Rule 33.9 Determining Accuracy of Plea

Before a judge finalizes a guilty plea, the judge must make sure the facts actually support the crime the person is pleading guilty to. The judge cannot just take someone's word for it. There has to be a real basis for the guilty plea, and that check must happen on the record in open court.

This protects people from pleading guilty to something they did not actually do. For example, if someone admits guilt but the facts they describe do not match the crime they are charged with, the judge should not accept the plea. The judge is required to ask enough questions to confirm the plea makes sense based on what actually happened.