United States v. Diaz-Ramirez

OPINION

O’SCANNLAIN, Circuit Judge:

We must decide whether the taking of guilty pleas at a large group plea hearing violated the Fifth Amendment right to due process.

I

A

On November 23, 2009, Odi Ereldi Diaz-Ramirez (“Diaz”) and Ismael Figueroa-Romero (“Figueroa”) were arrested and charged with illegal entry into the United States, pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1325. Both Mexican citizens, Diaz and Figueroa were apprehended near Sasabe, Arizona, and were charged with having entered the United States at a time and place other than that designated by immigration officials. The next day, they appeared at a…