Cordarrius Bonds v. United States
DueProcess JusticiabilityDoctri
Whether a defendant who pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm is entitled to automatic plain-error reversal when the plea was neither knowing nor voluntary due to lack of awareness that knowledge of prohibited status is a crucial element of the offense
QUESTIONS PRESENTED L. When a defendant pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), and the plea was neither knowing nor voluntary because no one was aware that knowledge of his prohibited status is a crucial element of the offense, is the defendant entitled to automatic plainerror reversal, or must the defendant prove he would not have pled guilty had he been advised of the knowledge-of-status element? I. Does the mere fact that a defendant served a sentence of more than a year for a prior conviction necessarily prove the knowledge-of-status element for conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)? ii