No. 20-363October Term 2020Decided Apr 19, 2021Updated Apr 19, 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
- 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.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity2
Opinion added: Opinion
Apr 19, 2021 | Court records
Brief added: Petition
Sep 8, 2020 | Court records
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Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology