Hunter v. United States: Limits of Sentence Appeal Waivers

The provided episode discusses a Supreme Court of the United States opinion from the June 2026 case Hunter v. United States. The Court addressed whether a knowing and voluntary appeal waiver in a plea agreement is enforceable if the resulting sentence involves an egregious judicial error. Delivering the majority opinion, Justice Kagan established a "miscarriage of justice" exception, ruling that waivers cannot bar appeals in extreme cases that would discredit the federal judiciary's integrity. Such exceptions include sentences exceeding statutory maximums, those based on unconstitutional factors like race, or those imposed without civilized procedure. Justice Gorsuch concurred to critique the coercive nature of modern plea bargaining, while Justice Thomas dissented, arguing the Court lacks the authority to override valid contracts based on policy concerns. The decision ultimately vacated the Fifth Circuit's dismissal of Munson Hunter’s appeal, remanding the case for further review under this new standard.