Supreme Court Limits Appeal Waivers in Plea Agreements
8 reported
The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday in Hunter v. United States that appeal waivers in plea agreements are unenforceable when they would result in a miscarriage of justice. Justice Elena Kagan wrote the majority opinion, joined by seven colleagues, defining a miscarriage of justice as "the kind of egregious error that would bring the judicial system into disrepute." The case involves Munson P. Hunter III, who pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting wire fraud in February 2024 after facing nine other felony charges. At sentencing, Judge Sim Lake considered dropped charges, leading to a 51-month prison term instead of the 15-21 months Hunter would have faced based on his admitted theft of $38,649. Hunter also objected to a supervised release condition requiring him to take mental health medications. The 5th Circuit had barred his appeal due to the waiver, but the Supreme Court allowed him to argue that forced medication qualifies as a miscarriage of justice.
What’s reported
The Supreme Court ruled appeal waivers are unenforceable if they result in a miscarriage of justice.
Justice Elena Kagan authored the majority opinion, joined by seven justices.
Munson P. Hunter III pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting wire fraud in February 2024.
Hunter faced up to 300 years in prison and a $10 million fine if convicted of all 10 original charges.
At sentencing, Judge Sim Lake considered dropped charges, resulting in a 51-month sentence instead of 15-21 months.
Hunter was ordered to participate in a mental-health treatment program and take prescribed medications as a condition of supervised release.
Justice Neil Gorsuch's concurring opinion, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, noted that around 95 percent of convictions are based on guilty pleas.
Justice Clarence Thomas was the only justice who did not agree with the result.
Key figures
Justice Elena Kagan
Justice Neil Gorsuch
Justice Sonia Sotomayor
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
Justice Clarence Thomas
Munson P. Hunter III
Judge Sim Lake
Sources: reason.com
