Court to rule when lawyer says guilty, but client objects

[Free Vulcan]

The lawyer for a Louisiana man facing murder charges decided to concede the man’s guilt in the hope of sparing him the death penalty.

The client, lawyer Larry English told jurors in his opening argument, “committed these crimes.”

But there was a problem: Defendant Robert McCoy repeatedly proclaimed his innocence and objected to the lawyer’s approach.

Now the Supreme Court will consider whether it violates the Constitution when a lawyer ignores his client’s instructions and concedes his guilt.

Among the issues for the court are who is ultimately in charge of the case, the lawyer or his client, and whether the right to a lawyer that’s guaranteed by the Constitution is meaningful if, even with the best intentions, he can ignore his client’s wishes.

Read more at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/court-to-rule-when-lawyer-says-guilty-but-client-objects/2017/09/28/442cba38-a45a-11e7-b573-8ec86cdfe1ed_story.html

[Smokin Joe]

The defendant should stand, and say words to the effect of "Your Honor, this attorney no longer represents my best interests in this case. I am terminating his/her employ immediately. I request a continuance in order to obtain and prepare new counsel."