A Client Has the Right to Reject Trial Counsel's Good Advice.

While a criminal defendant has a Sixth Amendment right to assistance from counsel, you can't always force a client to follow legal advice, even good advice. Take Raymon Walters, who was preparing for trial on charges being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 USC 922(g)(1). Mr. Walters had been convicted on various drug charges previously, so his attorney decided to stipulate that his client knew he was a felon (and limit the government's opportunity to present evidence on this fact to the jury). Mr. Waters objected to admitting these easily proven facts so the government objected to the stipulation, arguing counsel could not admit to an element of the crime over the client's objection. The court agreed, allowing prosecutors to introduce evidence of Mr. Walters prior drug