Woodall v. State

I concur in the majority opinion, but write to stress the uniqueness of this case, and to explain why it will have limited precedential value beyond these facts. In most cases a defense lawyer’s failure to explain the legal effect of a particular witness’ testimony or some other piece of evidence will not rise to the level of a manifest injustice requiring a trial court to grant a defendant’s post-sentencing motion to withdraw plea. This case is unique in that Appellant’s counsel made a series of mistakes culminating in Appellant’s unwitting plea to a charge that the State could not prove.

Coun…