United States v. Gonzalez-Lopez

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In United States v. Gonzalez-Lopez, 126 S. Ct. 2557 (2006), a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court held that a trial court's deprivation of a criminal defendant's choice of counsel entitled him to a reversal of his conviction under the Sixth Amendment.

The Sixth Amendment provides that "[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right ... to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence." The Court had previously held that an element of this right is the right of a defendant who does not require appointed counsel to choose who will represent him.

Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the opinion for the court, joined by four liberal Justices. Four conservative Justices, led by Justice Sam Alito, dissented.