Document: 520 U.S. 461117 S.Ct. 1544137 L.Ed.2d 718 Joyce B. JOHNSON, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES. No. 96-203. Supreme Court of the United States Argued Feb. 25, 1997. Decided May 12, Syllabus * Petitioner Johnson testified before a federal grand jury, investigating, inter alia, disposition proceeds from her boyfriend's alleged drug trafficking, that she had obtained tens thousands dollars to improve home box cash given late mother by one Talcott. Subsequently, was charged with violating 18 U.S.C. §1623, which proscribes "knowingly mak[ing] any false material declaration'' under oath jury. At trial, it revealed boyfriend negotiated purchase and an interest in corporation whose checks been used help pay for property, Talcott died several years time he allegedly gave money. did not object when, accordance then-extant Circuit precedent, judge instructed jury materiality question him decide, determined statements were material. convicted perjury, but appeal, this ruled, v. Gaudin, 515 506, 115 2310, 132 444, statement must be decided rather than trial judge. On Johnson's claim conviction invalid Gaudin reviewed Eleventh pursuant Federal Rule Criminal Procedure 52(b), allows plain errors affecting substantial rights noticed even though no objection has made. Following analysis outlined Olano, 507 725, 113 1770, 123 508, court assumed arguendo District Court's failure submit constituted "error'' "clear or obvious.'' However, concluded such error affect "substantial rights'' because its independent review record showed there "overwhelming'' evidence reasonable juror could conclude about money's source jury's investigation. Held: The court's action case "plain error'' sort appellate may notice 52(b). (a) Since §1623's text leaves doubt is element dictates court. timely assert right ordinarily would result forfeiture 30. 52(b) mitigates 30 and, contrary argument, governs direct appeal. Olano test applying requires (1) error, (2) plain, (3) affects rights. If these three conditions are met, exercise discretion forfeited only if (4) seriously fairness, integrity, public reputation judicial proceedings. Pp. ____-____. (b) first prong satisfied here, as applied on review. See Griffith Kentucky, 479 314, 328, 107 708, 716, 93 649. second met well. In this-where law at settled clearly appeal-it sufficient consideration. Even assuming third also satisfied, still determine whether meets fourth correct error. answered negative. Materiality essentially uncontroverted remained so presented plausible argument oath-lying money home-was somehow It reversal conviction, 82 F.3d 429 (C.A.11 1996), affirmed. REHNQUIST, C. J., delivered opinion Court, unanimous except insofar SCALIA, join Parts II-B II-C. Wm. J. Sheppard, Jacksonville, FL, petitioner. Michael Dreeben, Washington, DC, respondent. Chief Justice REHNQUIST Court.** 1 itself issue perjury prosecution, submitting our decision 444 (1995), now requires. No made petitioner, Johnson, we hold 2 1980's, investigation into cocaine marijuana trafficking Earl James Fields his partner amassed some $10 million their illicit activities. trail, authorities subpoenaed petitioner Fields' long-time girlfriend, testify who child Fields, earned $34,000 year Florida Department Health Rehabilitative Services. She owned five pieces real including house. That house purchased 1991 $75,600, next two added improvements 1993 appraised $344,800. When asked improvement funds, stated put $80,000 $120,000 house, all come Gerald 1985 1986. 3 basis testimony, indicted §1623. original paid property eight different cashier's checks, interest. established April 1982, claimed full cash. 4 close see, e.g., Molinares, 700 F.2d 647, 653 1983), Judge App. 72. instruction. Indeed, when prosecution concerning during then objected, ground matter judge, decide. Id., 61. returned verdict guilty, sentenced months' imprisonment, years' supervised release, $30,000 fine. 5 After convicted, appeal Appeals, supra, held submitted argued judge's rendered Gaudin. 6 Because failed deciding materiality, Appeals Rules provides: 7 "Plain Error. Plain defects although they brought attention Court.'' 8 508 (1993), obvious,'' nonetheless defendant. conclusion based determination " [n]o . investigation.'' Pet. Cert. 9a (judgment order reported 1996)). Due conflict between Ninth Circuit's en banc Keys, 95 874 (1996), granted certiorari. 519 ----, 117 451, 136 346 (1996). We affirm. 9 Title §1623 Although merely making §1001, recently federally insured bank §1014, Wells, 921, 137 (1997), statutory expressly declaration "material.'' therefore 10 Petitioner, however, treatment materiality. provides, party assign portion [jury] charge omission therefrom unless objects thereto retires consider verdict, stating distinctly grounds objection.'' This simply embodiment "familiar'' principle ""may criminal well civil cases make assertion tribunal having jurisdiction it.''' 731, S.Ct., 1776 (quoting Yakus States, 321 414, 64 660, 677, 88 L.Ed. 834 (1944)). mitigated, objection. 11 argues need fall within "limited'' "circumscribed'' strictures complains here "structural,'' outside altogether. But seriousness does remove consideration ambit Procedure. None discussing "structural error,'' upon relies, appeals judgments system. Several came state courts considered own rules. Gideon Wainwright, 372 335, 83 792, 799 (1963); Arizona Fulminante, 499 279, 111 1246, 302 (1991); Sullivan Louisiana, 275, 2078, 124 182 (1993). Others way habeas challenges convictions. Vasquez Hillery, 474 254, 106 617, 598 (1986); McKaskle Wiggins, 465 168, 104 944, 79 122 (1984). them subject provisions 52. 12 terms system, case. cautioned against unwarranted expansion Young, 470 1, 105 1038, 84 (1985), "would skew Rule's "careful balancing encourage participants seek fair accurate around insistence obvious injustice promptly redressed,''' id., 15, 1046 Frady, 456 152, 163, 102 1584, 1592, 71 816 (1982)). less appropriate creation out wholecloth exception it, have authority make. Carlisle 517 116 1460, 1466, 134 613 II 13 turn apply Olano. Under test, can raised "error,'' "plain,'' "affect[s] rights.'' U.S., 732, 1776. """seriously affect[s] proceedings.''''' Ibid. 1046, quoting Atkinson, 297 157, 160, 56 391, 392, 80 555 (1936)). 14 There petitioner's occurred today, 649 (1987), "new rule conduct prosecutions retroactively pending , new constitutes break' past.'' 716. review, retroactively. Accordingly, satisfied. B 15 more difficult. explained word "plain'' "synonymous "clear' or, equivalently, "obvious.''' 734, 1777. refrained reviewable. "At minimum,'' concluded, "under current law.'' faced certainly clear "current law,'' means trial. 16 Government contends both case, says, should objected near-uniform precedent Courts course proper.1 other hand, urges counsel's inevitably long virtually useless laundry list objections rulings plainly supported existing precedent. agree point, enough Here, court, jury; consideration, changed, part C 17 "affec[t] point offense becomes relevant. effect serious defy harmless-error analysis, A "structural'' "defect framework proceeds, process itself,'' 310, 1265. found structural very limited class cases: (1963) (a total deprivation counsel); Tumey Ohio, 273 510, 47 437, 749 (1927) (lack impartial judge); (1986) (unlawful exclusion jurors defendant's race); (1984) (the self-representation trial); Waller Georgia, 467 39, 2210, 81 31 (1993) (erroneous reasonable-doubt instruction jury). fits cases. most closely erroneous definition "reasonable doubt'' vitiated findings speculate what properly might done. 280, 2082. just easily analogized improperly instructing offense, Yates Evatt, 500 1884, 114 432 Carella California, 491 263, 109 2419, 218 (1989); Pope Illinois, 481 497, 1918, 439 (1987); Rose Clark, 478 570, 3101, 92 460 (1986), failing give proper Cf. California Roy, 337, 339, 266 (1996) ("The specific here-an defined crime-is characterized "misdescription element' crime, "omission'''). D 19 decide because, "affec[ted] rights,'' meet final requirement parts ""seriously integrity proceedings''' 736, 1779 392). 20 As noted, supporting "overwhelming.'' 9a. trial2 investigating "disposition [marijuana] distribution activity, possible concealment investments estate.'' 5-6. Before briefing convicted-lying 21 concluding "seriously affect[ed] proceedings.'' effect. "Reversal regardless judgment, encourages litigants abuse bestirs ridicule it.'' R. Traynor, Riddle Harmless Error 50 (1970). "miscarriage justice'' will do 1779, decline so. judgment 22 Affirmed. syllabus prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co., 200 321, 26 282, 287, 499. ** Scalia joins II-C opinion. Corsino, 812 26, 31, n. (C.A.1 1987); Bernard, 384 915, 916 (C.A.2 1967); Greber, 760 68, 73 (C.A.3 1985); Nilson Van Storage Co. Marsh, 755 362, 367 (C.A.4 Hausmann, 711 615, 616-617 (C.A.5 1983); Chandler, 752 1148, 1150-1151 (C.A.6 Brantley, 786 1322, 1327, (C.A.7 1986); Hicks, 619 752, 758 (C.A.8 1980); Daily, 921 994, 1004 (C.A.10 1990); Lopez, 728 1359, 1362, 1984); Hansen, 772 940, 950 (C.A.D.C.1985). represents-and disputed-that sum consisted following conclusory sentence: ""I argue insufficiently proven ought grant acquittal.''' Brief transcript); see Reply 4, 5.

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