Boykin v. Alabama

Boykin v. Alabama
Argued March 4, 1969
Decided June 2, 1969
Full case nameBoykin v. Alabama
Citations395 U.S. 238 (more)
89 S. Ct. 1709; 23 L. Ed. 2d 274
Court membership
Chief Justice
Earl Warren
Associate Justices
Hugo Black · William O. Douglas
John M. Harlan II · William J. Brennan Jr.
Potter Stewart · Byron White
Thurgood Marshall
Case opinions
MajorityDouglas, joined by Warren, Brennan, Stewart, White, Marshall
DissentHarlan, joined by Black

Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238 (1969), is a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court determined that when a defendant enters into a plea bargain, they waive their Sixth Amendment right to a trial by jury. A defendant may not waive this Constitutional right unless he does so knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently. The defendant was an African-American charged with robbery, which carried a death sentence in Alabama at the time. He pled guilty.