In August 1997, the ABA House of Delegates approved these “black letter” standards that have been published with commentary in ABA Standards for Criminal Justice: Pleas of Guilty, 3d ed., © 1999 American Bar Association. For the text of the publication, click here. To go directly to individual “black letter” standards (without commentary), click on the links below. For information about purchasing the printed volume, please click here .
PART I. RECEIVING AND ACTING UPON THE PLEA
PART II. WITHDRAWAL OF THE PLEA
Standard 14-2.1 Plea withdrawal and specific performance
Standard 14-2.2 Withdrawn plea and discussions not admissible
PART III. PLEA DISCUSSIONS AND PLEA AGREEMENTS
Standard 14-3.1 Responsibilities of the prosecuting attorney
Standard 14-3.2 Responsibilities of defense counsel
Standard 14-3.3 Responsibilities of the judge
Standard 14-3.4 Inadmissibility of nolo contendere pleas, pleas not accepted, and plea discussions
PART IV. DIVERSION AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE RESOLUTIONS
Standard 14-4.1 Diversion and other alternative resolutions