Pro Bono Team Files Amicus Brief with U.S. Supreme Court on Behalf of Retired Judges

Firm News  |  June 12, 2025

A Gibson Dunn pro bono team has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of several retired judges in support of the petitioner in Villarreal v. Texas.

The case concerns whether a trial court abridges the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel by prohibiting the defendant and his counsel from discussing the defendant’s testimony during an overnight recess while allowing them to discuss trial strategy and other matters. Our amicus brief explained why that rule was unworkable and impossible to administer. It explained that there is no straightforward way to distinguish discussions about the defendant’s testimony from discussions about trial strategy, and that such a rule cannot be administered without obstructing the attorney-client privilege.

Our team included partner Gregg Costa and associates Ryan Azad, Summer Wall, Hayley Lawrence, Alexander Fischer, and Apratim Vidyarthi.