Supreme Court Explains Contours of Sixth Amendment’s Right to Counsel in Villarreal v. Texas
The Sixth Amendment has long guaranteed a criminal defendant the right “to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.” But what does that right entail in practice—particularly when a defendant takes the witness stand in his own defense? And by taking the witness stand, what limitations, if any, exist with respect to his right to have assistance of counsel during his testimony? In a 9-0 decision in Villarreal v. Texas, the Supreme Court justices agreed that a trial judge can constitutionally prohibit a defendant and defense counsel from conferring…
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