Tescil Romalis Mason-Kimmons v. State of Minnesota

Summary

The court held that Mason-Kimmons was prejudiced by trial counsel's constitutionally deficient advice to plead guilty because counsel was unprepared to proceed to trial. Considering the totality of the circumstances, including contemporaneous statements, the plea timeline, the potential defenses, and unresolved evidentiary issues, the court found a reasonable probability that Mason-Kimmons would have gone to trial absent counsel's advice. The court therefore reversed and remanded for withdrawal of the guilty plea.