--- title: "United States v. Cronic" citation: "466 U.S. 648 (1984)" authority_id: "AUTH-SCOTUS-CRONIC-466-US-648" authority_type: "case" jurisdiction: "federal_nationwide" precedential_status: "binding" official_url: "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-466/pdf/USREPORTS-466-648.pdf" url: "https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/authorities/AUTH-SCOTUS-CRONIC-466-US-648/" legal_review: "2026-08-25" links_checked: "2026-10-15" links_available: 1 links_checked_count: 1 license: "CC BY 4.0" --- # United States v. Cronic ## Holding or rule used Narrow circumstances of presumed Sixth Amendment prejudice. ## Material limitation Use only for the bounded proposition in the linked § 2255 module. State-habeas holdings are not silently converted into direct § 2255 holdings; record, circuit, local, deadline, custody, waiver, and classification issues remain separate where identified. ## Official source and pinpoints 466 U.S. 648 (1984), 466 U.S. 658–67: ## Used in - [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)