MOTION TO WITHDRAW GUILTY PLEA

Court Information

Court Name: _______________________________________________

Case Number: _____________________________________________

Judge: ___________________________________________________

Case Caption

STATE/COMMONWEALTH/PEOPLE OF _____________________________

v.

Defendant: _______________________________________________

DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO WITHDRAW GUILTY PLEA

COMES NOW the Defendant, [Defendant Name], by and through undersigned counsel, and respectfully moves this Honorable Court for leave to withdraw the guilty plea entered on [Date of Plea], and in support thereof states as follows:

I. INTRODUCTION

On [Date], the Defendant entered a plea of ☐ guilty ☐ no contest/nolo contendere to the following charge(s):

Current Status:

☐ Pre-Sentencing (sentencing scheduled for: _________________)

☐ Post-Sentencing (sentenced on: ____________________________)

The Defendant now seeks to withdraw this plea because:

☐ The plea was not knowing and voluntary

☐ The plea was the result of ineffective assistance of counsel

☐ The plea was induced by misrepresentation or coercion

☐ New evidence has been discovered

☐ Legal basis for the charge is deficient

☐ Other: ___________________________________________________

II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

☐ Date of Arrest: ____________________________________________

☐ Date of Arraignment: _______________________________________

☐ Original Charges: _________________________________________

☐ Date of Plea: _____________________________________________

☐ Charges to which plea entered: _____________________________

☐ Plea Agreement: ☐ Yes ☐ No

☐ Terms of Plea Agreement: ___________________________________

☐ Sentencing Date: ☐ Pending on _____________ ☐ Completed on _____________

☐ Sentence Imposed (if applicable): __________________________

☐ Prior Motions to Withdraw: ☐ None ☐ Yes (explain): _________

III. LEGAL STANDARD

A. Pre-Sentencing Withdrawal

Prior to sentencing, a defendant may withdraw a guilty plea for any "fair and just reason." The Court should freely grant withdrawal when:

☐ The defendant asserts innocence

☐ The plea was not knowing and voluntary

☐ There are defenses that should be explored

☐ The government will not be substantially prejudiced

See, e.g., Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(d)(2)(B); applicable state rule: _______________

B. Post-Sentencing Withdrawal

After sentencing, withdrawal requires showing:

☐ A "manifest injustice" would result from maintaining the plea

☐ The plea violated constitutional requirements

☐ Ineffective assistance of counsel affected the plea decision

See, e.g., Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(d)(2)(A); applicable state rule: _______________

C. Constitutional Requirements for Valid Plea

Under Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238 (1969), a guilty plea must be:

☐ Knowing - Defendant understood the charges and consequences

☐ Voluntary - Plea was not coerced or involuntary

☐ Intelligent - Defendant understood rights being waived

IV. GROUNDS FOR WITHDRAWAL

Select All Applicable Grounds:

A. Plea Was Not Knowing

☐ Defendant did not understand the charges
- What defendant believed the charges were: __________________
- Actual charges: __________________________________________
- How misunderstanding affected plea decision: _______________

☐ Defendant did not understand elements of the offense
- Elements not understood: __________________________________
- How this affected plea: ___________________________________

☐ Defendant did not understand potential sentence
- What defendant believed maximum sentence was: ______________
- Actual maximum sentence: __________________________________
- Sentencing guidelines range not explained: _________________

☐ Defendant did not understand immigration consequences
- Defendant's immigration status: ____________________________
- Immigration consequences not explained: ____________________
- Actual immigration consequences: ___________________________
- Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356 (2010) applies: ☐ Yes ☐ No

☐ Defendant did not understand collateral consequences
- Consequences not explained:
- ☐ Sex offender registration
- ☐ Loss of firearm rights
- ☐ Loss of voting rights
- ☐ Professional license consequences
- ☐ Housing consequences
- ☐ Other: ______________________________________________

☐ Defendant did not understand rights being waived
- Rights not explained:
- ☐ Right to trial by jury
- ☐ Right to confront witnesses
- ☐ Right against self-incrimination
- ☐ Right to present defense
- ☐ Presumption of innocence
- ☐ Burden of proof on prosecution

B. Plea Was Not Voluntary

☐ Plea was coerced
- Source of coercion: ______________________________________
- Nature of coercion: ______________________________________
- How coercion affected decision: ___________________________

☐ Plea induced by threats
- Nature of threats: _______________________________________
- Who made threats: ________________________________________

☐ Plea induced by false promises
- Promise made: ___________________________________________
- Who made promise: ________________________________________
- Promise was false because: ________________________________

☐ Defendant was under duress
- Nature of duress: ________________________________________

☐ Defendant's mental state affected voluntariness
- Mental health condition: __________________________________
- Effect on decision-making: ________________________________
- Medication affecting cognition: ____________________________

☐ Defendant was under influence of substances
- Substance: ______________________________________________
- Effect on understanding: __________________________________

C. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Under Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984), and Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52 (1985):

☐ Counsel's performance was deficient

Counsel failed to:
- ☐ Investigate the case adequately: _________________________
- ☐ Review discovery materials: _____________________________
- ☐ Interview witnesses: ___________________________________
- ☐ Research legal defenses: ________________________________
- ☐ Explain charges and elements: ____________________________
- ☐ Explain potential defenses: _____________________________
- ☐ Explain sentencing consequences: _________________________
- ☐ Explain immigration consequences: ________________________
- ☐ Explain collateral consequences: _________________________
- ☐ Communicate plea offer accurately: _______________________
- ☐ Advise on strengths/weaknesses of case: __________________
- ☐ Spend adequate time with defendant: ______________________
- ☐ Other deficiency: ______________________________________

☐ Defendant was prejudiced by counsel's deficient performance

But for counsel's errors, defendant would not have pleaded guilty because:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

Defendant would have:
- ☐ Proceeded to trial
- ☐ Negotiated a different plea
- ☐ Pursued available defenses: _____________________________

D. Factual Innocence / Viable Defenses

☐ Defendant maintains actual innocence

Basis for innocence claim:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

☐ Viable defenses exist that were not explored

• ☐ Alibi: ________________________________________________
• ☐ Self-defense: _________________________________________
• ☐ Lack of intent/mens rea: _______________________________
• ☐ Mistaken identity: _____________________________________
• ☐ Entrapment: ___________________________________________
• ☐ Duress/necessity: _____________________________________
• ☐ Constitutional violations (suppression issues): ___________
• ☐ Statute of limitations: _________________________________
• ☐ Other: ________________________________________________

E. Brady Violation / New Evidence

☐ Brady material was not disclosed before plea

Under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963):
- Material not disclosed: ___________________________________
- When discovered: _________________________________________
- How it affects the case: __________________________________

☐ New evidence discovered after plea

• Nature of evidence: ______________________________________
• When discovered: _________________________________________
• Why not discovered earlier: _______________________________
• How it affects guilt/innocence: ___________________________

F. Plea Colloquy Deficiencies

☐ Court failed to conduct adequate colloquy

The Court failed to:
- ☐ Confirm defendant understood charges
- ☐ Confirm defendant understood rights being waived
- ☐ Confirm defendant understood potential penalties
- ☐ Establish factual basis for plea
- ☐ Confirm plea was voluntary
- ☐ Confirm defendant was competent
- ☐ Comply with Rule 11 / state equivalent

G. Breach of Plea Agreement

☐ Prosecution breached plea agreement

• Term breached: __________________________________________
• How breached: ___________________________________________
• Remedy sought: ☐ Specific performance ☐ Withdrawal of plea

V. FACTUAL SUPPORT

A. Declaration of Defendant

☐ Defendant's declaration attached as Exhibit _______________

B. Declaration of Prior Counsel (if applicable)

☐ Prior counsel's declaration attached as Exhibit ____________

C. Other Supporting Evidence

☐ Evidence attached:
- ☐ ________________________________________________________
- ☐ ________________________________________________________
- ☐ ________________________________________________________

VI. ABSENCE OF PREJUDICE TO PROSECUTION

☐ The prosecution will not be substantially prejudiced by withdrawal because:

• ☐ Witnesses remain available
• ☐ Evidence has been preserved
• ☐ No significant time has elapsed
• ☐ Resources expended can be utilized at trial
• ☐ Other: ________________________________________________

VII. TIMELINESS

☐ This motion is timely because:

• ☐ Filed before sentencing
• ☐ Filed within applicable time limit: ______________________
• ☐ Filed promptly after discovering grounds: ________________
• ☐ Good cause exists for any delay: _________________________

VIII. REQUEST FOR HEARING

☐ Defendant requests an evidentiary hearing to present:

• ☐ Testimony of defendant
• ☐ Testimony of prior counsel
• ☐ Testimony of witnesses: _________________________________
• ☐ Documentary evidence
• ☐ Expert testimony regarding: _____________________________

IX. CONCLUSION

WHEREFORE, Defendant respectfully requests that this Honorable Court:

1. Grant leave to withdraw the guilty plea entered on [Date];

2. Vacate any conviction and sentence entered based on the plea;

3. Reinstate the original charges and restore Defendant's right to trial;

4. Set the matter for further proceedings;

5. Conduct an evidentiary hearing on this motion;

6. Grant such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.

CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that a copy of this Motion has been served upon the prosecuting attorney and all parties of record on [Date].

Attorney for Defendant:

Signature: __________________________________________________

Printed Name: _______________________________________________

Bar Number: _________________________________________________

Firm Name: __________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________________________________

Email: ______________________________________________________

Date: _______________________________________________________

DEFENDANT'S VERIFICATION

I, [Defendant Name], declare under penalty of perjury that I have read the foregoing Motion to Withdraw Guilty Plea, and the facts stated therein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Defendant Signature: _____________________________________

Date: ___________________________________________________

ORDER

[FOR COURT USE]

Having considered the Motion to Withdraw Guilty Plea, any response, and argument of counsel:

☐ The Motion is GRANTED.
- The guilty plea entered on _____________ is hereby WITHDRAWN
- The conviction is VACATED
- The matter is set for _____________ on _____________

☐ The Motion is DENIED for the following reasons:
_____________________________________________________________

☐ An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for _____________

Judge's Signature: _______________________________________

Date: ___________________________________________________

This motion is filed pursuant to the defendant's constitutional rights under the Fifth Amendment (due process), Sixth Amendment (effective assistance of counsel per Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984) and Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52 (1985)), and the requirement of knowing and voluntary pleas under Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238 (1969).