Stonecipher v. Texas

How later courts describe this case

• By pleading guilty, “a defendant waives his right to a decision on the merits, whether it be by judge or jury, and foregoes the opportunity to assert any other defense he may have ...”
• A stipulation is “the equivalent of a formal bench adjudication ... [in which a judge] applies the applicable law to determine whether the facts before him constitute a criminal offense,” and not the functional equivalent of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere.