ABC News: "Craig Must Show 'MANIFEST INJUSTICE' to Withdraw a Guilty Plea"

[Bluebear]

Though Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct earlier this month, he said Tuesday that he had done nothing wrong and suggested that he may try to withdraw his plea.

But Craig will have a tough time getting out of that guilty plea, Minnesota criminal lawyers and law professors told ABC News. Unless he can show some serious flaw in the plea, Craig will probably be stuck with a criminal record.

"It's a final thing. If you put in a plea, that's that," said Jeff Mohr, a criminal defense lawyer in Minneapolis. "Unless there are really unusual circumstances, he wouldn't be able to withdraw."

Stephen Simon, a professor at University of Minnesota Law School, said Craig would have to prove a "manifest injustice" to get out of his guilty plea. That standard is so difficult to meet, he said, that motions to withdraw pleas are seldom made in Minnesota, and even less frequently granted.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=3537318&page=1

[aquart]

1. This is premium entertainment.

[JohnnyLib2]

9. Could even interfere with the new Desperate Housewives season.

Ratings will be great, for sure. :evilgrin:

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Larry Craig still thinks he can win re-erection in '08..

[Bluebear]

3. I have no idea what universe Arlen Specter is living in, nt

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. It Would Be Wild If Specter Took His Case

I don't think Senate rules prohibit it...

It would be the trial of the new millenium...

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. Keep it on the front burner, Arlen. Don't let it die a natural death.

What a gift......a beautiful gift.

[Major Hogwash]

17. That would be the parallel universe located just outside of Pittsburgh, off of I-79.

Where Arlen has stored all of his integrity in a large, invisible warehouse built special for him by the DOD.

[BlooInBloo]

21. At Peachins! (a Deliverance version of Value Village in the hills of Connellsville.)

[Lex]

4. That move would be sure to keep the details in the news for

weeks on end.

So good luck with that, Sen. Craig!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. Linkee no workee. What did Specter say that everyone's referring to?

[Contrary1]

11. He urged Craig to reconsider his resignation. n/t

[Olney Blue]

7. It's gonna be tough to get out of this, Larry.

[rocktivity]

10. Since it was a plea BARGAIN rather than a plea

does that make it harder or easier? I mean, if the plea bargain's cancelled, could he be re-tried on the original charges?

:headbang:
rocknation

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

15. I'm not sure what you are saying. Plea bargain includes a plea as part of the bargain.

It's pretty unusual for a "cancellation" or reversal unless coercion, torture etc. could be proven.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

16. Craig Can Argue He Was Non Compes Mentes

After all he is a Republican...

[sandnsea]

12. Republicans don't believe it's true

All he has to do is go through the motions of fighting this injustice - a la Ollie North. He'll be a friggin' hero.

The left has already vindicated him, it's a terrible injustice that he was even arrested.

He'll be secure in his seat by Friday.

[ruggerson]

22. Who?

I haven't heard one elected Democrat commenting on this.

Arianna Huffington is a self appointed talking head pundit who represents no one.

You're worrying about nothing, imho. This whole thing plays to our benefit if it's kept in the press for any length of time.

[liberal N proud]

13. The police in Minneapolis should change the charge

To sexual deviance or something along those lines. Make him a sex offender because it would have been real easy for a minor to walk into that rest room and witness one of his sexual acts.

[Major Hogwash]

14. But, but, it was manifestly unjust because it only involved a Republican US Senator.

Obviously Faux Snooze will have to have O'Reilly explain this to all you cretins.

[spanone]

18. the gift that keeps on giving.

[backscatter712]

19. Aside from the publicity and political factors,

why would he want to?

Disorderly Conduct is a trivial misdemeanor, barely more serious than a speeding ticket. IIRC, his punishment is to pay roughly $500 in fines (which I'm sure doesn't even count as pocket change for Craig) and he's done.

Certainly, there are the political factors that pushed him to resign from the Senate, but most people charged with disorderly conduct would just pay the fine and move on.

[BlooInBloo]

20. Hey! Your Honah! I gotcher manifest injustice right HERE!

:rofl: