October Term 2010 · Docket 09-658
Does a coerced confession invalidate a guilty plea?
The dispute centers on whether a coerced confession makes a guilty plea unreasonable.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Kroger stated the court of appeals applied Arizona v. Fulminante.
Wax argued Moore established prejudice from his lawyer's failure.
Sotomayor questioned the impact of a suppressible confession on plea reasonableness.
Ginsburg asked if removing the confession improves plea bargain outcomes.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-25
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Premo argues his plea was unreasonable because his lawyer ignored a coerced confession. Moore argues the plea remained reasonable despite the confession.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-51
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 12, 2010.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
Premo wants the plea declared unreasonable due to the coerced confession.
Moore wants the plea upheld as reasonable despite the confession.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-51
What each side says
Premo claims his lawyer failed to recognize the confession was inadmissible.
Moore claims the plea remained reasonable even if the confession was suppressed.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-51
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if a defendant should plead guilty with a suppressible confession.
Justice Ginsburg asked if removing the confession improves plea bargain chances.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-25
Why it matters
This case defines how coerced confessions affect guilty plea validity. It sets the standard for evaluating plea reasonableness. It impacts how courts weigh inadmissible evidence in plea deals.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-51
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-25
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-51
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.