Appeal waivers and lawyer conflicts
Richardson Bien Aime v. United States
In brief
- Where it stands
- Petition Pending
Awaiting an order on the petition
- What it’s about
- Richardson Bien Aime’s petition asks the Supreme Court to review whether a plea agreement term waiving an appeal of his sentence prevents him from appealing a claim that his sentencing lawyer was ineffective, and whether the judge had to check for a conflict before accepting the plea.
- What's at stake
- Whether Bien Aime can raise his claim and whether the judge had to ask about a conflict remain unresolved.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
A sentence-appeal waiver is a plea-agreement term in which a defendant gives up the right to appeal a sentence.
Question presented
1. Whether a sentence appeal waiver provision contained in a plea agreement clearly precludes the defendant from raising a claim of ineffective assistance of sentencing counsel on direct appeal? 2. If so, whether the waiver creates a clear conflict of interest between a defendant and his counsel such that the district court is required to inquire into the conflict before accepting the plea agreement?
What happens next
The Court must decide whether to hear the case. No argument date or decision timing is set.
Documents
Docket activity
Case data updated: title
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
Case data updated: question_presented, extraction_metadata
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Brief added: Petition
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.