The court of appeals affirmed a judgment of the district court. The court held that a defendant’s guilty plea made some two hours after a magistrate judge began a collective, general advisement of rights to a group of defendants at a plea hearing was nonetheless knowing and voluntary.
Ameyalli Escamilla-Rojas, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested and charged with illegal entry. Escamilla-Rojas appeared at a group plea hearing with more than sixty other defendants who had been similarly charged. Escamilla-Rojas’ attorney also represented three other defendants at the hearing. A magistrate judge first advised all the defendants of their rights, the charges, the elements of the offense, and the consequences of a guilty plea. The magistrate judge next individually asked each defendant about those matters.
