- Posted November 07, 2013
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
SUPREME COURT NOTEBOOK
Court reinstates lengthy prison term in Mich.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court has reinstated a prison term of at least 20 years for a Michigan woman who was convicted of murdering her uncle by helping her aunt pour vodka down his throat and smother him.
The court, in its first opinion of the term Tuesday, unanimously reversed a federal appeals court that found that Vonlee Titlow received bad advice from a lawyer who counseled her to withdraw an agreement to plead guilty to a less serious offense with a 15-year maximum prison term.
Under the aborted plea deal, Titlow also would have testified against her aunt. Without Titlow's testimony, the aunt was acquitted. A jury then convicted Titlow.
Justice Samuel Alito said for the court that the lawyer advised going to trial only after Titlow proclaimed her innocence.
Published: Thu, Nov 7, 2013
headlines Oakland County
- Associations gather for Spring Fling
- Supreme Court denies rehearing request by attorneys sanctioned for meritless election lawsuit
- Law school conducts ‘Know Your Rights Day’ for high school students
- Oakland County household hazardous waste dropoff events promote environmental stewardship and safeguard communities
- Nessel testifies in support of BRITE Act
headlines National
- Incarceration series includes female inmates but doesn’t tell full story
- ACLU and BigLaw firm use ‘Orange is the New Black’ in hashtag effort to promote NY jail reform
- Former DOJ official who alleged election fraud violated at least one ethics rule, ethics committee says
- Winston & Strawn will provide reduced-cost legal services for routine tasks under Winston Legal Solutions umbrella
- Should Justice Sotomayor retire? Chemerinsky, White House haven’t joined calls for her to step down
- Which BigLaw firms are increasing lateral associate hiring the most? One made legal headlines last year
