Hunter v. United States · ¶101

Waivers in plea agreements are strictly enforced. In San tobello v. New York, 404 U. S. 257 (1971), the State waived its right to make a sentencing recommendation as part of the defendant's guilty plea. Id., at 258. But, the State recommended the statutory maximum at sentencing anyway, and the trial judge imposed the statutory maximum sentence. Id., at 259–260. On appeal, this Court held that the defendant should either be free to “withdraw his plea of guilty” or be entitled to “specific performance of the agreement,” meaning a new sentencing in which the State kept its promise. Id., at 263. Likewise, in Ricketts v. Adamson, 483 U. S. 1 (1987), the defendant agreed to plead guilty to second- degree murder and testify against his co-conspirators in exchange for the State's promise to drop a first-degree murder charge. Id., at 3. The defendant was sentenced for second- degree murder. Id.,…

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