The State - News from Aug. 15, 1986

Legislation that would allow defendants in murder cases to plead guilty without the consent of their attorneys was approved by the state Senate on a vote of 25 to 7. The measure was prompted by the Beverly Hills Van Cleef & Arpels hostage case in which defendant Steven Livaditis has already admitted his guilt but still faces trial. Sen. William Campbell (R-Hacienda Heights), author of the measure, said that allowing defendants to plead guilty would avoid the cost of long and unnecessary trials. The American Civil Liberties Union opposes the measure, noting that in many cases individuals who did not commit a crime have pleaded guilty.