State v. Peterson

The question presented is whether an indigent criminfil defendant is entitled to a free transcript of a co-defendant’s prior trial, to aid in the conduct of his own defense to an identical indictment.

In Griffin v. Illinois (1956), 351 U. S. 12,1 the United States Supreme Court held that an indigent defendant is constitutionally entitled to a free transcript of ’his trial, or an adequate alternative thereto, when that transcript or alternative is essential to an effective appeal from his conviction. The court in Griffin was faced with an Illinois rule which allowed a convicted criminal…