Opinion ID: 1741039
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Plea withdrawal procedure

Text: ¶ 78 The procedure for determining whether plea withdrawal is warranted is well established. State v. Brown, 2006 WI 100, ¶ 39-41, 293 Wis.2d 594, 716 N.W.2d 906; State v. Bangert, 131 Wis.2d 246, 274-75, 389 N.W.2d 12 (1986). It begins with a motion by the defendant. Brown, 293 Wis.2d 594, ¶ 39, 716 N.W.2d 906; Bangert, 131 Wis.2d at 274, 389 N.W.2d 12. The legislature has defined motion in the context of a criminal proceeding: (1) Motion means an application for an order. (2) Unless otherwise provided or ordered by the court, all motions shall meet the following criteria: (a) Be in writing. (b) Contain a caption setting forth the name of the court, the venue, the title of the action, the file number, a denomination of the party seeking the order or relief and a brief description of the type of order or relief sought. (c) State with particularity the grounds for the motion and the order or relief sought. Wis. Stat. § 971.30. A motion to withdraw a plea must specifically do the following: (1) make a prima facie showing of a violation of Wis. Stat. § 971.08(1) [1] or other court-mandated duties [2] by pointing to passages or gaps in the plea hearing transcript; and (2) allege that the defendant did not know or understand the information that should have been provided at the plea hearing. Brown, 293 Wis.2d 594, ¶ 39, 716 N.W.2d 906. ¶ 79 Once the defendant has filed a motion to withdraw his or her plea, the circuit court reviews it. Id., ¶ 40. If the motion establishes a prima facie violation and makes the requisite allegations, the defendant has met his or her burden. Id. The circuit court then holds an evidentiary hearing, which allows the state to show by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant's plea was knowing, intelligent, and voluntary despite the identified inadequacy of the plea colloquy. Id. If the state meets its burden, the evidentiary hearing ends and the defendant may not withdraw his or her plea as a matter of right. Id., ¶41. If the state fails to meet its burden, the defendant may withdraw his or her plea as a matter of right. Id.