When guilt is the sole issue for the jury to decide, is it permissible for counsel to unilaterally concede the essential elements (actus reus and mens rea) of the charged offense over the defendant's intransigent objection?

QUESTIONS PRESENTED 1. When guilt is the sole issue for the jury to decide, is it permissible for counsel to unilaterally concede the essential elements (actus reus and mens rea) of the charged offense over the defendant’s intransigent objection? 2. Does McCoy v. Louisiana apply retroactively to persons whose convictions were final at the time it was decided when the criminal defendant complained that an : attorney impermissibly conceded guilt over his or her objection? 3. Is acriminal defendant deprived the benefit of counsel at a critical stage when an attorney unilaterally concedes guilt over a criminal defendant’s express objection? ii