United States v. Antonelli Fireworks Co.

1. I have no respect for the humorless self-righteous sort of person who has a firm conviction that always he alone, of the entire regiment, is in step. Accordingly, when all my colleagues (whom I consider among the ablest of judges) repeatedly arrive at a certain conclusion, my sense of humor usually downs my doubts and nudges me into acquiescence. But on the subject of “harmless error” in criminal trials, I find myself, because of the deep seriousness of the matter, unable to follow that course.1 I am emboldened to persist in my disagreement by the fact that three times in the past few…