United States Third Circuit

In a collateral proceeding following convictions on drug offenses, denial of habeas relief is reversed where: 1) petitioner's guilty plea was not knowing and intelligent because he was not told prior to pleading guilty that he was subject to a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years; and 2) the state courts' rejection of this claim was an unreasonable application of clearly established Supreme Court precedent.

Appellate Information

• Argued 07/24/2008
• Decided 09/30/2008
• Published 09/30/2008

Judges

• Before McKEE, FUENTES, and WEIS Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Third Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Leo A. Latella, Esq. (Argued), Federal Public Defender, Scranton, PA, for Appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Katherine L. Doucette, Esq. (Argued), William H. Graff, Jr., Esq., York County District Attorney, York, PA, for Appellee.