# Opinion Summary: Hunter v. United States | Judicial Review for Pleas that Cause Egregious Errors

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-high-court-report-7304353/opinion-summary-hunter-v-united-states-judicial-review-for-pleas-that-cause-egregious-errors
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-high-court-report-7304353/opinion-summary-hunter-v-united-states-judicial-review-for-pleas-that-cause-egregious-errors.md
Podcast: [The High Court Report](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-high-court-report-7304353)
Published: 2026-06-21T09:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://thehighcourtreport.com//opinion-summary-hunter-v-united-states-judicial-review-for-pleas-that-cause-egregious-errors
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/749abeb7-bf2a-4a7f-918e-7bfcbf86b70c.mp3
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Duration seconds: 927

## Resource

Hunter v. United States | Case No. 24-1063 | Docket Link: Here | Argued: 03/03/2026 | Decided: 06/18/2026 Overview: A plea deal's appeal waiver collides with a forced-medication sentence, pushing the Supreme Court to decide when courts can void a waiver — reshaping appellate rights for the ninety-five percent of federal defendants who plead guilty. Question Presented: Whether an appeal waiver remains enforceable when enforcing it would create a miscarriage of justice in sentencing. Posture: Fifth Circuit dismissed Hunter's appeal under the waiver; Court granted certiorari to resolve a split. Main Arguments: Petitioner (Hunter): (1) Contract defenses like frustration of purpose render the waiver unenforceable for egregious sentencing errors; (2) the judge's on-record statement granting appeal rights, paired with the prosecutor's silence, voids the waiver; (3) courts must recognize a miscarriage-of-justice exception to prevent egregious, unconstitutional sentencing conditions from escaping all appellate review. Respondent (United States): (1) A knowing and voluntary appeal waiver binds the defendant according to its plain terms; (2) only two narrow exceptions ever excuse a waiver — ineffective assistance and an above-maximum sentence; (3) a broad miscarriage-of-justice exception floods appellate courts and undercuts the value of plea bargaining nationwide. Holding: An agreement not to appeal a sentence is unenforceable when it would result in a miscarriage of justice — meaning, when it would leave in place the kind of egregious error that would bring the judicial system into disrepute. Voting Breakdown: 8-1. Justice Kagan wrote the majority opinion joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Alito, Sotomayor, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett, and Jackson. Justice Gorsuch fil…

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