ALBANY – In a powerful affirmation of both the right to counsel and the right to raise the issue on appeal, the state’s top court yesterday unanimously held that reversal of a robbery conviction is required in a case where the defendant’s Legal Aid Society lawyer was removed for requesting an adjournment.

The Court of Appeals, in an opinion by Judge Jenny Rivera (See Profile), rejected the Manhattan district attorney’s arguments that the defendant forfeited his claim by pleading guilty.