October Term 2018 · Docket 17-1026
Does a guilty plea waiver bar a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel?
The dispute centers on whether a defendant can challenge a guilty plea waiver for ineffective assistance of counsel.
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
Mr. Kedem stated that a prejudice inquiry identifies judgments to reopen.
Justice Sotomayor asked what a defense attorney generally does first when a client wants to appeal.
Justice Ginsburg noted the plea agreement gave fewer years than the law allowed.
Mr. Ali cited a unanimous Court holding that disregarding an appeal instruction is ineffective assistance.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 10-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 10-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-10 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 25-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 26-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 26-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 24-29 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 24-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-24 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 28-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 28-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 32-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 32-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-24 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-26 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 16-19
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Garza v. Idaho
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 26-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 26-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-24 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-24
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 30, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-26 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-26
What each side wants
the side that brought the case seeks reinstatement of the right to appeal.
the opposing side seeks to enforce the appeal waiver in the plea agreement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 26-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 26-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-24 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-24
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that disregarding an instruction to appeal renders assistance ineffective.
the opposing side argues that the waiver bars the claim of ineffective assistance.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 26-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 26-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-24 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-24
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the issue falls within the appeal waiver scope.
Justice Alito asked if violating the waiver breaks the plea bargain by the defendant.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 10-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 10-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-10 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 25-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 24-29 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 24-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-24 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 28-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 28-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 32-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 32-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-26 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 16-19
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of appeal waivers in guilty pleas. It determines whether defendants can challenge counsel's performance after pleading guilty. The outcome affects the finality of criminal judgments. It impacts the balance between plea deal stability and constitutional rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 26-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 26-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-24 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-24
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 10-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 10-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-10 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 25-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 24-29 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 24-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-24 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 28-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 28-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 32-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 32-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-26 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 16-19
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 36, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 26-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 26-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-24 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 26-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 26-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-24 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-24
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.