John Jackson, Serving 25-Year Sentence, Files Motion to Vacate Conviction Citing Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

John Jackson, convicted in 2022 of rape and child pornography and currently serving a 300-month sentence, is asking the court to vacate his conviction citing ineffective assistance of counsel.

Mr. Jackson, who had launched an unsuccessful appeal to the Third Circuit Court following his 25-year sentence, told the court in his motion to vacate that his attorney had moved to withdraw as counsel a week prior to trial due to a “total breakdown in communication.”

“At that time, communication between us had completely collapsed,” said Mr. Jackson in the affidavit attached to his motion. “I did not believe he was acting in my best interest, and he told me directly that he could not effectively represent me.” In order to avoid delays, he said, the court denied the request to withdraw, "without conducting any inquiry into the reasons for the breakdown.” This was not fair, Mr. Jackson argues.

He says that his failed to include exculpatory evidence or call witnesses that could confirm an airtight alibi for the timeframe during which some of the alleged incidents occurred. During April 2018, he says, “I was in California at a professional boxing training camp culminating in a fight on April 28, 2018.”