Dixon v. State

The petitioner’s sole contention is that United States v. Jackson, 390 U.S. 570 (1968), applies to North Carolina procedure and that the death penalty, in conjunction with G.S. 15-162.1, creates a fear and threat of the imposition of the death penalty in a defendant and constitutes a coercive effect upon a defendant sufficient to render any plea he tenders involuntary. The defendant cites the case of Alford v. North Carolina, 405 F. 2d 340 (4th Cir. 1968), in support of this proposition.

The United States Supreme Court, in the recent case of Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742, 25 L. Ed. 2d…