Correction: Based on a summary from the Georgia State Supreme Court, this story originally incorrectly reported discipline against Renate Downs Riley. Jenny Mittelman, deputy general counsel for the Georgia Bar Association, reports, "Ms. Riley is a member in good standing and she has never been disbarred."
Georgia's Supreme Court next week hears the case of a convicted Macon murderer who argues that his trial lawyer and the lawyer who handled his appeal were both incompetent.
The Georgia State Supreme Court gives this account of the case:
In 1999, a Bibb County jury convicted Alivin Harris of felony murder and other charges for shooting two men after a fight outside a bootlegger's house.
Rodrigo Callaway died, and his brother, Marcus Callaway, was shot in the spine.
Harris was sentenced to life plus 10 years in prison.
Six years later, Harris appealed to the state court, arguing that his trial lawyer, Joseph Williams, did not provide a competent defense because he was addicted to cocaine.
He also said Williams failed to tell him about a plea-bargain offer from prosecutors that would have given Harris a 20-year sentence if he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.
The state court ruled that there was no evidence that his lawyer was addicted or failed to tell him about the offer. They rejected his request for a new trial.
A second lawyer was appointed by the state to represent him in that appeal.
The Georgia State Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the Harris case Monday afternoon.