State v. Kerns

Citations

• 2023 Ohio 517

Syllabus

CRIMINAL – Appellant's competency determination is affirmed despite some difficulties understanding her plea colloquy. The trial court complied with the recommendation of the examining physician, who opined that Appellant was capable of understanding the charges against her and the legal process if it was adequately explained. The trial court fulfilled its obligations under the heightened Alford standard, when defense counsel conceded that Appellant has signed a written confession to the charges, and the trial court acknowledged the content of the victims' witness statements. The record did not demonstrate any manifest injustice, insofar as there was no evidence that Appellant had been misinformed or coerced when entering her plea.