Why do some defendants want to withdraw their guilty pleas, and what are the most common reasons?

This comes up all the time in my legal practice: What can you do if you plead guilty and then change your mind?

I’ll be sharing what really happens behind the scenes when someone wants to withdraw their guilty plea, especially if the sentence they get isn’t what they expected. I’ll explain how joint recommendations work here in Ohio, why clear communication between lawyers and clients is absolutely crucial, and what legal hurdles you’re likely to face if you try to take back a guilty plea—whether it’s before or after sentencing.

So if you’re curious about the appeals process, struggling with buyer’s remorse after a plea deal, or just want to understand how the criminal justice system really works, this episode offers real-life stories, hard-earned insights, and practical advice from inside the courtroom.

Key Moments

00:00 Clear Client Communication on Plea Deals

05:02 Plea Withdrawal Challenges in Ohio

07:05 Withdrawing Plea: Start Over Consequences

09:44 Rule 11 Plea Negotiations Overview

Here are 3 key takeaways:

• It’s Much Harder After Sentencing: In Ohio, withdrawing a guilty plea after sentencing requires a very strong reason, like major mistakes during the plea process or bad legal advice. Courts generally don’t like granting these requests.
• Timing Is Everything: Before sentencing, withdrawals should be granted more freely, but courts are increasingly strict. If you’re reconsidering, don’t wait.
• You Might Be Back to Square One: Withdrawing a plea means the original charges (and risks) are back on the table, and prosecutors may not offer the same deal again. Sometimes, things can actually get worse.

Submit your questions to www.lawyertalkpodcast.com.

Recorded at Channel 511.

Stephen E. Palmer, Esq. has been practicing criminal defense almost exclusively since 1995. He has represented people in federal, state, and local courts in Ohio and elsewhere.

Though he focuses on all areas of criminal defense, he particularly enjoys complex cases in state and federal courts.

He has unique experience handling and assembling top defense teams of attorneys and experts in cases involving allegations of child abuse (false sexual allegations, false physical abuse allegations), complex scientific cases involving allegations of DUI and vehicular homicide cases with blood alcohol tests, and any other criminal cases that demand jury trial experience.

Steve has unique experience handling numerous high publicity cases that have garnered national attention.

For more information about Steve and his law firm, visit Palmer Legal Defense.

Copyright 2025 Stephen E. Palmer - Attorney At Law

Mentioned in this episode:

Circle 270 Media Podcast Consultants

Circle 270 Media® is a podcast consulting firm based in Columbus, Ohio, specializing in helping businesses develop, launch, and optimize podcasts as part of their marketing strategy. The firm emphasizes the importance of storytelling through podcasting to differentiate businesses and engage with their audiences effectively. www.circle270media.com

Let's look at a topic that’s been making a lot of headlines lately: the use of the Alien Enemies Act for deportations, especially with talk around Trump’s immigration policies. Now, don’t worry—I promised to keep things non-political, and I plan to stick to that. Instead, I’m here to walk you through what’s really going on behind the scenes: the legal procedures and how these cases play out in court.

Recently, federal judges in different parts of the country have been coming to completely opposite conclusions about the government’s power to use this act. So, how does that work? What happens when courts disagree this way? I’ll break down the basics of appellate law, explain why we’re probably headed straight for a Supreme Court decision, and talk about what that means for everyone watching this play out.

If you’re curious about how the legal system handles big, controversial cases like this—without all the political noise—you’re in the right place. Stick around, and I’ll walk you through exactly what’s happening and what comes next.

Submit your questions to www.lawyertalkpodcast.com.

Recorded at Channel 511.

Stephen E. Palmer, Esq. has been practicing criminal defense almost exclusively since 1995. He has represented people in federal, state, and local courts in Ohio and elsewhere.

Though he focuses on all areas of criminal defense, he particularly enjoys complex cases in state and federal courts.

He has unique experience handling and assembling top defense teams of attorneys and experts in cases involving allegations of child abuse (false sexual allegations, false physical abuse allegations), complex scientific cases involving allegations of DUI and vehicular homicide cases with blood alcohol tests, and any other criminal cases that demand jury trial experience.

Steve has unique experience handling numerous high publicity cases that have garnered national attention.

For more information about Steve and his law firm, visit Palmer Legal Defense.

Copyright 2025 Stephen E. Palmer - Attorney At Law

Mentioned in this episode:

Circle 270 Media Podcast Consultants

Circle 270 Media® is a podcast consulting firm based in Columbus, Ohio, specializing in helping businesses develop, launch, and optimize podcasts as part of their marketing strategy. The firm emphasizes the importance of storytelling through podcasting to differentiate businesses and engage with their audiences effectively. www.circle270media.com

I’m digging into a question I get all the time—should you talk to the police if they reach out and want you to come down to the station? I know this one makes a lot of folks nervous, especially if you’re worried that staying quiet might make you look guilty, but you’re also hearing that you should never talk to the police without a lawyer.

In this episode, I’m sharing a real scenario from a listener (names changed, of course!) whose son was asked to speak with officers about an incident involving a girl he met. I’ll break down the reasons why going in to talk to the police—especially if you don’t know exactly what they’re asking about—can be a risky move. I’ll even tell you about a case from my own practice where talking to the cops made things a whole lot harder, even though my client thought he was just clearing things up.

So if you’ve ever wondered what the right move is when the police want to “just ask a few questions,” stick around. I’m here to give you some real talk on what to do—and what not to do—if you’re ever in that situation. Let’s get into it!

Got a question you want answered on the podcast? Call 614-859-2119 and leave us a voicemail. Steve will answer your question on the next podcast!

Submit your questions to www.lawyertalkpodcast.com.

Recorded at Channel 511.

Stephen E. Palmer, Esq. has been practicing criminal defense almost exclusively since 1995. He has represented people in federal, state, and local courts in Ohio and elsewhere.

Though he focuses on all areas of criminal defense, he particularly enjoys complex cases in state and federal courts.

He has unique experience handling and assembling top defense teams of attorneys and experts in cases involving allegations of child abuse (false sexual allegations, false physical abuse allegations), complex scientific cases involving allegations of DUI and vehicular homicide cases with blood alcohol tests, and any other criminal cases that demand jury trial experience.

Steve has unique experience handling numerous high-publicity cases that have garnered national attention.

For more information about Steve and his law firm, visit Palmer Legal Defense.

Copyright 2025 Stephen E. Palmer - Attorney At Law

Mentioned in this episode:

Circle 270 Media Podcast Consultants

Circle 270 Media® is a podcast consulting firm based in Columbus, Ohio, specializing in helping businesses develop, launch, and optimize podcasts as part of their marketing strategy. The firm emphasizes the importance of storytelling through podcasting to differentiate businesses and engage with their audiences effectively. www.circle270media.com