People v. Washington

Defendant pleaded guilty to first degree murder after Chicago police officers coerced a false confession. After his conviction was reversed and the charges against him were dismissed, defendant petitioned the circuit court for a certificate of innocence. The circuit court denied his petition and the appellate court affirmed. The Supreme Court reversed, finding that the statute does not impose a categorical bar precluding petitioners who pleaded guilty from obtaining a certificate of innocence and, further, that petitioner did not cause or bring about his conviction by pleading guilty. (NEVILLE, HOLDER WHITE, and CUNNINGHAM, concurring and ROCHFORD, THEIS, and OVERSTREET, specially concurring)