Murder Conviction Rightly Vacated for Lack of Counsel Choice

A Pennsylvania man sentenced to death for first degree murder properly had his conviction vacated by a federal district court because his Sixth Amendment right to to the counsel of his choice was violated at trial, the Third Circuit affirmed Tuesday.

After the May 2003 conviction, Samuel Randolph argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that his attorney couldn’t adequately prepare for trial because of scheduling conflicts. That court rejected the appeal, concluding that Randolph had improperly waited for the “eve of trial” to hire his attorney.

Randolph then raised the same argument in a habeas petition with the U.S. District ...