Villarreal v. Texas · ¶44

As we explained in Perry, a court may not stem this collaboration merely because it involves incidental discussion of testimony. 488 U. S., at 284; accord, Geders, 425 U. S., at 91 (explaining that any confict between the Sixth Amendment and the desire for untutored testimony must “be resolved in favor of the right to the assistance and guidance of counsel”). For example, a court cannot prohibit a defendant from obtaining his attorney's advice on whether and why he should consider a guilty plea—even if the “why” includes the impact of his ongoing testimony on the trial's prospects. The Sixth Amendment does not abide a take-my-word-for-it vision of the attorney-client relationship. It does, however, tolerate a midtestimony conferral order prohibiting discussion of testimony as such, lest that discussion shape future testimony “in light of the testimony already given.” Id., at 87. The…

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