Henderson v. Morgan

426 U.S. 637 (1976)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Morgan (D) was indicted for first-degree murder. On counsel's advice, he agreed with the prosecution on a plea bargain where D would plead guilty to second-degree murder. D was sentenced. D then filed a habeas corpus petition in Federal District Court claiming that his plea was involuntary because he didn't realize that intent to cause death was an element of second-degree murder. The District Court agreed with D and found that D had not been advised by counsel or state court that intent to cause death was an element of second-degree murder. It held that the plea was involuntary and had to be set aside. The Court of Appeals affirmed.