ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) — A decision by the Oregon Court of Appeals to overturn a Roseburg woman's drunken driving conviction may affect whether jail inmates headed for trial in Oregon are fitted with restraints.
Sherie Wall was fitted with leg restraints hidden beneath pants or a dress in pretrial hearings. She pleaded guilty after a judge denied her request to remove the restraints.
The Court of Appeals ruled the restraints interfered with her right to a fair trial.
According to the Roseburg News-Review (bit.ly/QVo14S ), Wall said the restraints made her feel like a criminal and made it harder to communicate with her attorney.
Wall was classified as a "medium-risk inmate" by the Douglas County Jail. She had 13 previous felony convictions.
Prosecutors have yet to decide whether to appeal the court's ruling.
___
Information from: The News-Review, http://www.nrtoday.com
