Ex Parte Nelson Earl Williams

Summary

The Court held that the trial court’s voluntary admonishment that probation would be granted created a duty to accurately inform the defendant of probation eligibility; because the admonishment was inaccurate and the defendant relied on it, his guilty plea was involuntary and the habeas corpus petition was granted, remanding the case for further proceedings. Justice Teague dissented, arguing the conviction should stand, while Justices Onion and Clinton concurred in part, criticizing the majority’s expansion of the admonishment requirement.