No. 19-8083October Term 2019Decided Apr 20, 2020Updated Sep 3, 2026
Washington v. Mississippi
The Court declined review, leaving the Mississippi Supreme Court's result in place without deciding the underlying constitutional questions.
Case status
Decided · April 20, 2020
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Apr 20, 2020
- What it's about
This is a pending case where a petitioner is asking the Supreme Court to review a lower court decision involving the state of Mississippi, while also requesting permission to proceed without paying standard court fees due to financial hardship.
Question presented
1. Whether the Mississippi Supreme Court’s decision, which held that a criminal defendant’s right to be present at all critical stages of his trial is not a fundamental right and can be waived by counsel’s failure to object, is contrary to, or involves an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States? 2. Whether the Mississippi Supreme Court’s decision, which held that a criminal defendant’s right to be present at all critical stages of his trial is not a fundamental right and can be waived by counsel’s failure to object, is based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding?
- Case path
Supreme Court of Mississippi / Decision released Apr 20, 2020
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Decision
What the Court decided
The Court declined review, leaving the Mississippi Supreme Court's result in place without deciding the underlying constitutional questions.
Impact
The lower-court result remains in place for Washington. For example, a Mississippi defendant who says counsel failed to object to an absence from a key trial proceeding faces the same state-court rule.
Not official Court text.
Briefing
What it's about
The Supreme Court declined to review Antwune Washington's challenge to a Mississippi court decision about a criminal defendant's right to be present at critical stages of trial. The Court did not decide the merits of that legal question.
Impact
The lower-court result remains in place for Washington. For example, a Mississippi defendant who says counsel failed to object to an absence from a key trial proceeding faces the same state-court rule.
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished this docket action. Washington's case remains governed by the lower-court result.
What did the Supreme Court do in Washington v. Mississippi?
The Court declined to review the case. It did not decide whether Mississippi's rule about a defendant's presence at trial was constitutional.
Who is affected by the Washington v. Mississippi outcome?
Washington is affected because the Mississippi Supreme Court's result remains in place. Other Mississippi criminal defendants may face the same state-court approach.
What happens next in Washington v. Mississippi?
The Supreme Court has finished its docket action. The lower-court result continues to govern Washington's case.
Timing
Decided April 20, 2020
The Court released its decision on April 20, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity2
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
Sep 3, 2026 | Generated
Brief added: Petition
Jan 16, 2020 | Court records
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Sep 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology