On Monday, however, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the 2nd Circuit's approach «can not be reconciled» with Supreme Court case law on ordering reversal under the «
plain error standard,» in United States v. Marcus (pdf), No. 08 - 1341.
For this JRR Tolkien fan, a career as an appellate lawyer is the perfect match for Keller's self - described nerdery — the practice requires mastery of a host of activities revolving around brief - writing and oral argument, and the appellate bar speaks its own unique tongue: forfeiture and waiver,
plain error, abuse of discretion, de novo, etc..
The lower court made
a plain error of law.
A common type of
plain error is when a judge miscalculates the sentence.
Likewise, decisions by circuit judges to handle Booker
plain error in particular (and diverse) ways reflect a policy judgment, as did the Supreme Court's decision not to resolve the circuit split over Booker plain error standards.