GUILTY PLEAS
See also CONVICTIONS
PLEA BARGAINING.
§ 1. Generally
A guilty plea, unless withdrawn, is admissible against a party who entered the plea{footnote}But see RSBI Aerospace, Inc. v. Affiliated FM Ins. Co., 49 F.3d 399, 403 (8th Cir. 1995) (guilty plea by employee admissible in civil action against former employer, offered in support of summary judgment). {/footnote} in any subsequent proceeding arising out of the same conduct, whether civil{footnote}United States v. One Parcel of Real Property, 900 F.2d 470 (1st Cir. 1990) (applyin Mass. Law); Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Duncan, 794 F.2d 1211, 1215 (7th Cir. 1986); Brown v. Green, 738 F.2d 202, 206 (7th Cir. 1984) (applying Illinois law; guilty pleas are an admission by the defendant of the facts alleged in the complaint that may be used against the defendant in a subsequent proceeding); Steel v. Downs, 438 F.2d 310, 316 (8th Cir. 1971); State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Bomke, 849 F.2d 1218, 1220 (9th Cir. 1988); FDIC v. Oldenburg, 34 F.3d 1529 (10th Cir. 1994).
Teitelbaum Furs, Inc. v. Dominion Ins. Co., 58 Cal. 2d 601, 605, 375 P.2d 439, 441, 25 Cal. Rptr. 559, 561 (1962), cert. denied, 372 U.S. 966, (1963); Hartigan v. Robertson, 409 N.E.2d 366, 371 (Ill. App. Ct. 1980)Cromer v. Sefton, 471 N.E.2d 700, 705 (Ind. Ct. App. 1984); Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Niziolek, 481 N.E.2d 1356 (Mass. 1985); Glen Falls Group Ins. Corp. v. Hoium, 200 N.W.2d 189, 191-92 (Minn. 1972) (guilty plea to charge of assault admissible in insurance coverage lawsuit, but does not estop claim that injuries were unintentional); Renner v. Murray, 136 N.W.2d 794, 796 (N.D.1965){/footnote} or criminal.{footnote}United States v. Benson, 640 F.2d 136, 138 (8th Cir. 1981) (statements made in connection with a guilty plea in a Texas district court admissible in trial in a North Dakota district court).{/footnote} Indeeed, judicial notice has been taken in a civil case of a party’s guilty plea.{footnote}Colonial Penn Ins. Co. v. Coil, 887 F.2d 1236, 1239 (4th Cir. 1989) (in suit under fire policy that resulted in settlement favorable to insured, appellate court reviewing trial court’s determination that insurer’s offer of judgment could not be revoked even on grounds of fraud could take judicial notice of postsettlement fact that insureds pled guilty to arson accessory charges).{/footnote} Some courts hold that a guilty plea is conclusive as to any element of the criminal offense to which the party pled guilty.{footnote}Charles v. Cotter, 867 F. Supp. 648 (N.D. Ill. 1994) (applying Illinois law).
But see Glen Falls Group Ins. Corp. v. Hoium, 200 N.W.2d 189, 191-92 (1972) (guilty plea to charge of assault admissible in insurance coverage lawsuit, but does not estop claim that injuries were unintentional).
But see FDIC v. Oldenburg, 34 F.3d 1529 (10th Cir. 1994) (guilty plea not conclusive as to issue of intent to cause damage where defendant denied such intent at plea hearing).
{/footnote} The defendant may introduce evidence explaining the plea, however, which goes to the weight it should receive.{footnote}Country Mut. Ins. Co. v. Duncan, 794 F.2d 1211, 1215 (7th Cir. 1986).
Teitelbaum Furs, Inc. v. Dominion Ins. Co., 58 Cal.2d 601 (1962); People v. Powell, 437 N.E.2d 1258, 1260 (Ill. App. Ct. 1982){/footnote} The fact that the plea may be withdrawn at a later time does not render it inadmissible.{footnote}RSBI Aerospace, Inc. v. Affiliated FM Ins. Co., 49 F.3d 399, 403 (8th Cir. 1995).{/footnote}
A codefendant’s guilty plea is ordinarily not admissible as substantive evidence against other defendants on the issue of their guilt.{footnote}Lee v. Illinois, 476 U.S. 530 (1986). {/footnote} Such evidence is admissible for other purposes, however, such as credibility. Where such evidence is admitted, a limiting instruction must be given to the jury.{footnote}United States v. Magee, 821 F.2d 234 (5th Cir. 1987).
But see United States v. Roth, 736 F.2d 1222 (8th Cir. 1984) (no reversible error if instruction not requested).{/footnote} Failure to give such an instruction, even if not requested, has been held plain error.{footnote}United States v. Osborne, 532 F. Supp. 857 (W.D. Va. 1982).
See also United States v. Baez, 703 F.2d 453 (10th Cir. 1983) (plain error for judge to tell jury of codefendants’ guilty pleas).{/footnote} See also BRUTON RULE, THE; APPEAL–Admission of Evidence: Failure to Object and ‘Plain Error’.
§ 2. Withdrawn Guilty Pleas
Withdrawn guilty pleas are inadmissible against the defendant who made the plea,{footnote}But see Cal. Evid. Code § 1153 (inadmissible regardless of party offered by or against); Minn. R. Evid. 410 (same).{/footnote} whether offered in a subesquent criminal proceeding,{footnote}FRE 410; Kercheval v. United States, 274 U.S. 220 (1927) (federal prosecutions).
Alaska R. Evid. 410; Ariz. R. Evid. 410; Ark. R. Evid. 410; Cal. Evid. Code § 1153; Colo. R. Evid. 410; Del. R. Evid. 410; Fla. Stat. Ann. § 90.410; Hawaii R. Evid. 410; Idaho R. Evid. 410; Iowa R. Evid. 410; Me. R. Evid. 410; Mich. R. Evid. 410; Minn. R. Evid. 410; Miss. R. Evid. 410; Mont. R. Evid. 410; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 27-410; Nev. Rev. Stat. § 48.125; N.H. R. Evid. 410; N.M. R. Evid. 410; N.C. R. Evid. 410; N.D. R. Evid. 410; Ohio R. Evid. 410; 12 Okla. Stat. § 2410; Ore. R. Evid. 410; S.D. Comp. Laws Ann. § 19-12-12; Tex. R. Crim. Evid. 410; Utah R. Evid. 410; Vt. R. Evid. 410; Wash. R. Evid.410; W.V. R. Evid. 410; Wis. Stat. Ann. § 904.10; Wyo. R. Evid. 410.
People v. Wells, 256 Cal. App. 2d 463 (1967). People v. Spitaleri, 9 N.Y.2d 168, 212 N.Y.S.2d 53, 173 N.E.2d 35 (1961); State v. Thomson, 278 P.2d 142 (Or. 1954).
See generally 86 ALR2d 326{/footnote} or in a subsequent civil proceeding.{footnote}FRE 410; Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(e)(6).
Alaska R. Evid. 410; Ariz. R. Evid. 410; Ark. R. Evid. 410; Cal. Evid. Code § 1153; Colo. R. Evid. 410; Del. R. Evid. 410; Fla. Stat. Ann. § 90.410; Hawaii R. Evid. 410; Idaho R. Evid. 410; Iowa R. Evid. 410; Me. R. Evid. 410; Mich. R. Evid. 410; Minn. R. Evid. 410; Miss. R. Evid. 410; Mont. R. Evid. 410; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 27-410; N.H. R. Evid. 410; N.M. R. Evid. 410; N.C. R. Evid. 410; N.D. R. Evid. 410; Ohio R. Evid. 410; 12 Okla. Stat. § 2410; S.D. Comp. Laws Ann. § 19-12-12; Tex. R. Evid. 410; Utah R. Evid. 410; Vt. R. Evid. 410; Wash. R. Evid.410; W.V. R. Evid. 410; Wis. Stat. Ann. § 904.10; Wyo. R. Evid. 410.
But see Nev. Rev. Stat. § 48.125 (not extending exclusion to civil proceedings); Ore. R. Evid. 410 (same).{/footnote} Several states also exclude evidence of withdrawn guilty pleas in administrative proceedings.{footnote}Ariz. R. Evid. 410; Cal. Evid. Code § 1153; Minn. R. Evid. 410.{/footnote}
Exceptions to this exclusionary rule are recognized where the “rule of completeness” requires that the withdrawn plea be considered together with other evidence previously introduced,{footnote}FRE 410.
Hawaii R. Evid. 410; Idaho R. Evid. 410; Iowa R. Evid. 410; Miss. R. Evid. 410; N.H. R. Evid. 410; N.C. R. Evid. 410; Tex. R. Evid. 410; Tex. R. Crim. Evid. 410; Utah R. Evid. 410; Vt. R. Evid. 410; W.V. R. Evid. 410.{/footnote} and in connection with a criminal proceeding for perjury.{footnote}FRE 410.
Colo. R. Evid. 410; Del. R. Evid. 410; Hawaii R. Evid. 410; Idaho R. Evid. 410; Iowa R. Evid. 410; Mich. R. Evid. 410; Miss. R. Evid. 410; Mont. R. Evid. 410; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 27-410; N.H. R. Evid. 410; N.D. R. Evid. 410; Ohio R. Evid. 410; 12 Okla. Stat. § 2410; S.D. Comp. Laws Ann. § 19-12-12; Utah R. Evid. 410; Vt. R. Evid. 410; Wash. R. Evid.410; W.V. R. Evid. 410.{/footnote} Some states have also created exceptions to allow statements made in connection with the entering of a guilty plea admissible as impeachment.{footnote}Alaska R. Evid. 410; Colo. R. Evid. 410; Fla. Stat. Ann. § 90.410; Idaho R. Evid. 410; Mont. R. Evid. 410; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 27-410; N.D. R. Evid. 410.{/footnote} See also PLEA BARGAINING.