Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, v. Marcus TAYLOR a/k/a Marcus Chester Taylor Marcus Taylor, Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2004-04-09
Citations: 94 F. App'x 67
Docket Number: No. 03-3993
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, v. Marcus TAYLOR a/k/a Marcus Chester Taylor Marcus Taylor, Appellant.
Judges: Before ALITO, FISHER and ALDISERT, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 94
Pages: 67–69

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, v. Marcus TAYLOR a/k/a Marcus Chester Taylor Marcus Taylor, Appellant.
No. 03-3993.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAE 34.1(a) April 2, 2004.
Decided April 9, 2004.
Bruce Brandler, Harrisburg, PA, for Appellee.
Daniel I. Siegel, Lori J. Ulrich, Harrisburg, PA, for Appellant.
Before ALITO, FISHER and ALDISERT, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
ALDISERT, Circuit Judge.
Because we write only for the parties who are familiar with the facts, the procedural history and the contentions presented, we will not recite them except as necessary to the discussion. This appeal requires us to decide whether a judgment of conviction offered on a guilty plea should be reversed because the district court did not explicitly inform Appellant Marcus Taylor in ipsissim is verbis of his right to plead not guilty during the plea colloquy, as set forth in Rule 11(c) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, although it fully informed him of his right to a jury trial.
Taylor's counsel on appeal is the same assistant public defender who was present at the guilty plea colloquy. She did not raise any objections during the colloquy, did not call attention of the omission to the sentencing judge and made no timely post trial motion to raise the question.
Taylor acknowledges that, because no objection was made in the district court, we review for "plain error" only. See United States v. Knobloch, 131 F.3d 366, 370 (3d Cir.1997). We act to correct such errors only when they implicate "substantial rights" and "seriously affect[ ] the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings." Id., quoting Johnson v. United States, 520 U.S. 461, 467, 117 S.Ct. 1544, 137 L.Ed.2d 718 (1997). "The burden is on the defendant to show that the error in fact prejudiced him.... " Knob-loch, 131 F.3d at 370. We are satisfied that there was no plain error.
We have stated that Rule 11 " 'is not to be read as requiring a litany or other ritual' and 'should not be given crabbed interpretation that ceremony [is] exalted over substance.' " United States v. Cefaratti, 221 F.3d 502, 508 (3d Cir.2000) (citing Rule 11, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, advisory committee note (1983) (Rule 11(h))).
The court notified the Appellant during the plea colloquy: "Mr. Taylor, you're also entitled to a jury trial in these matters in which you, through counsel would select a jury consisting of twelve persons.... Any finding of guilt by the jury would have to be unanimous, that is all twelve jurors would have to agree.... Do you understand your right to a jury trial?" Taylor replied, "Yes." The court then inquired: "And it is your desire to give up your right to a jury trial and to enter a plea of guilty to the information?" Taylor again replied in the affirmative.
In facing a similar challenge in United States v. Saft, the judge asked the defendant if he understood "that if you did not plead guilty to these charges you would have the right to a public and speedy trial by a jury of twelve people," at which he could enjoy the presumption of innocence and could be found guilty only by a unanimous verdict. 558 F.2d 1073, 1080 (2d Cir.1977). Under these circumstances, there was no error in the court's failure to chant the magic words: 'You have the right to plead not guilty."
We feel that the foregoing is sufficient. We note, however, other circumstances. First, we are satisfied that the Appellant did not suffer any prejudice. This is clear by the failure to contend otherwise in the brief.
Second, Appellant knew of his right to plead not guilty for the precise offense for which he entered the plea agreement. The Harrisburg City Police arrested him on July 10, 2002, and charged him in the Dauphin County Court of the specific offense for which he entered the federal plea, "felon in possession of a firearm." On October 10, 2002, Appellant pled not guilty in the state court. He cannot possibly show lack of knowledge of the right to plead not guilty, because that is precisely what he did in the state court on the identical offense for which he was later charged in federal court.
We have considered all contentions raised by the parties and conclude that no further discussion is necessary.
The judgment of the district court will be affirmed.