October Term 2017 · Docket 16-8255
Can a lawyer admit guilt against a client's will?
A defendant claims the Constitution bars his lawyer from admitting guilt when he insists on his innocence.
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
Seth Waxman argued the Constitution prohibits lawyers from admitting guilt over a client's objection.
Chief Justice Roberts explored scenarios where a lawyer advises a client on the best defense strategy.
Justice Breyer highlighted the danger of defendants representing themselves in capital cases.
Justice Alito summarized the defense position as prohibiting lawyers from conceding any offense element.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-23
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a lawyer may concede guilt over a client's objection.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 17, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to ban lawyers from admitting guilt against a client's will.
The state wants the Court to allow lawyers to admit guilt to secure a lesser sentence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-7
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the Constitution protects a defendant's right to maintain innocence.
The state argues lawyers must control trial strategy to avoid harsher penalties.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-7
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the rule applies when a lawyer admits guilt.
Justice Breyer questioned the risk of self-representation in death penalty cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-23
Why it matters
This dispute defines the boundary between lawyer strategy and client autonomy in criminal trials.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-7
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 11, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-23
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 32, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-7
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.