United States v. Bachynsky

Today we consider whether there may be circumstances under which the harmless error provision of Rule 11(h), Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, obviates the need to vacate a plea of guilty or nolo contendere even though, during the plea colloquy specified in Rule 11(c)(1) for determining the defendant’s understanding of the maximum possible penalty provided by law, the district court fails totally to mention or explain the effect of any supervised release term to which the defendant is exposed. For the reasons set forth below, we respond affirmatively, concluding that a district court’s…