Fewer Risks, More Benefits: What Governments Gain by Acknowledging the Right to Competent Counsel on State Post-Conviction Review in Capital Cases

15 Pages Posted: 10 Jul 2006 Last revised: 5 Aug 2015

See all articles by Eric M. Freedman

Eric M. Freedman

Hofstra University - Maurice A. Deane School of Law

Abstract

The acknowledgment that there is a right to the effective assistance of counsel in state post-conviction proceedings would serve the interests of the state and federal governments. Most death penalty states have already decided to provide capital post-conviction counsel but by failing to insist that the representation be competent they have forfeited procedural advantages they would otherwise enjoy in federal habeas corpus litigation, shifted unwarranted costs to the federal government, incurred serious litigation risks for the future, and impaired both the efficiency and the fairness of their systems of criminal justice.

Keywords: Giarratano, death penalty, right to counsel, habeas corpus, collateral review, post-conviction review

Suggested Citation

Freedman, Eric M., Fewer Risks, More Benefits: What Governments Gain by Acknowledging the Right to Competent Counsel on State Post-Conviction Review in Capital Cases. 4 Ohio St. J. Cr. L. 183 (2006), Hofstra Univ. Legal Studies Research Paper No. 06-19, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=914143

Eric M. Freedman (Contact Author)

Hofstra University - Maurice A. Deane School of Law ( email )

121 Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY 11549
United States
516-463-5167 (Phone)
515-463-5129 (Fax)

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