Rule 15.03 - Alternative Methods in Misdemeanor and Gross Misdemeanor CasesSubd. 1.Group Warnings. The judge may advise a number of defendants at once as to their constitutional rights as specified in Rule 15.02, subd. 1, questions 2 through 5 above, and as to the consequences of a plea. The court must first determine whether any defendant is disabled in communication. If so, the court must provide the services of a qualified interpreter to that defendant and should provide the warnings contemplated by this rule to that defendant individually. The judge's statement in a group warning must be recorded and each defendant when called before the court must be asked whether the defendant heard and understood the statement. The defendant must then be questioned on the record as to the remaining matters specified in Rule 15.02.
Subd. 2.Petition to Plead Guilty. As an alternative to the defendant personally appearing in court, the defendant or defense counsel may file with the court a petition to plead guilty. The petition must be signed by the defendant indicating that the defendant is pleading guilty to the specified misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor offense with the understanding and knowledge required of defendants personally entering a guilty plea under Rule 15.02.