Morris v. Bartow

Dist. Ct. did not err in denying defendant’s habeas petition, alleging that he was coerced into pleading guilty to Wisconsin first-degree reckless homicide charge, and that his appellate counsel was ineffective for raising said issue in his direct appeal. Thorough nature of defendant's plea colloquy refuted claim that defendant’s guilty plea was involuntary, or that defendant had actually been coerced at time of guilty plea so as to allow reviewing court to disregard defendant’s sworn responses during plea colloquy that he had not been coerced. Also, record showed that defendant did not mention said issue to appellate counsel during direct appeal, and that defendant had failed to seek withdrawal of guilty plea with new trial counsel in months between entry of guilty plea and sentencing hearing.