1     
PLEA WITHDRAWAL AMENDMENTS

2     
2020 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Todd Weiler

5     
House Sponsor: ____________

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends the requirements for withdrawing a guilty plea.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     allows a defendant to challenge a guilty plea on appeal under certain circumstances;
13     and
14          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
15     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16          None
17     Other Special Clauses:
18          None
19     Utah Code Sections Affected:
20     AMENDS:
21          77-13-6, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
22     

23     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24          Section 1. Section 77-13-6 is amended to read:
25          77-13-6. Withdrawal of plea.
26          (1) A defendant may withdraw a plea of not guilty [may be withdrawn] at any time
27     [prior to] before conviction.
28          (2) (a) A [plea of guilty or no contest may be withdrawn] defendant may withdraw a
29     plea of guilty or no contest only upon:
30          (i) leave of the court; and
31          (ii) a showing that [it] the plea of guilty or no contest was not knowingly and
32     voluntarily made.
33          (b) (i) A defendant shall request to withdraw a plea of guilty or no contest, except for a
34     plea held in abeyance, [shall be made] by filing a motion before any sentence is announced.
35     [Sentence may not be announced unless the motion is denied.]
36          (ii) If a motion is filed under Subsection (2)(b)(i), the court may not announce a
37     sentence for the defendant, unless the court has denied the motion.
38          (iii) For a plea held in abeyance, a defendant shall file a motion to withdraw the plea
39     [shall be made] within 30 days of [pleading] the day on which a plea of guilty or no contest is
40     made.
41          [(c) Any challenge to a guilty plea not made within the time period specified in
42     Subsection (2)(b) shall be pursued under Title 78B, Chapter 9, Postconviction Remedies Act,
43     and Rule 65C, Utah Rules of Civil Procedure.]
44          (3) If a defendant fails to withdraw a plea of guilty before the court announces a
45     sentence for the defendant, the defendant may challenge the plea of guilty:
46          (a) under Title 78B, Chapter 9, Postconviction Remedies Act, and the Utah Rules of
47     Civil Procedure, Rule 65C; or
48          (b) on appeal if the defendant claims that the defendant failed to withdraw the plea of
49     guilty because of:
50          (i) plain error;
51          (ii) ineffective assistance of counsel; or
52          (iii) exceptional circumstances.