The Court holds that a trial judge may bar a testifying criminal defendant's lawyers from discussing his ongoing testimony for its own sake during an overnight recess, so long as the order leaves them free to discuss other protected topics such as trial strategy and a possible plea. Such a qualified conferral order does not violate the Sixth Amendment right to counsel.
CASE: Villarreal v. Texas
AUTHOR: Jackson, J.
DECIDED: 2026-02-25
OPINION: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/607us2r16_869c.pdf
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