Thiersaint v. Comm’r of Corr.

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Petitioner was convicted of possession of narcotics with intent to sell. Petitioner later filed an amended petition for writ of habeas corpus, arguing that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to advise him, pursuant to Padilla v. Kentucky, that his plea of guilty and subsequent conviction would constituted an aggravated felony under federal law and result in his almost certain deportation and permanent removal from the United States. After a trial, the habeas court granted the amended petition, concluding that Padilla applied retroactively to Petitioner’s guilty plea and that Petitioner was misadvised and prejudiced under Strickland v. Washington. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) Padilla does not apply retroactively to Petitioner’s guilty plea under federal law; and (2) Petitioner cannot prevail on alternative grounds. View "Thiersaint v. Comm’r of Corr." on Justia Law