Summa Corp. v. Trans World Airlines, Inc.

How later courts describe this case

• dismissing on Younger grounds, an ac tion seeking massive reforms in the state public defender’s office
• dismissing on Younger grounds, an action seeking massive reforms in the state public defender's office
• defendant’s absence from side-bar conferences in violation of federal rule was harmless because his presence did not bear a reasonably substantial relationship to his opportunity to defend
• wrongful prosecutorial comment on exercise of Fifth Amendment rights was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt
• threat of future injuries to criminal defendants, who claim their public defenders failed to provide effective legal assistance, was “too speculative” to provide a basis for judicial relief
• Allegation of actual economic injury is sufficient to establish injury in fact.
• “defendant never asked to attend, nor was he prevented, he was in fact physically present throughout the trial which is all . . . the Sixth Amendment would seem to require. Any greater 'right to be present’ was effectively waived by Egger’s failure to request it”