Court Opinion

ID: 9878835
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-27 17:44:13.803931+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:47:42.038165
License: Public Domain

McEvers, Justice, concurring specially. [¶ 17] I concur with the result and have signed the majority opinion based on the arguments made by the Petitioner below. Mr. Giwa’s arguments below were that N.D.R.Crim.P. ll(b)(l)(j) should be applied retrospectively and that his plea was not knowing and voluntary because hé pleaded guilty -without knowing what the consequences would be, I agree with the majority that N.D.R.Crim.P. ll(b)(l)(j) should not be applied retrospectively. Majority at ¶ 10.1 also agree with the majority that Mr. Giwa made no argument, nor did he provide any evidence in his affidavit that he was forced, coerced or otherwise under duress when he signed the plea agreement. Majority at ¶ 11. Mr. Giwa was given an opportunity to present evidence at the hearing and no further evidence was presented. [¶ 18] However, I write separately to point out that had Mr. Giwa made an argument and presented evidence that his plea was forced, coerced or made under duress, the result here may have been different. Reviewing the plea agreement prepared by the State and signed by Mr. Giwa, there is no reference to the requirement under N.D.R.Crim.P. 11(b)(2), that the plea was voluntary and did not result from force, threats or promises other than the plea agreement. N.D.R.Crim.P. 11(b), requires the defendant to personally appear to enter a plea, unless the defendant’s presence is not required under N.D.R.Crim.P. 43. The Explanatory Note to N.D.R.Crim.P. 11 states: “In a non-felony case, if the defendant wants to pleád guilty without appearing in court, a written form must be used which advises the defendant of his or her constitutional rights and creates a record showing that the plea was made voluntarily, knowingly, and understandingly.” The Explanatory Note also references a form which provides the appropriate language for such a plea agreement. The State, as the drafter of the plea agreement, should be careful to adhere to the requirements of both N.D.R.Crim.P. 11(b) and N.D.R.Crim.P. 43, particularly when a criminal defendant is not represented. [¶ 19] Lisa Fair McEvers