State v. Adams

BRANCH, Justice.

The sole question presented for decision is whether defendant was coerced into entering a plea of nolo contendere to second degree murder in order to avoid the possibility of capital punishment and thereby was deprived of his constitutional rights to trial by jury, to confront his accusers, and his constitutional privilege against compulsory self-incrimination.

Defendant contends that he has never admitted his guilt because he had no recollection concerning the actual homicide, and further, that his plea of nolo contendere does not expressly admit guilt. He relies heavily on…