State v. Mark Sampson

Summary

The Rhode Island Supreme Court vacated Mark Sampson's second‑degree child‑abuse conviction because his waiver of counsel was not knowing, intelligent, and voluntary under the Sixth Amendment, and remanded for a new trial. The Court also held that the trial justice erred in interpreting Brendan's Law by deleting the word “serious.” Justice Goldberg dissented, arguing the waiver was valid and the conviction should stand.