State v. Maddux

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The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the court of appeals awarding Defendant a new trial because of a plain error in a jury instruction on aiding and abetting, holding that the trial court erred in giving the aiding and abetting instruction but that the error did not amount to plain error.The jury convicted Defendant of several drug crimes. The Court of Appeals granted Defendant a new trial, holding that the trial court committed plain error in giving the aiding and abetting instruction. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) the Court of Appeals erred in reasoning that, absent the improper aiding and abetting instruction, the jury probably would have reached a different result and erred in applying the correct stander for plain error; and (2) given the evidence of Defendant’s guilt, the trial court’s error in giving the aiding and abetting instruction did not amount to plain error. View "State v. Maddux" on Justia Law