October Term 2011 · Docket 10-444
Does a lawyer's failure to relay a plea offer require a new trial?
Galin Frye claims his lawyer ignored a plea deal. The state argues he still chose to plead guilty.
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
Mr. Queener stated Frye pleaded guilty to a felony charge.
He noted the lawyer failed to inform Frye of a misdemeanor offer.
Mr. Koster argued Frye would have insisted on going to trial.
He claimed Frye knowingly waived his right to a trial.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Galin Frye pleaded guilty to a felony. He claims his lawyer hid a misdemeanor plea offer. The state says he knowingly waived his trial rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 31, 2011.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
What each side wants
Frye wants a new trial or resentencing based on the lost plea offer.
Missouri wants the guilty plea to stand because Frye admitted guilt.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
What each side says
Frye argues his lawyer's error deprived him of a better outcome.
Missouri argues Frye would have insisted on trial even with the offer.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked about the specific dates of Frye's offenses.
Chief Justice Roberts questioned why defendants might rush to accept plea deals early.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-7
Why it matters
This case defines how courts handle uncommunicated plea offers. It sets the standard for proving lawyer error caused harm. It impacts how defendants evaluate plea negotiations against trial risks.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
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 3, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-7
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 18, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
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.