State v. Gilam

OPINION

FONES, Justice.

The issue in this post-conviction proceeding is whether it is fatal to the validity of a guilty plea for the trial judge to fail to advise a defendant, in open court, of the constitutional right against self-incrimination.

Defendant had entered previous guilty pleas to two counts of armed robbery, one count of possession of a sawed-off shotgun and one count of assault with intent to commit murder. The trial judge “addressed the defendant personally in open court” and informed him of the constitutional rights that he was waiving and the significant consequences of guilty…