United States v. John Butler

After a bizarre set of procedural circumstances, both in the Court of Appeals and the District Court, this case is now before us subsequent to our order to show cause why the conviction of the appellant Butler should not be vacated for ineffective assistance of trial counsel. A review of the actions at both the trial and appellate levels leaves us no choice but to vacate the conviction and remand for a new trial.

Since our decision does not turn directly upon the facts of the substantive offense, except in relation to the actions of trial counsel, the usual details of the tawdry narcotics…