Criminal Plea Withdrawal Amendments

SB 286 amends Utah’s criminal plea withdrawal rules to clarify when defendants can withdraw guilty or no contest pleas. It requires defendants to file a motion following Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 11 (replacing outdated timing rules for pleas held in abeyance). The bill directly affects defendants seeking to retract their pleas before sentencing, ensuring all requests follow standardized court procedures. Key changes remove prior exceptions for pleas in abeyance and align withdrawal motions with existing criminal procedure rules. The bill takes effect May 7, 2025, with no funding impact.