Court Opinion

ID: 5381032
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-08 08:59:55.332814+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:30:07.846911
License: Public Domain

Hill, P. J.
(dissenting). The order dismissing the writ of habeas corpus should be reversed, the petitioner discharged from the custody of the warden of Clinton Prison, and remanded to the Court of General Sessions of New York County for trial in the event he still desires to enter a plea of not guilty to the indictment.
Petitioner was indicted by a grand jury of New York County for the crime of robbery, first degree, assault, second degree, and carrying a dangerous weapon. He was arraigned and pleaded not guilty. His trial began on April 30, 1941; he was represented by counsel furnished by the “ Voluntary Defenders Committee”. Upon the trial his counsel withdrew his plea of not guilty and entered a plea of guilty to the crime of robbery, third degree. Petitioner was dissatisfied with this disposition, and asked for a new attorney, and the court assigned Patrick F. Dempsey. The case was adjourned. On a later date, when the defendant was brought before the court, his new counsel asked that he be permitted to withdraw the plea of guilty and to stand trial. The court refused this motion and sentenced the defendant upon his unwilling plea to a term of not less than ten nor more than twenty years.
Due process was lacking. The petitioner was entitled to be represented by counsel and to.be advised at every step of his trial. When counsel who was first assigned entered a plea of guilty,' against petitioner’s desires, and new counsel sought to obtain a trial to which the accused was entitled, the request should have been granted. The denial was such an invasion of constitutional rights that the writ should be granted and the petitioner remanded to the authorities of New York County for a trial on a plea of not guilty. (Matter of Morhous v. N. Y. Supreme Court, 293 N. Y. 131; People ex rel. Tweed v. Liscomb, 60 N. Y. 559.)
Heffernan, Brewster, Foster and Lawrence, JJ., concur in decision; Hill, P. J., dissents in memorandum.
Order affirmed, without costs.