No Relief In Speaker Phone Plea Case

The United States Supreme Court reversed a decision of the Seventh Circuit holding that a lawyer’s representation of a criminal client was constitutionally ineffective because the lawyer had participated in the plea hearing by speaker phone. The court entered a per curiam order: “Our own consideration of the merits of telephone practice…is for another day, and this case turns on the recognition that no clearly established law contrary to the state court’s conclusion justifies collateral relief.” (Mike Frisch)