October Term 2016 · Docket 16-327
Does a guilty plea require proof of actual deportation risk?
Jae Lee claims his lawyer wrongly told him a plea would not trigger deportation. The government argues he must prove he would have gone to trial.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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
Lee's lawyer argued competent counsel would have avoided removal.
The government argued Lee accepted the plea despite the risk.
Justices debated whether the test for prejudice is subjective.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 18-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 52-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 8-18
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Jae Lee accepted a plea deal based on his lawyer's advice. He claims this advice was wrong and caused his removal. The government disputes the standard for proving this error.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 18-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 4-8
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 28, 2017.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 22-30
What each side wants
Lee wants a new trial or a different plea deal.
The government wants to keep the conviction and removal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 18-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 4-8
What each side says
Lee argues his lawyer's error forced a bad outcome.
The government argues Lee must prove he would have rejected the plea.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 18-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 4-8
What the justices asked
Justice Roberts asked if the test is subjective.
Justice Kennedy asked if lawyers must advise on deportation risks.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 52-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 8-18
Why it matters
This case defines how courts judge lawyer errors in plea deals. It affects how defendants weigh immigration risks before pleading guilty. It sets the standard for proving prejudice in these claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 18-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 4-8
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 40-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 52-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 8-18
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 3, lines 18-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 18-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 18-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 4-8
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.