Medlin v. State

Ness, Justice:

This is a post-conviction appeal. The trial court denied the application. We affirm on the basis of my views in Harden v. *541State of South Carolina, S. C., 277 S. E. (2d) 692 (1981), concurred in by Lewis, C. J., that a trial judge may participate in the plea bargaining process if he follows guidelines to minimize the fear of coercion.

The guidelines as enunciated in Harden v. State, supra are as follows:

“Standard 14-3.3. Responsibilities of the judge(a) The judge should not accept a plea of guilty or nolo contendere without first inquiring whether the parties have arrived at a…