Henderson v. Morgan
United States Supreme Court
426 U.S. 637 (1976)
If the defendant is not advised of a significant element of the offense with which he is charged, a guilty plea is not knowing and voluntary under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.
Relevant Facts
Morgan (the defendant) was confined in an institution at a young age after being labeled “retarded”. Upon release, the defendant went to work on Ada Francisco’s farm. An argument ensued, and the defendant and Francisco got into an altercation in which the defendant stabbed Francisco to death. The defendant was charged with first-degree murder and was offered a plea deal of 25 years imprisonment in exchange for a guilty plea to second-degree murder, which the defendant accepted. However, the defendant’s attorney failed to clarify the intent required for second-degree murder, and the judge failed to explain the elements of the offense and failed to ask whether the defendant was advised of the elements. The defendant challenged the validity of his guilty plea, claiming that he would not have pleaded guilty if he knew that intent to cause the victim’s death was an element of second-degree murder.
Issue
Get access to our database of over 17,000+ case briefs today. Access our issue statements for every case you'll encounter in law school for a low monthly price. The largest database on the internet is now available with Lawwly, the central legal hub. Use our case briefs to comprehend your casebook readings in seconds, to supplement your notes and outlines, and to outshine your classmates. No one has a more comprehensive case brief database than Lawwly. All of our briefs are handwritten by real legal experts and law professors and our stringent editing process ensures you'll get the best quality briefs available.
Holding & Reasoning
Get access to our database of over 17,000+ case briefs today. Access holding & reasonings for every case you'll encounter in law school for a low monthly price. The largest database on the internet is now available with Lawwly, the central legal hub. Use our case briefs to comprehend your casebook readings in seconds, to supplement your notes and outlines, and to outshine your classmates. No one has a more comprehensive case brief database than Lawwly. All of our briefs are handwritten by real legal experts and law professors and our stringent editing process ensures you'll get the best quality briefs available.
Concurrence
Get access to our database of over 17,000+ case briefs today. Access all available concurrences for every case you'll encounter in law school for a low monthly price. The largest database on the internet is now available with Lawwly, the central legal hub. Use our case briefs to comprehend your casebook readings in seconds, to supplement your notes and outlines, and to outshine your classmates. No one has a more comprehensive case brief database than Lawwly. All of our briefs are handwritten by real legal experts and law professors and our stringent editing process ensures you'll get the best quality briefs available.
Dissent
Get access to our database of over 17,000+ case briefs today. Access all available dissents for every case you'll encounter in law school for a low monthly price. The largest database on the internet is now available with Lawwly, the central legal hub. Use our case briefs to comprehend your casebook readings in seconds, to supplement your notes and outlines, and to outshine your classmates. No one has a more comprehensive case brief database than Lawwly. All of our briefs are handwritten by real legal experts and law professors and our stringent editing process ensures you'll get the best quality briefs available.
Last updated:
December 22, 2020
Judicial Opinion
Get access to our database of over 17,000 case briefs today. Our database of judicial opinions will be released soon, for free!
Procedural History
Get access to our database of over 17,000+ case briefs today. Access the entire procedural history for every case you'll encounter in law school for a low monthly price. The largest database on the internet is now available with Lawwly, the central legal hub. Use our case briefs to comprehend your casebook readings in seconds, to supplement your notes and outlines, and to outshine your classmates. No one has a more comprehensive case brief database than Lawwly. All of our briefs are handwritten by real legal experts and law professors and our stringent editing process ensures you'll get the best quality briefs available.
Citations
426 U.S. 637 (1976)