Opinion ID: 787950
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Mechanics of Guilty Plea Withdrawal

Text: 20 In every instance, irrespective of the type of plea agreement involved, a defendant may, as a matter of right, withdraw his guilty plea before it has been accepted by the district court. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 11(d)(1). 8 A defendant who has entered into a Charge Bargain or Binding Sentence Agreement also has an unrestricted right to withdraw his guilty plea after its acceptance but before sentence if the district court rejects his plea agreement. 9 See Fed.R.Crim.P. 11(d)(2)(A); Fed.R.Crim.P. 11(c)(5). 10 But if the defendant has entered into a Non-binding Sentence Agreement, the agreement becomes effective upon entry of the guilty plea; it does not require a formal acceptance or rejection by the district court. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 11 advisory committee's note on 1979 amendments. As a result, in the latter case, the district court's refusal to follow the agreement's sentencing recommendations will not entitle the defendant to withdraw his plea. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 11(c)(3)(B) (requiring court to advise defendant at plea allocution that he has no right to withdraw the plea if the court does not follow [a Non-binding Sentence Agreement's] recommendation or request). 11 Instead, the defendant will be permitted to withdraw his plea only if he can show a fair and just reason for the withdrawal — the same standard that applies when the court has already accepted the plea agreement (or, in the case of a Non-binding Sentence Agreement, adopted the agreement's sentencing recommendations). See Fed.R.Crim.P. 11(d)(2)(B). 12