William Page v. State of Rhode Island

Summary

The Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court’s denial of post‑conviction relief, holding that trial and sentencing counsel provided effective assistance, but appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to invoke the statutory right to a de novo review of the life‑without‑parole sentence; the Court then conducted that de novo review and ratified the sentence. Justice FLAHERTY, concurring in part and dissenting in part, agreed with the majority’s reasoning except for the affirmation of the life‑without‑parole sentence, which she would have reduced to life imprisonment.