Legal Opinion
State v. Richards
Supreme Court of Minnesota
Decided June 1, 1990No. C8-89-744PublishedCited by 41 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
SIMONETT, Justice.
After a jury trial, defendant Leonard Joseph Richards was convicted of the first-degree premeditated murder of Robert Strat-ton and sentenced to life in prison.1 On appeal, we conclude that defendant’s constitutional right of self-representation secured by Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975), was violated. We reverse, therefore, and grant a new trial.
Robert Stratton, the murder victim, was an attorney who knew defendant socially and professionally. Prior to his death, Stratton was representing defendant in federal court tax litigation in…
2Cases cited12 opinions
- Barker v. WingoSupreme Court of the United States · 1972
- Johnson v. ZerbstSupreme Court of the United States · 1938
- Faretta v. CaliforniaSupreme Court of the United States · 1975
- McKaskle v. WigginsSupreme Court of the United States · 1984
- Flanagan v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1984
7 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by41 opinions
- State v. BlomSupreme Court of Minnesota · 2004
- State v. RichardsSupreme Court of Minnesota · 1992
- State v. WorthySupreme Court of Minnesota · 1998
- State v. CamachoSupreme Court of Minnesota · 1997
- State v. RichardsSupreme Court of Minnesota · 1996
36 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.