Description
Signed by Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, United States v. Olano, a review of a Ninth Circuit ruling that overturned criminal convictions.
Octavo, 16pp, [2], [2], [3]. Printed wrappers, bound with staples along the spine. A fine example. Signed by Sandra Day O’Connor on the front wrapper, who wrote the majority decision for the court.
In United States v. Olano in 1993, the Supreme Court reviewed a Ninth Circuit ruling that had overturned criminal convictions because two alternate jurors were allowed to sit in during jury deliberations. The trial judge told the alternates not to participate. The defendants had not objected at trial. The Supreme Court held that the mistake did not justify reversal under the “plain error” rule without a showing that it affected substantial rights. The decision became a leading case on Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 52(b) and appellate review of unpreserved trial errors.
