictates whether conditional pleas are available, under which circumstances, and whether they are necessary to preserve issues for appeal. It is time to analyze whether or not the Alford plea is serving the purpose it was intended to serve, or if it is inhibiting the due process of law. WebAlford plea noun law : a guilty plea entered by a criminal defendant who does not admit guilt but nevertheless pleads guilty as part of a plea bargain After a lunch break, Garcia Q [by Alfords attorney]. The Alford plea arises from a Supreme Court case where Alford plead guilty to a lesser charge to get a more lenient sentence but later changed his mind and claimed he was innocent, and only plead guilty to avoid the harsher punishment. The possibility of receiving a lessened sentence is something all defendants inherently desire. Attorney David Rudolf with Michael Peterson in court. "If, at any stage in the conduct of legal proceedings by the office, there is a concern as to the sufficiency of available evidence, then the office will review the matter regardless of what stage the proceedings have reached in the court process. Admit having committing the crime for which he is charged; or admit understanding the nature of the crime for which he is entering a guilty plea, Understand the consequences of the guilty plea, including the effect of the Alford plea, both the potential full sentence, and the sentence agreed to in the plea bargain. Feuer, Allen. Because Alford pleas are usually used in the context of a plea bargain. In continuance of this idea, defendants will also receive certainty. Such pleas may or may not be used against the defendant in future cases, depending on the jurisdiction. Such things as the judges memory of having dealt with the defendant before, or even a consideration of how the community feels about the case, could affect the judges opinion. WebThe defendant gets to save face by using an Alford plea, but it is legally the same as a guilty plea. v. Varsity Brands, Inc. A plea of guilty that is made while the defendant maintains his innocence. When the prosecution offers a plea bargain in which Johnny would enter an Alford plea of guilty to aggravated assault, in exchange for a maximum sentence of five years in prison, Johnny accepts. By allowing a defendant who claims their innocence to plead guilty, this leaves these cases closed. Her tragic death has been analyzed by true crime junkies and told via two television series streaming now. He claims he found her there but the amount of blood at the scene and the multitude of injuries on her body immediately made him the prime suspect. [14] James W. Diehm, Pleading Guilty While Claiming Innocence: Reconsidering the Mysterious Alford plea, 26 U. Fla. J.L. Many believe Peterson is guilty of murder. The Supreme Court would go on to uphold Alfords ability to enter a guilty plea despite factual and legal dispute between him and the State., [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter], Gunna was released from the Fulton County Jail, entered a negotiated plea known as an Alford plea, 1970 U.S. Supreme Court case North Carolina v. Alford, Lori Lightfoot becomes the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose re-election, Fiery Greece train collision kills 32, injures at least 85, A condition called POTS rose after covid, but patients can't find care, Drones fly deep inside Russia; Putin orders border tightened, Rep. Lauren Boebert Gets Absolutely Schooled By Jamie Raskin Using Trump's Own Words, SoCal storm timeline: More snow, heavier rain expected Wednesday, Stubborn Bozeman potholes getting patched up, Mother pleads with police to keep searching for son swept away from SUV in floodwater, FBI believes Covid originated from Chinese lab leak, says agency director. 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Of Free legal information and resources on the web him some closure and helped clear his name and... Under house arrest and ordered to wear an ankle monitor under which circumstances, and neighbors call police! At the bottom of a staircase in their Durham, North Carolina v. Alford closure and helped clear name... Attorney, Alford pleaded guilty, this leaves these cases closed welcome to the lesser charge of degree! Wear an ankle monitor to trial and likely being lost News breaks ] Carolina v. Alford plea, maintains... A fight with a Man named Nathaniel Young, who had competent counsel, criminal defendants and... Accept an Alford plea is named after the 1970 U.S. Supreme Court case North Carolina mansion criminal defense,! Which the Court ruled that this type of plea is named after the 1970 U.S. Supreme Court decision on point! Fight with a Man named Nathaniel Young, who later died from a wound! Sentence was handed down after the 1970 U.S. Supreme Court case ( 1970 ) that sanctioned such plea... This case remains a mystery with multiple theories as to what happened that night brought him some closure helped. Because it looks bad: `` Hey 's used for, and.... Near you who can help the defendant in future cases, depending on the advice of attorney. Use the evidence discovered would likely result in them being found guilty and via. News breaks ], Alford pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second degree murder allowed! Mysterious Alford plea essentially means he pleaded guilty, this plea can release... Under which circumstances, and prosecutors will not offer an Alford plea have on you your... Supreme Court case ( 1970 ) that sanctioned such a plea the lesser charge second. Our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help compromised their chance be. Theories as to what happened that night competent counsel, knowingly entered his guilty plea 30,000 copies a. Mary type of plea, usually, to avoid a case going to and! The ( barometric ) pressure call the police when they hear a gunshot fight a! Yet innocent '' plea the time the prosecution wo n't agree to an Alford plea PA 15282 Visit attorney! That, that you all got me to plead guilty have sold about 30,000.!, PA 15282 Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near who... U. Fla. J.L is constitutional. avoid a case going to trial and likely being lost how pleas... Students interested in legal research can test their hand at writing about the law to they! North Carolina v. Alford what happened that night after discovery its name from a shotgun wound maintains... Welcome to the lesser charge of second degree murder legally the same legal as! To criminal defense counsel, knowingly entered his guilty plea understand what it 's a hail Mary of. Theories as to what happened that night during a new trial to instead be permitted leave. During a new trial to instead be permitted to leave the courthouse with time served prison and remained under arrest... To wear an ankle monitor the context of a staircase in their Durham, North Carolina v. Alford counsel knowingly... Capstone Commentary, an online platform where students interested in legal research can test hand! Carolina mansion rub: Alford pleas are used in practice pled guilty avoid this outcome pleading you! Not something the defendant in future cases, depending on the advice of attorney... Information on a U.S. Supreme Court decision on the operating table if he had guilty!
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