Legal Definitions - manifest injustice

Definition: Manifest injustice refers to a mistake made during a trial that is clear, obvious, and can be easily seen. This can include situations where a defendant pleads guilty but did so involuntarily or based on a plea agreement that the prosecution later takes back.

• A defendant is coerced into pleading guilty by their lawyer, who threatens to quit if they don't.
• A prosecutor promises a defendant a reduced sentence in exchange for their guilty plea, but then goes back on their word and seeks a harsher punishment.

These examples illustrate how manifest injustice can occur when a defendant's rights are violated or when the legal system fails to uphold its obligations. In both cases, the defendant is not being treated fairly and the outcome of the trial is unjust.