State v. Pait

In State v. Pait, 81 N.C. App. 286, 289, 343 S.E.2d 573, 576 (1986), the defendant's counsel had just been appointed to represent him and wanted time to review the case. He tendered a plea of not guilty. The trial judge became visibly agitated, and said in an angry voice that he was tired of "frivolous pleas" and directed counsel to confer with client and enter an "honest plea". Defendant then changed his plea to guilty. Pait, 81 N.C. App. at 287-88, 343 S.E.2d at 576. This Court held that even though the trial court "did not explicitly threaten defendant with a longer sentence." The "self-evident purpose and effect of the judge's remarks was to provoke a plea of guilty." Id. at 290, 343 S.E.2d at 576. Thus the Court vacated the judgment of the trial court.