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> her court-appointed defense attorney Poor defendants don't often get convictions vacated. The judge knew there was very little risk that the proceedings woul
by runako 10y ago
> her court-appointed defense attorney
Poor defendants don't often get convictions vacated. The judge knew there was very little risk that the proceedings would go beyond the plea.
If she had a private attorney, this charge might have been dismissed.
- rayiner 10y ago> Poor defendants don't often get convictions vacated. Not for want of trying. There are tons of prisoners who file pro se collateral attacks on their convictions and pleas from prison. So many so that at the court where I worked, there was an entire group of staff attorneys dedicated to reviewing such applications. A plea colloquy like the one described in the article would've stuck out like a sore thumb.
- bryondowd 10y agoBeing in prison with nothing better to do, that makes sense. I'd guess the rate at which people appeal is significantly lower for very short sentences that will still ruin their lives. Once they get out, they would be too busy trying to get their lives back together to spend time seeking justice.