Appealing mistaken jury instructions
Allen Houston James v. United States
In brief
- Where it stands
- Dismissed
Petition denied.
- What it’s about
- Allen Houston James’s petition asked whether courts may refuse plain-error review of an error a criminal defendant invited, including an incorrect jury instruction he proposed by mistake, when he did not intentionally give up a known right.
- Who it affects
- James received no Supreme Court answer on whether an invited mistake can receive review under the plain-error rule.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court refused to hear his case (denied review), so it did not decide those questions.
The petition concerned the invited-error rule, which can bar a party from challenging an action on appeal after asking the trial court to take it.
Question presented
1. When a criminal defendant invites the district court to commit an error, is that error reviewable for plain error if the defendant did not intentionally relinquish a known right when he invited the court’s action? 2. If a criminal defendant mistakenly proposes an incorrect jury instruction, does plain error review apply to the requested instruction?
Documents
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
Case data updated: question_presented, extraction_metadata
Show 2 moreShow fewer
Brief added: Petition
Court Order added: Lower Court Orders/Opinions
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.