Opinion ID: 415734
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Constitutionality of the State Conviction

Text: 6 Freed contends that his 1965 conviction was invalid, because the guilty plea underlying it was not voluntary and intelligent. See Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 89 S.Ct. 1709, 23 L.Ed.2d 274 (1969). He alleges that he was not advised of his rights, and was not aware of them when he entered his plea. He reasons that the plea cannot be the basis of this firearms conviction. 1 7 This circuit has applied Boykin retroactively. E.g., United States v. Goodheim, 686 F.2d 776, 777 (9th Cir.1982). We have held that Boykin does not require specific articulation of the rights being waived by a guilty plea. Wilkins v. Erickson, 505 F.2d 761, 763 (9th Cir.1974). However, the record must affirmatively disclose that a defendant who pleaded guilty entered his plea understandingly and voluntarily. Id. 8 The district court held an evidentiary hearing on the issue. Evidence of the Texas trial court's practice in accepting guilty pleas and of Freed's former attorney's practice in advising clients was admitted, along with a signed jury waiver. This evidence clearly and convincingly supports the inference that the plea was constitutionally taken. Goodheim, 686 F.2d at 777-78. 9 The district judge found the defendant's contradictory testimony not credible. He found that the 1965 guilty plea was voluntarily and intelligently entered. In light of the passage of 17 years and the absence of other records, the evidence was sufficient to support the trial judge's conclusion of constitutionality, absent credible rebuttal by the defendant. Id. 10 The judgment is AFFIRMED. The mandate will issue at once.