Court Opinion

ID: 9679006
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 06:38:11.612935+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:09.622217
License: Public Domain

White, C. J.,
dissenting.
I concur in the dissents of Judges Carter and Newton. *711Further, in a post conviction case a petitioner has the burden of establishing a basis of relief. State v. Snyder, 180 Neb. 787, 146 N. W. 2d 67; State v. Sagaser, 181 Neb. 329, 148 N. W. 2d 206. Assuming the evidence is conflicting, the trial court, after hearing all of the evidence, found that the defendant’s plea of guilty was voluntarily made and not the result of any promises on the part of his attorney. How we are justified in accepting the unsupported testimony of this defendant that his attorney promised him probation as'against the testimony of the attorney and the finding of the trial judge who saw and heard the witnesses, I do not understand. And if he had constitutionally effective counsel it would be his duty to explore the possibilities of probation, advise his client thereof and give him his best judgment and recommendation. Once aware of the opportunity to upset the conviction and sentence, the defendant’s conversion of a recommendation or a hope into a promise is readily understandable.
I do not believe that the constitutional right to a lawyer and his advice should so easily be turned into a weapon endangering the opportunity to receive the free unfettered advice and services of a lawyer. With the door so easily open to an attack upon the confidential disclosures between attorney and client, I do not see how a lawyer can adequately protect himself. Does he have a sword at his throat when he talks to his client?
The evidence shows this defendant freely and voluntarily pleaded guilty in open court with his counsel, father, brothers, and other members of his family present. The record furthermore presents overwhelming evidence of guilt. The other charge, a serious one, which the evidence also strongly supports, was dismissed. The judgment of the trial court who knew the attorney, who heard the evidence, who presided when the plea was entered, is correct and should be affirmed.