Opinion ID: 76397
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Third Prong: Prejudice

Text: 37 For several reasons, we conclude that Monroe has not carried his burden to show that his rights were substantially affected or prejudiced by the alleged Rule 11 error. First, Monroe principally argues for per se reversal whenever any single item listed in Rule 11 is not explicitly covered. As explained by the Supreme Court in Vonn, the purpose of the harmless-error rule in Rule 11(h) is to end the automatic reversal for any Rule 11 error. 535 U.S. at 66, 122 S.Ct. at 1050. Likewise, the purpose of applying the plain-error rule in the Rule 11 context is to end automatic reversal for any Rule 11 error. 38 Second, Monroe has not shown any form of prejudice by the district court's failure to inform him explicitly of his right against compelled self-incrimination. The government's proffer during the plea colloquy did not rely on any confession by Monroe. Instead, that proffer relied on photographs, tapes, and the CI's testimony and demonstrated that Monroe's testimony would have been unnecessary at trial. Indeed, Monroe has not shown, or even argued, that he would not have pled guilty had he been more fully apprised of his listed right against compelled self-incrimination. 39 Third, the district court's plea colloquy satisfied the core concerns of Rule 11. Although the district court did not state the precise words that Monroe had a right against compelled self-incrimination, the district court's plea colloquy sufficiently addressed the third core concern — that the defendant must know and understand the consequences of his guilty plea. One consequence of Monroe's guilty plea was that he waived certain constitutional rights. Although the district court slipped-up and failed to mention explicitly the right against compelled self-incrimination, the district court's plea colloquy made it clear to Monroe that he had numerous rights and was waiving them by entering a guilty plea. Further, and importantly for this case, the district court also made it clear to Monroe that you don't have to plead guilty. The district court further told Monroe that [y]ou may continue in your plea of not guilty and go to trial. In short, this is not a case involving a total or almost total failure to address a core concern under Rule 11. 40