United States v. George

SELYA, Circuit Judge.

A Hail Mary pass in American football is a long forward pass made in desperation at the end of a game, with only a small chance of success. The writ of error co-ram nobis is its criminal-law equivalent. This appeal requires us to explore the intricacies of the writ, sift through the considerations that inform a determination to unleash that extraordinary remedy, and assess the extent to which discretion can influence a reviewing court’s decision about coram nobis relief. We conclude that a flexible, common-sense approach to coram nobis relief is warranted and that, in the…