Villarreal v. Texas · ¶79

This Court has recognized only one exception to the general rule that a defendant has no constitutional right to consult with his lawyer while he is testifying. In Geders, this Court held that a trial judge could not bar a defendant from talking “ `about anything' ” with counsel during an overnight recess. Id., at 91. As this Court would explain, the judge's order in Geders was unconstitutional only because it would impede discussion of matters “beyond the content of the defendant's own testimony.” Perry, 488 U. S., at 284. In Perry, this Court held that a trial judge therefore could bar all conferral with counsel during a 15-minute recess because the Sixth Amendment does not protect discussion of “th[e] testimony while it is in process.” Ibid.

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