01-3480 St. Pierre v. Walls

By: dmc-admin//July 30, 2002//

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“After previously being found guilty of two murders by a jury, Robert St. Pierre decided to forgo another trial and accepted responsibility and willingly pled guilty, knowing that death was a possible sentence. The facts are replete with examples where St. Pierre wished to do something (plead guilty or waive an appeal) and judges and attorneys, using all the persuasive ability they could muster, attempted to change St. Pierre’s mind, creating the appearance of inconsistency. Despite this advice and pressure, St. Pierre consistently wanted to plead guilty, accept responsibility, and accept his sentence, knowing the consequences. The fact that he chose to accept responsibility might seem to some to be unusual, but it does not automatically make him incompetent, unable to cooperate with counsel, or his counsel ineffective for failing to persuade him to go to trial.”

Affirmed.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Kocoras, J., Bauer, J.

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