Blackledge v. Allison

Blackledge v. Allison was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1977. In this case, the Court addressed the issue of whether a defendant who pleads guilty to a crime has the right to appeal their conviction on the grounds that their plea was involuntary.

The Court ruled that a defendant does have the right to appeal their conviction if they can show that their plea was not entered into voluntarily and knowingly. This means that if a defendant can show that they were not fully aware of the consequences of their plea or that they were pressured or coerced into pleading guilty, they may be able to appeal their conviction.

This case is significant in the criminal justice context because it established that defendants have the right to challenge their convictions even if they have already pleaded guilty. This helps to ensure that defendants are fully informed of their rights and that their plea decisions are made voluntarily and knowingly.

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[ Glossary ]

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