What Happens after “Guilty?” A Look into North Carolina’s Motion for Appropriate Relief System
For many defendants, a verdict of “guilty” signals the end of their legal battle. But when the prosecutor commits errors, the relevant law has changed, or the defendant had ineffective assistance of counsel, the defendant may get a second chance through post-conviction relief. Defendants convicted as juveniles have had their life without parole convictions changed to life with parole. Other defendants have gotten new trials with effective counsel and received a “not guilty” verdict. [...]