Garza v. Idaho
A plain-English summary from Criminal Defense Resources™, a free resource for pro per/pro se defendants and their families.
General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. This page describes what a court decided in general terms. It does not tell you what to do in any case.
- Court
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Decided
- Citation
- 586 U.S. 232 (2019)
What did the court decide?
The Court held that when a lawyer ignores a defendant's instruction to file a notice of appeal, harm is presumed, even if the defendant signed a plea agreement that waived some appeal rights.
Why does it matter?
Appeal deadlines are short. This case shows how seriously courts treat a defendant's request to appeal.
Where can I read the full opinion?
Read the full opinion on Cornell Law School LII →
Always read the full opinion and check whether later cases have limited or changed it. A summary can leave out important details.
Related rulings
General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm.