United States v. Ruiz

After marijuana was found in Ruiz's (defendant) luggage, prosecutors offered her a fast-track plea deal requiring her to waive her right to receive impeachment information about informants and witnesses and information about possible affirmative defenses, while still promising to disclose any evidence establishing her innocence. Ruiz refused that waiver condition, was indicted, and ultimately pleaded guilty anyway, then unsuccessfully sought the lighter fast-track sentence at sentencing. The Ninth Circuit vacated the sentence, holding the Constitution required disclosure of impeachment information before any guilty plea and barred waiving that right, and the government sought review.