Cross v. State

George Rose Smith, Justice.

This case involves the matter of plea bargaining in criminal prosecutions. Over a period of years there has developed a widespread practice by which an accused person' and his counsel negotiate with the prosecuting attorney for a recommendation of leniency in return for a plea . of guilty to the offense charged or to a lesser offense. Despite the prevalence of the practice, which has certainly become a substantial factor in the administration of criminal justice, this is the first case on the subject to reach this court in a good many years.

The appellant, Joseph…