The following excerpt is from Zaragoza v. Stainer, 77 F.3d 491 (9th Cir. 1996):
Generally, a trial court has a duty to ascertain that a guilty plea is voluntary before accepting the plea. Boyken v. Alabama, 89 S.Ct. 1709, 1711 (1969). Because the guilty plea constitutes a waiver of several constitutional rights (e.g. privilege against self incrimination; right to trial by jury; right to confront one's accusers), the inquiry into voluntariness is constitutionally mandated. Id. at 1712.
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