Trial judges must caution non-citizen defendants that they may be deported before allowing them to plead guilty to a felony

ALBANY - Trial judges must caution non-citizen defendants that they may be deported before allowing them to plead guilty to a felony, the state's highest court has ruled for the first time.

In a landmark decision, the 5-2 majority on the Court of Appeals said its ruling Tuesday recognizes the "uniquely devastating deprivation of liberty" involved when a person faces deportation from the United States and the obligation of the courts to ensure that immigrants are aware of what is at stake should they be convicted.

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