Bryant Williams v. Gary Swarthout

Opinion by Judge NOONAN; Dissent by Judge MURGUIA

OPINION

NOONAN, Circuit Judge:

Petitioner Bryant Keith Williams seeks federal habeas relief on the basis that the state trial court’s misstatement that Williams had pled guilty — a misstatement made immediately before trial commenced and not corrected until the jury began deliberating — violated his due process rights by depriving him of the presumption of innocence, and violated his Sixth Amendment right to an impartial jury. We agree and reverse the district court’s denial of habeas relief.

FACTS AND PRIOR PROCEEDINGS

At voir dire, on December 7,…