---
title: "Brady v. United States"
citation: "Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742 (1970)"
authority_id: "AUTH-SCOTUS-BRADY-397-US-742"
authority_type: "case"
jurisdiction: "federal_nationwide"
precedential_status: "binding"
official_url: "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-397/pdf/USREPORTS-397-742.pdf"
url: "https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/authorities/AUTH-SCOTUS-BRADY-397-US-742/"
legal_review: "2026-08-25"
links_checked: "2026-10-15"
links_available: 1
links_checked_count: 1
license: "CC BY 4.0"
---

# Brady v. United States

## Holding used

A guilty plea must be voluntary and intelligent with sufficient awareness of relevant circumstances and likely direct consequences; lawful plea incentives do not alone make it coerced.

## Material limitation

Voluntariness depends on the actual record, information, advice, promises, threats, competence, and consequences.

## Official source and pinpoints

397 U.S. 742, 747–58 (1970): <https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-397/pdf/USREPORTS-397-742.pdf>


## Used in

- [Plea Negotiations, Plea Agreements, and Rule 11](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/30-plea-and-trial/plea-negotiations-agreements-and-rule-11.md)