No. 20-401

Devan Pierson v. United States

Lower Court: Seventh Circuit
Docketed: 2020-09-28
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Experienced Counsel
Tags: circuit-split constructive-amendment criminal-procedure fifth-amendment grand-jury grand-jury-clause plain-error prejudice rule-52b substantial-rights
Key Terms:
Privacy
Latest Conference: 2021-02-19
Question Presented (AI Summary)

What test should be used to determine prejudice from a constructive amendment under Rule 52(b)?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED The Grand Jury Clause of the Fifth Amendment demands “that a court cannot permit a defendant to be tried on charges that are not made in the indictment against him.” Stirone v. United States, 361 U.S. 212, 217 (1960). Because “[t]he right to have the grand jury make the charge on its own judgment is a substantial right,” this Court has long held that a violation of that right is prejudicial per se. Id. at 218-19. Nonetheless, lower courts have squarely divided over whether and, if so, how a defendant must show prejudice when a objection was not preserved at trial. Lower courts likewise have divided on what showing is required to prove that a constructive amendment error is “plain.” In the decision below, the Seventh Circuit doubled down on its outlier jurisprudence, which employs both the most demanding conception of prejudice and the most demanding conception of “plain” in the country. The questions presented are as follows: 1. What test, if any, should be used to determine whether a constructive amendment impacted a defendant’s substantial rights under Rule 52(b)? 2. What showing is required to determine whether a constructive amendment is “plain” error under Rule 52(b)?

Docket Entries

2021-02-22
Petition DENIED.
2021-01-27
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/19/2021.
2021-01-26
Reply of petitioner Devan Pierson filed. (Distributed)
2021-01-08
Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
2020-12-01
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including January 8, 2021.
2020-11-30
Motion to extend the time to file a response from December 9, 2020 to January 8, 2021, submitted to The Clerk.
2020-11-13
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including December 9, 2020.
2020-11-12
Motion to extend the time to file a response from November 27, 2020 to December 9, 2020, submitted to The Clerk.
2020-11-03
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including November 27, 2020.
2020-11-02
Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 28, 2020 to November 27, 2020, submitted to The Clerk.
2020-09-22
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 28, 2020)

Attorneys

Devan Pierson
Erin E. MurphyKirkland & Ellis LLP, Petitioner
United States
Elizabeth B. PrelogarActing Solicitor General, Respondent