Can a guilty plea be challenged after sentencing, and under what basis?

A guilty plea can generally be challenged after sentencing when there are claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. This means that if a defendant alleges that their attorney did not perform competently and that this incompetence had a significant impact on the decision to plead guilty, the plea may be subject to being overturned. This framework is rooted in the Sixth Amendment, which guarantees the right to assistance of counsel. If a defendant can demonstrate that their legal counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that this deficient performance affected the outcome of the plea, the court may allow the plea to be contested.

The other options do not accurately reflect the legal standards regarding challenging a guilty plea post-sentencing. For example, alleging a lack of evidence is usually not a valid ground for contesting a plea after sentencing because a guilty plea is an admission of guilt and waives the right to contest the underlying evidence. Additionally, the idea that a plea cannot be contested once sentenced is inaccurate, as there are recognized avenues for post-conviction relief, including challenges based on ineffective assistance. Furthermore, stating that a plea cannot be attacked under any circumstances overlooks the allowances for procedural errors, coercion, or other significant issues that could warrant a challenge.