Rice v. Olson

Summary

The Supreme Court reversed the Nebraska Supreme Court, holding that a guilty plea entered without counsel does not conclusively waive the constitutional right to counsel and that the petitioner is entitled to a hearing on whether he knowingly and intelligently waived that right; the Court also noted the complex jurisdictional issues involving Indian reservations but left them for further determination. Justice Frankfurter dissented, arguing the petition was insufficient and should be affirmed.