United States v. Young (SCOTUS 1985), 470 U.S. 1

Summary

The Court held that the prosecutor's rebuttal comments expressing personal opinions about the defendant's guilt and urging the jury to do its job were improper, but did not constitute plain error warranting reversal because defense counsel invited the response, the comments did not undermine the trial's fundamental fairness, and the evidence of guilt was overwhelming. Because defense counsel made no timely objection, the Court applied the demanding plain-error standard and reversed the Court of Appeals' order for a new trial.

Holding

Whether the prosecutor's rebuttal argument was improper. The prosecutor's comments were error because a prosecutor may not express personal opinions about the defendant's guilt, characterize the defendant's conduct through personal belief, or pressure the jury to convict. Defense counsel's improper argument did not give the prosecutor a right to respond with similarly improper rhetoric.

Whether the unpreserved prosecutorial misconduct constituted plain error requiring reversal. The prosecutor's improper comments did not constitute plain error. In context, they did not undermine the fundamental fairness of the trial or contribute to a miscarriage of justice, and the substantial, virtually uncontradicted evidence of the defendant's deliberate fraud negated any reasonable basis for reversal absent a timely objection.

United States v. Young

Summary

Holding

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