Holding: Regardless whether a legal question was settled or unsettled at the time of trial, an error is “plain” within the meaning of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 52(b) so long as the error was plain at the time of appellate review.
Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 6-3, in an opinion by Justice Breyer on February 20, 2013. Justice Scalia filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Thomas and Justice Alito joined.
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