olano argued december decided april two fourteen jurors selected hear evidence respondents criminal trial identified alternates jury deliberations began district without objection respondents permitted alternates attend deliberations instructing participate respondents convicted number charges appeals vacated respondents convictions concluded inter alia alternates presence deliberations violated federal rule criminal procedure requires alternate jurors discharged jury retires consider verdict found alternates presence violation rule inherently prejudicial reversible per se plain error standard rule held presence alternate jurors jury deliberations error appeals authorized correct rule pp appeals discretion rule correct plain errors defects affecting substantial rights forfeited timely raised district exercise errors seriously affect fairness integrity public reputation judicial proceedings atkinson three limitations appellate authority rule first must error deviation legal rule district proceedings error unless defendant waived rule mere forfeiture extinguish error second error must plain term synonymous clear equivalently obvious third plain error must affec substantial rights normally means error must prejudicial affecting outcome district proceedings normally appeals engages specific analysis district record determine prejudice defendant bears burden persuasion need decide whether phrase affecting substantial rights always synonymous prejudicial whether errors presumed prejudicial pp language rule nature forfeiture established appellate practice congress intended continue point conclusion rule permissive mandatory standard guide exercise remedial discretion articulated atkinson supra remedy limited cases actual innocence since error may seriously affect fairness integrity public reputation judicial proceedings independent defendant innocence however plain error affecting substantial rights without satisfy atkinson standard otherwise discretion afforded rule illusory pp government concedes deviation rule case error plain however deviation affec substantial rights presence alternates jury deliberations type error must analyzed prejudicial impact presence contravened cardinal principle jury deliberations shall remain private secret purpose privacy protect deliberations improper influence whether presumption prejudice imposed specific analysis made change ultimate inquiry intrusion affect jury deliberations thereby verdict see parker gladden per curiam respondents made specific showing alternates either participated chilled jury deliberations prejudice presumed appeals erred presuming alternates failed follow judge instructions see richardson marsh alternates mere presence entail sufficient risk chill justify presumption prejudice score since error prejudicial need consider whether warranted correction atkinson standard pp delivered opinion rehnquist scalia kennedy souter thomas joined kennedy filed concurring opinion post stevens filed dissenting opinion white blackmun joined post solicitor general starr argued cause briefs assistant attorney general mueller deputy solicitor general bryson william kelley joel gershowitz carter phillips argued cause respondents filed brief respondent olano william genego sheryl gordon mccloud filed brief respondent gray justice delivered opinion question case whether presence alternate jurors jury deliberations plain error appeals authorized correct federal rules criminal procedure respondents guy olano raymond gray served board directors savings loan association two indicted western district washington multiple federal charges participation elaborate loan kickback scheme joint jury trial five codefendants commenced march parties agreed jurors selected hear case alternates identified deliberations began may shortly end trial district suggested defendants two alternate jurors soon identified might allowed attend deliberations along regular jurors like think day let know suggestion even one person like wo suggestion courts followed long cases jurors sat lot testimony let alternates go participate sit deliberations strictly matter courtesy know many judges done objections counsel one things participate emergency comes people decide rather go new alternate rather rules provide keeps option open also keeps people feeling sat three months get kind kicked certainly worth unless something agree worth spending time hassling know mean got much else mind want big issue suggestion think let know app ave given thought whether want alternates go participate want robison counsel gray ask app well counsel received alternates understand defendants hard keep counsel sort day day right agree fourteen deliberate okay want instruct two alternates participate deliberation kellogg counsel hilling feet say understanding conversation two alternates go back instructed take part fashion deliberations app district concluded hilling counsel speaking defendants well client none counsel intervened colloquy district hilling counsel may anyone object later day instructed jurors two alternates permitted attend deliberations instructed indicated parties selecting alternates time going inform alternates let tell think difficult selection concerned since law requires jury twelve going jury twelve like case go back even alternates deliberations according law alternates must participate deliberations going hard alternate think things happen course lengthy jury deliberations need step want able step heard deliberations going ask participate alternates norman sargent shirley kinsella going ask time ladies gentlemen retire jury room begin deliberations app respondents convicted number charges appealed appeals ninth circuit appeals reversed certain counts insufficient evidence considered whether presence alternate jurors jury deliberations violated federal rule criminal procedure may direct jurors addition regular jury called impanelled sit alternate jurors alternate jurors order called shall replace jurors prior time jury retires consider verdict become found unable disqualified perform duties alternate juror replace regular juror shall discharged jury retires consider verdict fairly ascertain whether given case alternate jurors followed district prohibition participation however even heeded letter instructions remained orally mute throughout entirely possible attitudes conveyed facial expressions gestures like may effect upon decision one jurors ibid internal quotation marks brackets omitted appeals vacated respondents remaining convictions reach substantial issues raised granted certiorari clarify standard plain error review courts appeals rule ii procedural principle familiar constitutional right right sort may forfeited criminal well civil cases failure make timely assertion right tribunal jurisdiction determine yakus federal rule criminal procedure governs appeal criminal proceedings provides appeals limited power correct errors forfeited timely raised district rule remained unchanged since original version criminal rules intended restatement existing law advisory committee notes app paired appropriately rule governs nonforfeited errors rule provides harmless error error defect irregularity variance affect substantial rights shall disregarded plain error plain errors defects affecting substantial rights may noticed although brought attention rule defines single category error although possible read rule disjunctive creating two separate categories plain errors defects affecting substantial rights reading surely wrong see young declining adopt disjunctive reading explained young phrase error defect simply read error ibid forfeited error may noticed plain affect substantial rights precisely appeals may correct error either vacating new trial reversing outright meets criteria appellate must consider error putative real deciding whether judgment overturned provide remedy unless rule applies unless provision authorizes error correction issue respondents raise first limitation appellate authority rule indeed error deviation legal rule error unless rule waived example defendant knowingly voluntarily pleads guilty conformity requirements rule conviction vacated appeals ground trial right trial waivable defendant enters valid guilty plea waives right conviction without trial error waiver different forfeiture whereas forfeiture failure make timely assertion right waiver intentional relinquishment abandonment known right johnson zerbst see freytag commissioner scalia concurring part concurring judgment distinguishing waiver forfeiture spritzer criminal waiver procedural default burger westen away waiver rationale forfeiture constitutional rights criminal procedure whether particular right waivable whether defendant must participate personally waiver whether certain procedures required waiver whether defendant choice must particularly informed voluntary depend right stake see lafave israel criminal procedure allocation authority defendant counsel dix waiver criminal procedure brief careful analysis texas waivability standards waiver mere forfeiture opposed waiver extinguish error rule although theory argued question presented trial error committed trial hence nothing review orfield scope appeal criminal cases theory rule adopts legal rule violated district proceedings defendant waive rule error within meaning rule despite absence timely objection second limitation appellate authority rule error plain plain synonymous clear equivalently obvious see young supra frady need consider special case error unclear time trial becomes clear appeal applicable law clarified minimum appeals correct error pursuant rule unless error clear current law third final limitation appellate authority rule plain error affec substantial rights language employed rule cases means error must prejudicial must affected outcome district proceedings see bank nova scotia lane brennan concurring part dissenting part kotteakos defendant made timely objection error rule applies appeals normally engages specific analysis district record harmless error inquiry determine whether error prejudicial rule normally requires kind inquiry one important difference defendant rather government bears burden persuasion respect prejudice cases appeals correct forfeited error unless defendant shows error prejudicial see young supra ederal courts consistently interpreted plain error doctrine requiring appellate find claimed error prejudicial impact jury deliberations burden shifting dictated subtle important difference language two parts rule rule precludes errorcorrection error affect substantial rights emphasis added rule authorizes remedy unless error affec substantial rights see also note appellate review criminal case errors made properly raised reserved summarizing existing law error must real probably influenced verdict need decide whether phrase affecting substantial rights always synonymous prejudicial see generally arizona fulminante constitutional error may found harmless error deprives defendant basic protections without criminal trial reliably serve function vehicle determination guilt innocence criminal punishment may regarded fundamentally fair quoting rose clark may special category forfeited errors corrected regardless effect outcome issue need addressed need address errors presumed prejudicial defendant make specific showing prejudice normally although perhaps every case defendant must make specific showing prejudice satisfy affecting substantial rights prong rule rule permissive mandatory forfeited error plain affect substantial rights appeals authority order correction required language rule may noticed nature forfeiture established appellate practice congress intended continue point conclusion criminal cases life case liberty defendant stake courts exercise sound discretion may notice forfeited error sykes accord crawford former rule cited advisory committee notes option may notice plain error assigned specified previously explained discretion conferred rule employed circumstances miscarriage justice otherwise result young quoting frady supra collateral review jurisprudence term miscarriage justice means defendant actually innocent see sawyer whitley appeals doubt correct plain forfeited error causes conviction sentencing actually innocent defendant see wiborg never held rule remedy warranted cases actual innocence rather standard guide exercise remedial discretion rule articulated atkinson appeals correct plain forfeited error affecting substantial rights error seriously affect fairness integrity public reputation judicial proceedings explained young standard laid atkinson codified federal rule criminal procedure repeatedly quoted atkinson language describing plain error review see frady silber per curiam johnson oil see also connor finch civil appeal error may seriously affect fairness integrity public reputation judicial proceedings independent defendant innocence conversely plain error affecting substantial rights without satisfy atkinson standard otherwise discretion afforded rule illusory basic principles mind turn instant case iii presence alternate jurors jury deliberations doubt deviation rule rule explicitly alternate juror replace regular juror shall discharged jury retires consider verdict separate question whether deviation amounts error defendant consents alternates presence government supposes indeed error case premise rule nonwaivable see reply brief assume without deciding premise correct government also essentially concedes error plain see therefore focus attention whether error affect ed substantial rights within meaning rule conclude presence alternate jurors jury deliberations kind error affect substantial rights independent prejudicial impact respondents made specific showing prejudice finally see reason presume prejudice assuming arguendo certain errors affec substantial rights independent prejudice instant violation rule error although presence alternate jurors contravene cardinal principle deliberations jury shall remain private secret advisory committee notes app quoting virginia erection primary exclusive purpose jury privacy secrecy protect jury deliberations improper influence harm resulted intrusion alternate juror jury room reversal pointless watson generally analyzed outside intrusions upon jury prejudicial impact see parker gladden per curiam bailiff comments jurors oh wicked fellow guilty prejudicial patton yount pretrial publicity prejudicial holbrook flynn presence uniformed state troopers courtroom prejudicial prime example remmer outsider communicated juror criminal trial appearing offer bribe federal bureau investigation investigated incident noted sending agent midst trial investigate juror conduct bound impress juror remanded district determine circumstances impact thereof upon juror whether prejudicial hearing interested parties permitted participate intrusion jurisprudence summarized smith phillips ue process require new trial every time juror placed potentially compromising situation rule trials constitutionally acceptable virtually impossible shield jurors every contact influence might theoretically affect vote due process means jury capable willing decide case solely evidence trial judge ever watchful prevent prejudicial occurrences determine effect occurrences happen question whether instant violation rule prejudiced respondents either specifically presumptively theory presence alternate jurors jury deliberations might prejudice defendant two different ways either alternates actually participated deliberations verbally body language alternates presence exerted chilling effect regular jurors see watson supra allison conversely alternate fact abided instructions remain orally silent otherwise indicate views attitude presence alternate operate restraint upon regular jurors freedom expression action see little substantive difference presence alternate presence jury room unexamined book admitted evidence respondents made specific showing alternate jurors case either participated jury deliberations chilled deliberation regular jurors need decide whether testimony score alternate jurors regular jurors affidavits hearing violate federal rule evidence compare watson supra beasley whether courts appeals authority remand hearings plain error review respondents never requested hearing thus record us contains direct evidence alternate jurors influenced verdict record persuaded instant violation rule actually prejudicial presume prejudice purposes rule analysis appeals incorrect finding error inherently prejudicial close trial alternate jurors indistinguishable regular jurors along regular jurors commenced office oath see tr mar received normal initial admonishment see heard evidence arguments identified alternates district gave final set instructions see app instructions district specifically enjoined jurors according law alternates must participate deliberations reiterated going ask participate ibid appeals supposed injunction contravened almost invariable assumption law jurors follow instructions richardson marsh presum jurors conscious gravity task attend closely particular language trial instructions criminal case strive understand make sense follow instructions given francis franklin see also strickland washington assessing prejudice purposes ineffective assistance claim presume judge jury acted according law think mere presence alternate jurors entailed sufficient risk chill justify presumption prejudice score sum respondents met burden showing prejudice rule whether government met burden showing absence prejudice rule respondents forfeited claim error issue case respondents must persuade appellate deviation rule prejudicial conceded error case affec substantial rights appeals authority correct need consider whether error prejudicial warranted correction atkinson standard seriously affect ing fairness integrity public reputation judicial proceedings judgment appeals reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered justice kennedy concurring join opinion add brief statement express understanding holding notices error initiative federal rule criminal procedure see silber per curiam may awkward say case decided burden proof concepts definition none parties addressed issue opinion phrased care indicate burden proof concepts normal usual mode analysis error rule see ante rules may apply aggrieved party raised issue cases however party raised alleged error appeal context analysis adopts today helpful gives operative effect difference rule cases objection preserved leads final point independent force rule permitting alternates jury room deliberations careful note case submitted assumption error follow practice question premise indeed good reasons suppose federal rule criminal procedure product judgment jury system given stable constant structure one varied without consent parties see reply brief course lengthy trial defense counsel may numerous requests rulings pending district may acquiesce proposal bench concerning jury composition counsel concentrate matters deem pressing climate trial put counsel position object suggestion compromises federal rules case specific objection made overruled systemic costs resulting rule violation likely significant since seem difficult government show absence prejudice required avoid reversal conviction rule rule based certain premises group dynamics make difficult us know jury deliberations may affected defendants seeking reversal rule also likely experience difficulties proving prejudice makes clear today operation rule permit party withhold objection presence alternate jurors jury deliberations demand automatic reversal justice stevens justice white justice blackmun join dissenting federal rule criminal procedure trial judge case clear unqualified duty dismiss alternate jurors end trial indeed admit alternate jurors jury room afford stranger access room defendants guilt innocence decided question trial judge failure abide strictures rule resulted violation principle deliberations jury shall remain private secret every case advisory committee notes quoting virginia erection view equally evident violation implicated substantial rights within meaning rule agree suggestion part iii opinion rule errors may deemed affect substantial rights prejudicial impact particular defendant least defects bearing jury deliberative function subject reversal regardless whether prejudice shown difficult measure effects jury decision also defects undermin structural integrity criminal tribunal vasquez hillery racial discrimination selection grand jury see also gray mississippi powell concurring improper exclusion juror opposed death penalty whether harm defendant errors call question integrity jury deliberations may harm system whole sense may said seriously affect fairness integrity public reputation judicial proceedings atkinson making candidates reversal rule see young citing atkinson supra phrase substantial rights appears twice rule rule describes harmless error rule rule connection plain error rule see ante presumably words meaning time used majority understanding substantial rights correct even objection respondents alternates presence jury deliberations mandated reversal instead rule violation subject harmless error review affect substantial rights within meaning rule concur reasoning lead result respondents objected trial nonetheless refused follow plain dictates rule deliberately rejecting considered judgment rule drafters think clear reversal proper response without showing prejudice reading substantial rights way rule rule course eliminate difference cases objection made one nonforfeited error affecting substantial rights must corrected rule forfeited error however even plain affects substantial rights may corrected discretion reviewing rule see ante distinction automatic discretionary reversal gives practical effect difference harmless error plain error review also every incentive defendant raise objections trial level case instance say rule violation affected substantial rights purposes rule answer ultimate view difficult question presented whether appeals properly exercised discretion remedy error considering nature error degree respondents said consented procedure question see ante likelihood procedure actually affected outcome jury deliberations reasonable judge well concluded rule error case call reversal rule rather opinion emphasizing significance error designed provide guidance trial courts future cases might viewed appropriate response courts appeals however allowed wide measure discretion supervision litigation respective circuits see thomas arn certainly courts appeals better positioned evaluate need firm enforcement procedural rule designed protect integrity jury deliberations weigh interest enforcement relevant considerations persuaded appeals abused broad discretion affirm judgment