Venable submits amicus brief to U.S. Supreme Court on Sixth Amendment rights

On July 22, 2011, Venable partner Widge Devaney and associate Alexandra Megaris, with helpful input from partner John Cooney, prepared and submitted a superb amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf the Constitution Project in companion cases, Missouri v. Frye and Lafler v. Cooper. These cases consider the extent to which the Sixth Amendment requires that criminal defendants be afforded the effective assistance of counsel during the plea bargaining process. Because over 95% of criminal cases country-wide are now resolved by plea, these cases promise to be among the most important of the upcoming term.