Plain Error

What is Plain Error?

A prejudicial error declared by an appellate court to be patently obvious in a lower court's decision or rulings, may require reversal of the lower court's decision. When appellant argues an issue on appeal that was not raised in the trial court, the court of appeals may review for plain error.

Further Reading

For more detailed information, see our related Evidence terms:

• Prejudicial Evidence
• Weight of Evidence
• Incriminating Evidence
• Probative Value

Reviewed by

Stephanie Bagnall

Licensed Attorney and Legal Researcher

Stephanie Bagnall is a Georgia-licensed attorney and legal researcher with experience in accessibility law, compliance, employment law, and legal writing. She helps develop and review BarPrepHero's Legal Terms content for clarity, accuracy, and usefulness to bar exam students.

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