Villarreal v. Texas · ¶78

Under our precedents, a defendant “has no constitutional right to consult with his lawyer while he is testifying.” Perry, 488 U. S., at 281. Rather, “when he assumes the role of a witness, the rules that generally apply to other witnesses—rules that serve the truth-seeking function of the trial—are generally applicable to him as well.” Id., at 282. Criminal defendants originally did not testify in their own defense at trial. See Ferguson v. Georgia, 365 U. S. 570, 573–575 (1961). When they began doing so, this Court explained that they would do so “subject to all [the] criticisms and burdens” of other witnesses. Reagan v. United States, 157 U. S. 301, 305 (1895). It is common practice for trial judges to prohibit other witnesses from discussing their ongoing testimony with counsel. See Perry, 488 U. S., at 281– 282, and nn. 4–5; Geders, 425 U. S., at 87.

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