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GODINEZ v. MORAN

No. 92-725.

509 U.S. 389 (1993)

113 S.Ct. 2680

125 L.Ed.2d 321

GODINEZ, WARDEN v. MORAN

Supreme Court of United States.

Decided June 24, 1993.

Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

David F. Sarnowski, Chief Deputy Attorney General of Nevada, argued the cause for petitioner. With him on the brief were Frankie Sue Del Papa, Attorney General, and Brooke A. Nielsen, Assistant Attorney General.

Amy L. Wax argued the cause for the United States as amicus curiae urging reversal. With her on the brief were Acting Solicitor General Bryson, Acting Assistant Attorney General Keeney, and Joel M. Gershowitz.

Cal J. Potter III, by appointment of the Court, 506 U.S. 1046, argued the cause for respondent. With him on the brief was Edward M. Chikofsky.*

Thomas, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Rehnquist, C. J., and White, O'Connor, and Souter, JJ., joined, and in Parts I, II-B, and III of which Scalia and Kennedy, JJ., joined. Kennedy, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which Scalia, J., joined, p. 402. Blackmun, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Stevens, J., joined, p. 409.

Justice Thomas, delivered the opinion of the Court.

This case presents the question whether the competency standard for pleading guilty or waiving the right to counsel is higher than the competency standard for standing trial. We hold that it is not.

I

On August 2, 1984, in the early hours of the morning, respondent entered the Red Pearl Saloon in Las Vegas, Nevada, and shot the bartender and a patron four times each with an automatic pistol. He...

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