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Estelle v. Williams

425 U.S. 501, 96 S. Ct. 1691, 48 L. Ed. 2d 126 (1976)

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Estelle v. Williams

United States Supreme Court
425 U.S. 501, 96 S. Ct. 1691, 48 L. Ed. 2d 126 (1976)

  • Written by Robert Cane, JD

Facts

Williams (defendant) was convicted of assault. After he was arrested, Williams was unable to post bond, so he remained in custody while awaiting trial. Williams asked an officer at the jail for his civilian clothes for his trial. The request was denied, and Williams appeared at trial in clearly marked prison-issued clothing. Neither Williams nor his counsel raised an objection to the trial court regarding the prison attire. A jury found Williams guilty of assault. Williams’s conviction was affirmed on direct appeal. Williams filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in federal district court. The district court denied the petition, finding that forcing Williams to stand trial in prison clothing was unfair but that the error was harmless. The court of appeals reversed the district court on the issue of harmless error. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Burger, C.J.)

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