Willie Earl Bedford v. Attorney General of the State of Alabama and Charlie E. Jones

ANDERSON, Circuit Judge:

I. STATEMENT OF THE CASE

In the fall of 1971, appellee Willie Earl Bedford (“Bedford”) allegedly committed a murder. 1 On March 2, 1972, Bedford pled guilty to first degree murder and two other offenses, assault with intent to murder and assault with intent to ravish. The judge who accepted the guilty plea advised Bed-ford of the charges against him and otherwise took all steps necessary to ensure that the plea of guilty was voluntarily entered, save one. The trial judge did not inform Bedford of his right to request youthful offender status under the then newly enacted…