Plain-English summary
To decide scope and limits of appeal waivers and judge’s remarks in sentencing
The Court will decide whether broad appeal waivers in plea agreements can be enforced except for claims of ineffective assistance of counsel or sentences exceeding the statutory maximum, and whether a waiver still applies when a judge tells a defendant they have a right to appeal and the government does not object. The case is set for argument and remains pending.
Why this matters
The decision will affect when defendants can appeal after pleading guilty and signing appeal waivers. It could change how plea deals are negotiated and how judges and prosecutors handle sentencing hearings, with consequences for finality of convictions, plea bargaining practices, and defendants’ appellate rights.
Who may feel it
- Defendants who plead guilty and sign appeal waivers
- Defense lawyers negotiating plea agreements
- Prosecutors who draft and accept plea deals
- District judges who explain rights at sentencing
- Appellate courts that review waiver disputes
Key questions
- Does a general appeal waiver in a plea agreement admit only two exceptions—ineffective assistance of counsel and that the sentence exceeds the statutory maximum—or can other types of claims escape the waiver?