Document: 429 U.S. 545 97 S.Ct. 837 51 L.Ed.2d 30 Jack M. WEATHERFORD, etc., et al., Petitioners,v.Brett Allen BURSEY. No. 75-1510. Argued Dec. 7, 1976. Decided Feb. 22, 1977. Syllabus Respondent and petitioner Weatherford (hereinafter petitioner), an undercover agent, were arrested for a state criminal offense, each thereafter retaining separate counsel. Petitioner had two pretrial meetings with respondent respondent's counsel, who sought petitioner's presence the purpose of securing information or suggestions as to defense. no discussions concerning trial strategy pending action either his superiors prosecution. (who told he would not be prosecution witness) testified prosecution, which on morning decided call witness because been seen in company police officers thus lost effectiveness agent. was convicted. After served sentence, brought this against under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that participation deprived effective assistance counsel violation Sixth Fourteenth Amendments well right fair guaranteed by Due Process Clause Amendment. The District Court found petitioner. Appeals, without disturbing Court's factual findings, reversed, concluding "whenever knowingly arranges permits intrusion into attorney-client relationship is sufficiently endangered require reversal new trial," concealment status lulled false sense security, interfering preparations denying him due process law Brady v. Maryland, 373 83, 83 1194, 10 215. Held: 1. Amendment, does establish per se rule forbidding agent meet defendant's Black United States, 385 26, 87 190, 17 26; O'Brien 386 345, 1158, 18 94; Hoffa 293, 408, 374, distinguished. Pp. 550-559. (a) As long possessed about remained uncommunicated, posed threat Amendment rights. 554-557. (b) went meetings, spy, but asked State interested maintaining informant arousing suspicions. Adoption Appeals' all practical purposes have required unmask himself. 557-558. 2. must reveal before names agents other witnesses will testify unfavorably 559-561. There constitutional discovery case, Brady, supra, did create one. P. 559. That only concealed identity represented deny trial. misrepresentation deliberate, there difference between surprise testimony informer suspected therefore testifying who, like petitioner, defendant denies testify. 560. (c) Though Appeals also suggested continued duplicity denied opportunity plea bargain, bargain. 560-561. 528 F.2d 483, reversed. Joseph Crouch Coleman, Grand Junction, Colo., petitioners. Andrew L. Frey, Washington, D.C., amicus curiae, special leave Court. Laughlin McDonald, Atlanta, Ga., respondent. Mr. Justice WHITE delivered opinion 1 issue here whether circumstances present case conduct enforcement agency Bursey States Constitution 2 * This began when filed suit 1983 petitioners Strom, respectively head South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, asserting defendants certain tried jury. following facts are taken from disturbed Appeals. 3 During early hours March 20, 1970, Weatherford, along others, vandalized offices Richland County Selective Service Columbia, S. C. Police advised incident order maintain capability working current matters capacity, charged Bursey. immediately released bond and, continuing masquerade, retained attorney, Frank Taylor, Sr. Bursey, later bond, own Rauch Wise. 4 On occasions prior trial, met Wise, approaching discussed. With respect these follows: 5 "On neither seek plaintiff occasion initiate ask meeting. He plaintiff's attorney effort obtain information, ideas From beginning severance plaintiff. upon ground might prejudiced going codefendant, Bursey's reputation activities covered news media. question granting severance, nor they seem concern themselves prosecutor consent although such quite unusual where codefendants same crime proof based identical facts. At those plaintiff, raised possible being used prove never if specifically informer, since accused." App. 248-249. 6 time discuss pass prosecuting any attorney's staff "any details regarding plans, strategy, anything having do plaintiff." Id., at 249. Until day plan use witness. Consequently, until then, expected anticipated work. However, some weeks preceding officers, called gave eyewitness account events 1970. took stand, convicted, then disappeared apprehended years later, incarcerated forced serve 18-month sentence. 7 action, communicated officials defense strategies plans learned thereby depriving entitled respects entered judgment accordingly. 8 Fourth Circuit 483 (1975), "on district court rights violated." 486. held trial." Ibid. occurred prevent revealing Weatherford's immaterial. thought himself "a member prosecution," id., 487, it immaterial informed what said done 9 In addition, concluded 215 (1963), statement witness, security interfered remand further proceedings allowed Strom qualified immunity Wood Strickland, 420 308, 95 992, 43 214 (1975). We granted petition certiorari Attorney General. 426 946, 96 3165, 49 1183 (1976). reverse. II 11 exact contours right-to-counsel difficult discern; applied appear meets awaiting forthcoming discussed agent's identity, has occurred, whatever attending meeting, reported meeting superiors, specific prejudice preparation demonstrated otherwise threatened. view, F.2d, 486, "establish(ed) rule" 26 (1966), 94 (1967). relied 374 (1966). 12 cannot agree cases, individually together, suggest announced now urged Both involved surreptitious electronic surveillance Government, discovered after conviction plainly illegal Amendment.1 some, all, conversations overheard during preparation. set aside ordered. explanatory curiam Black, referring whenever violated had. Indeed, even mentioned short opinion. Solicitor General conceded "judicial determination" "the monitoring (Black) (any) effect fairness contended derived way Memorandum O.T. 1965, 1029, p. (emphasis added). focused particular form should take, more appropriate means affording "an protect evidence inadmissible." U.S., 29, S.Ct., 192 O'Brien, wrote nothing further, merely citing curiam. Once again oppose judicial determine notwithstanding assertion contents attorneys. Brief 1966, 823, pp. 10-12. 13 It believe evolving definitive construction identifying interpreting, especially view well-established grounds excluding fruits surveillance.2 If inferred cases overheard, constitutionality depends produced, directly indirectly, offered far cry below, deemed irrelevant. Here, courts below already conducted determination," lacking conviction, their findings record indicate "use 14 Neither decision support proposition There, sat lawyers others course Hoffa's charge violating Taft-Hartley Act. jury hung. tampering latter hotel suite including, however, sustained jury-tampering over claim, among violated. 15 doing so, hold subsumes free informers counsel-client consultations. Nor purport describe right. assumed, deciding, Columbia dealing Caldwell 92 U.S.App.D.C. 355, 205 879 (1953), Coplon 89 103, 191 749 (1951), correctly decided;3 assumed convicted first conversing authorities substance least conversations; informer's touch dealt third parties present. 307-308, 416. Hoffa, we cited furnishes interpretation application appearing judgment. 16 time, need converses party confederate ally, assumes risk complain turns out government testifies them Had conversation Wise; State's originated substantial detriment Bursey; Bursey-Wise preparations, much stronger case.4 None elements here, however. April 1970 revealed Wise attended.5 Government's obtained consequence meetings. Nevertheless, argued dutiful surely prosecutors efforts prepare inherently detrimental unfairly advantaged threatened subvert adversary system justice. argument founders express finding upcoming 249, 252. disturb finding, surmount declaring team whose knowledge alone enough violate vitiate conviction. 487. imaginative, reasoning realistic assessment potential benefit uncommunicated pose. fact was, Court, anyone else, unconvinced claim made out. 19 consistent approach case. several attorneys, necessary deal noting Government 305-306, 415. federal so prone lie difficulties great always assume communicates learns encounter prosecutor's 20 Moreover, situation learn could instructed intrude lawyer-client task acted found, all; invited apparently lawyer. 248. went, services avoid raising suspicion existence suspected. 21 adopted operate prophylactically effectively very likely true; refuse participate though invited, Our recognized unfortunate necessity work value often enforcement. E. g., Russell, 411 423, 432, 93 1637, 1643, 36 366 (1973); Lewis 206, 208-209, 424, 425-426 desirability legality secrecy arrest. Roviaro 353 53, 59, 62, 77 623, 627, 628, 639 (1957). general oversight authority investigations. may disapprove investigatory practice violates Constitution; judged light, cuts too broadly. If, example, invitation attended become suspicious confined weather harmless subjects, rule, literally read, cloud subsequent violation. true informant, it, ended; likewise entire consisted Wise's questions answers plans. Also, cogently purposes, unless created possibility injury State, can Yet appeal. 22 tainted communication purposeful insofar applicable virtue fell making affirmed respect. 23 apparent added claim. related referred indication prompted product damaging, mere lawyer than informant's rendered inadmissible connection conversations. III 24 Because "duty clause insure 'criminal trials fair' disclosing favorable request," constitutionally forbidden "conceal preparation," permit "deny up through appearance defendant," "testify devastating effect." conduct, thought, (1) consider bargaining best course, (2) background check cross-examination, (3) attempt counter impact identification." arrived conclusion ever 25 Again disagreement. warrant holding. follow prohibition concealing accused unfavorably. one; recently, little say amount afforded. . ." Wardius Oregon, 412 470, 474, 2208, 2212, 37 82 (1973). implicated terms changed materially additional element namely, proved inaccurate. contention crucial importance. deliberate regard: expect witness; know Second, understand argument, once successfully caused arrest, risks causing unfair asked. hesitate construe Clause. convinced trusted nevertheless surprises giving testimony, so. confess confronted defendant, many simply disappear confrontation occurs. last analysis stays place continues deception retains capacity surprise; unexpected is, more, denial rights, 27 But bargain; prefers go novel infringed trying rather accepting guilty. approached misapprehension plight investigate impeachment cross-examination. objection request continuance, occurrence. claimed disability "devastating" disadvantage exists presents damaging anticipated. realized confident exculpatory defenses existed extremely wise available. Prudence counseled much. Reversed.6 28 MARSHALL, whom BRENNAN joins, dissenting. 29 easy minimize significance incursion sanctions today. observes, intent spy; meetings; develop while obnoxious thing its mildest repulsive illegitimate unconstitutional practices get footing way, silent approaches slight deviations legal modes procedure." Boyd 116 616, 635, 524, 535, L.Ed. 746 (1886). I join providing narrowest openings spying communications. actually independent values jeopardized governmental intrusions private communications lawyers. First, integrity undermined surreptitiously acquires (or lack it), (1973), clear afforded speak balance forces accuser." 2212. requires "be two-way street." 31 "The insist run 'search truth' concerned, 'poker game' witnesses. fundamentally divulge subjecting hazard refutation pieces disclosed State." 475-476, 32 statute compelling provide concerns seeks force law, invasions deceit. 33 Of equal concern, incursions confidential threaten defendants' Only Term encompasses confer one's Geders 425 80, 1330, 47 592 See Reynolds Cochran, 365 525, 531, 81 723, 726, 754 (1961); Hawk Olson, 326 271, 278, 66 116, 120, 90 61 (1945); Avery Alabama, 308 444, 446, 60 321, 322, 84 377 (1940); Powell 287 45, 57, 53 55, 158 (1932). "(a)s matter, client knows readily disclosure absence disclosure, reluctant confide fully advice." Fisher 391, 403, 1569, 1577, 48 39 Nobles, 422 225, 238-239, 2160, 2170, 45 141 For reason, essence privacy counsel." Rosner, 485 1213, 1224 (CA2 1973), cert. denied, 417 950, 3080, 41 672 (1974). See, e. (1953); (1951); Louie Yung F.Supp. 702, 703 (Idaho 1934); cf., re Rider, 50 Cal.App. 797, 195 965 (1920); Thomas Mills, 117 Ohio St. 114, 157 N.E. 488 (1927); ex rel. Tucker Davis, Okl.Cr. 94, 130 962 (1913); Turner 91 Tex.Cr.R. 241 S.W. 162 (1922); Annot., A.L.R.3d 1360 34 today concludes act intercept defense, uncovered transmitted detriment. respectfully disagree. my "balance accuser" sharply skewed favor accuser government's key permitted discover intercepting communications, position formulate advance shade defenses.1 Furthermore, dangers deterred exercising communicate candidly impunity prosecutor.2 And establishes lawyer, definition invaded attends reviewed.3 35 unintended undisclosed interceptions witness-employees affect still upholding practice. precious stake "breathing space survive," NAACP Button, 371 415, 433, 328, 338, 405 prophylactic sort essential. A offers relief "intent" "disclosure" fear, better all. Establishing desire factor keep cover seldom possible, argue plausibly sole continue enjoy legitimate Proving equally difficult, admit wrongdoing (and open door damages suits attacks convictions), failure make report overhearing session oftentimes communicating surprising uncovered.4 Given problems proof, assure feel prohibit absent justification so.5 Like unlike majority today, supported, compelled, our decisions both intercepted devices installed crimes unrelated 2; 10-11. relayed prosecutors, maintained none surveillance, "which presentation 4. stated concerned bail, 11. hearing trials. 5; 12. rejected instead remanded To "when ante, 552, twists beyond recognition.6 precisely principle dissenters, 30-31, (Harlan, J., dissenting); 346-347, 1159 dissenting), By vacating convictions produced activity kind automatically vitiates occurring span activity," 31, 193 precludes retrial. Rather retreating reaffirm affirm Silverman 505, 679, 734 (1961), eavesdropping accomplished listening device similar "tubular microphone" overhear Black's O'Brien's constituted unauthorized physical penetration petitioners' premises prosecution's interception persons attorneys involving indicating awareness illegality n. 1, supra. telephone messages her assistant frequently "many connected impending U.S.App.D.C., 356, 880 (footnote omitted). conceded, "if places camp receives privileged pertaining charges Amendment's assistance-of-counsel guarantee meaningfully implemented lawful secure government, proceeding." 32, 71, quoted Amicus Curiae instant 13. argues established standard surveillance. Even apart assuming see 553, find questionable. One lies inhibition exchanges fear overheard. turn inhibit lesser degree eavesdropping, former avoided refraining divulging ability exclude eliminate chilling exchanges, supports theory chill induced agents. Cf. 402-405, 1576-1577, (1976) (attorney-client privilege protects disclosures privilege, encourage attorney); J. Wigmore, Evidence 2311, 601-602 (McNaughton rev. ed. 1961) generally protected privilege). 225-240 (testimony trial). cross-examination (Bursey's lawyer), acknowledged second response latter's questions, anticipate elicited discrediting direct examination, obviously constitute attendance Whatever limitations informants statements them, introducing undercut actions, reverse holding superior, liable involvement activities. entrapment whoever admitted planned role emphasize predisposition. hand, reconstruct mind commit Orman, 1126, 1137 (Colo.1976). suggests, 555 4, when, indicted exclusion practicable; other's joinder prejudicial, cf. Fed.Rule Crim.Proc. 14. interdependence codefendants, remain codefendant attorney. Attorney-Client Privilege Multiple Party Situations, Colum.J.Law & Soc.Problems 179 (1972). relevant recover, acknowledged. 487 (CA4 1975). No liability. privy acquiescence meant suspect him. life ongoing investigations compromised given committed, July 27, began. contrary, felt protection 107, suggests danger time. Chief Division "anything particular" 125. Indeed "wasn't concerned" losing breaking "his known anyway." 124. Thus arresting indicting manufacturing story postpone months date assigned again. alternative suggestion, 551-552, unpersuasive. briefs issue, 4; Supplemental 6, violation, 3-4; 7-20. mention narration makes primary 27-28, 190-191. decided, another taint because, "(u)nlike situations discussions." 387 231, 233, 1583, 1584, 738 Wolff McDonnell, 418 539, 576, 2963, 2984, 935 (1974) (White, J.) (citing cases); 307, 416 (1966) case).

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