MATTER OF SILMON v. Travis

OPINION OF THE COURT

Chief Judge Kaye.

In North Carolina v Alford (400 US 25), the United States Supreme Court recognized that an accused may voluntarily enter a guilty plea without admitting culpability when there is strong record evidence of actual guilt. In the case now before us, petitioner was convicted, by way of an Alford plea, of first degree manslaughter for bludgeoning his wife to death with a barbell, and was sentenced to a prison term of five-to-fifteen years. This appeal asks whether it was irrational for the Parole Board to deny petitioner parole, after five years’ imprison ment,…