Michigan right to counsel ruling [US SC] News
Michigan right to counsel ruling [US SC]

Halbert v. Michigan, Supreme Court of the United States, June 23, 2005 [ruling 6-3 that a Michigan state statute that refused counsel to indigent defendants pleading guilty to a crime but later seeking leave to appeal is unconstitutional]. Excerpt from the opinion, by Justice Ginsburg:

Today, we reach the classification question and conclude that Halbert's case is properly ranked with Douglas rather than Ross. Accordingly, we hold that the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses require the appointment of counsel for defendants, convicted on their pleas, who seek access to first-tier review in the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Read the full text of the opinion here [PDF]. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

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