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No. 20-363October Term 2020Decided Apr 19, 2021Updated Apr 19, 2021

Docket 20-363October Term 2020 (2020–2021)

Whatley v. Warden, Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison

This case concerns a state prisoner's claim that his trial lawyer was ineffective for failing to object when he was visibly shackled in front of the jury.

Case status

Decided · April 19, 2021

Read the opinion (PDF)
Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Apr 19, 2021
Case Accepted
Arguments
Decision ReleasedApr 19, 2021
What it's about

This case concerns a state prisoner's claim that his trial lawyer was ineffective for failing to object when he was visibly shackled in front of the jury. The petition argues that the Eleventh Circuit wrongly denied habeas relief by evaluating prejudice without giving weight to the Supreme Court's rule that visible shackling is inherently prejudicial.

Question presented

Does a state court unreasonably apply federal law when, in determining whether a person suffered prejudice as a result of ineffective assistance of counsel, it disregards this Court’s case law recognizing that shackling is inherently prejudicial?

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit / Decision released Apr 19, 2021

Area

Decided Supreme Court case

Timing

Decided April 19, 2021

The Court released its decision on April 19, 2021 without hearing oral argument.

Activity

Docket activity2
  • Opinion added: Opinion

    Apr 19, 2021 | Court records

  • Brief added: Petition

    Sep 8, 2020 | Court records

Grounding

Grounding
Primary-source trail available.
Note
Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
Checked
Jul 25, 2026
Primary materials5