Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
In Re Manuel Walters
IFP petition
Pending
Question presented
- Weather Denial Of Critical Stage Counsel Is A Structural Error Not Subject To State Bar And Had Florida Acted In The Interest Of Justice Walters Would Have Been Provided Relief. Plea negotiation is a critical stage and Walters was unrepresented when it was offered in open court because defense counsel absented himself from the proceedings. "[P]lea bargaining stage is a critical one." Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356, 373, 130 S. Ct. 1473 (2010) ("[W]e have long recognized that the negotiation of a plea bargain is a critical phase of litigation for purposes of the Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel." (citing Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 57, 106 S. Ct. 366 (1985); Missouri v. Frye, 566 U.S. 134, 144, 132 S. Ct. 1399 (2012) ("In today's criminal justice system . . . the negotiation of a plea bargain, rather than the unfolding of a trial, is almost always the critical point for a defendant. . . . (quoting Massiah v. United States, 377 U.S. 201, 204, 84 S. Ct. 1199 (1964).
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Manuel Walters
For respondent
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Case
Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference
Proceedings
- Aug 13 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/28/2026.
- Mar 26 2026Petition for writ of habeas corpus and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed.