Mason v. United States

NEWMAN, Senior Judge:

Rohan Mason pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Nine years later, he sought to withdraw his plea through a writ of coram nobis. The trial judge, before whom the plea had been entered, denied relief without a hearing. On appeal, Mason claims it was error to deny the writ because the trial court violated the mandatory strictures of D.C.Code § 16-713 (1981), which requires that before accepting a plea of guilty or nolo condendere, the court must advise the defendant that the conviction may have consequences affecting his or her immigration status.…