December 26, 2006

ID: venting into the court file

From the Bonner County Bee:

Gillispie's mental competency questioned

A mental competency evaluation is being ordered for... Ronald Anthony Gillispie. (He) wants to withdraw his pleas, but his defense counsel, Chief Deputy Public Defender Isabella Robertson, is worried her client is unable to grasp the potential consequences of such a move...

Robertson said in court filings that Gillispie is "ensconsed in a fantasy world" where is unable to accept the fact that the withdrawal of his guilty plea in the rape case could have dire consequences... Robertson adds that Gillispie won't keep phone appointments, yet blames her for not staying in touch. He also continues to assert defenses which are not available to him and refuses to listen when Robertson attempts to explain tactics which are available, documents said.

"Gillispie appears to desire a legal assistant that he can order about rather than allow the utilization of the skills of a trained attorney who must handle his case in an ethical manner not only for him but in the presence of this court," Robertson wrote.


Conflict much? I see where you're going with this, counselor, and I know the feeling - frustrating, isn't it? I'm just not sure about putting it all down in writing and filing it with the court.

2 Comments:

Anonymous said...

Scott, why wouldn't you file this with the court? It seems like gold for post-conviction.

Skelly said...

Once I was safely conflicted out of the case and a new lawyer assigned, then I might do it in an affidavit.