--- title: "Lafler v. Cooper" citation: "Lafler v. Cooper, 566 U.S. 156 (2012)" authority_id: "AUTH-SCOTUS-LAFLER-566-US-156" authority_type: "case" jurisdiction: "federal_nationwide" precedential_status: "binding" official_url: "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-566/pdf/USREPORTS-566-156.pdf" url: "https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/authorities/AUTH-SCOTUS-LAFLER-566-US-156/" legal_review: "2026-08-25" links_checked: "2026-10-15" links_available: 1 links_checked_count: 1 license: "CC BY 4.0" --- # Lafler v. Cooper ## Holding used Effective assistance applies to advice about accepting an offer; proven rejection-stage prejudice and remedy have specific, bounded requirements. ## Material limitation Deficiency, probable acceptance, prosecutorial and judicial action, relative outcome, and remedy require the actual case record. ## Official source and pinpoints 566 U.S. 156, 162–75 (2012): ## 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) - [Section 2255 Cognizability, Default, Actual Innocence, and Ineffective Assistance](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/60-post-conviction/2255-default-innocence-and-ineffective-assistance.md)