Vermont Supreme Court Announces Prejudice Determination for IAC Claim Based on Rejected Plea Offer Limited to Evidence Available at Time Plea Considered—Not Any Subsequent Evidence by David Reutter by David M. Reutter In a case of first impression, the Vermont Supreme Court held “that in determining whether the criminal court …

Seventh Circuit: Incompetent Advice to Reject Plea Offer Requires Evidentiary Hearing by David M. Reutter by David M. Reutter The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held a district court erred in failing to grant an evidentiary hearing on a claim that counsel rendered ineffective assistance by advising …

Tenth Circuit Vacates Conviction, Rules Waiver of Trial Counsel Not Knowingly Made by Dale Chappell by Dale Chappell The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit held on June 15, 2020, that a district court’s failure to fully advise a defendant of the elements of the charges and the …