Court Opinion

ID: 9544342
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:54:52.154002+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:12:48.153140
License: Public Domain

SUTIN, Judge (dissenting). I dissent. On September 18, 1972, defendant pleaded not guilty to an indictment for first degree murder. On November 14, 1972, the indictment was amended to voluntary manslaughter and defendant pleaded guilty. A pre-sentence report was requested and the matter reset for December 4, 1972. On December 4, 1972, defendant moved to withdraw her previous plea of guilty and enter a plea of not guilty. The State resisted the motion and the motion was denied. This was an abuse of discretion. Section 2.1(b) ABA Standards Relating to Pleas of Guilty, provides in part: Before sentence, the court in its discretion may allow the defendant to withdraw his plea for any fair and just reason unless the prosecution has been substantially prejudiced by reliance upon the defendant’s plea. The defendant desired to withdraw her plea of guilty because of her theory of self defense called to her attention by the police investigation. The trial court said: If this defendant’s story is entirely true, her version of the offense, I believe then, of course, the jury would certainly be warranted in acquitting her on the charge against her whether it would be murder as originally charged or manslaughter to which she has now pleaded guilty. This was a “fair and just reason” for withdrawal of the plea of guilty. The withdrawal should be allowed because judicial discretion should always be exercised in favor of innocence. People v. Walston, 38 Ill.2d 39, 230 N.E.2d 233 (1967); State v. Loyd, 291 Minn. 528, 190 N.W.2d 123 (1971); Commonwealth v. Santos, 450 Pa. 492, 301 A.2d 829 (1973); United States v. McGirr, 434 F.2d 844 (4th Cir. 1970). After defendant’s motion to withdraw was denied, the plea bargain for a deferred sentence was placed before the court. The court did not accept the recommendations and imposed sentence. I adopt the reasons set forth in the dissent in State v. Ramos, 85 N.M. 438, 512 P.2d 1274 (Ct.App.), decided July 11, 1973, in my firm belief that the defendant should be granted the right to withdraw the plea of guilty or affirm the plea of guilty.