Holding: When a federal judge participates in plea negotiations, contrary to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(c),the defendant’s guilty plea does not need to be vacated if there is no evidence in the record of prejudice to the defendant’s decision to plead guilty.
Judgment: Vacated and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Ginsburg on June 13, 2013. Justice Scalia filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which Justice Thomas joined.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY