R. Moshe Sofer, better known as Chasam Sofer (1762-1839) is considered to have launched Orthodox Judaism. In response to the Reform movement, which sought to undermine the importance of various halachos and minhagim, Chasam Sofer adopted the approach of building up their status in order to render them inviolable. It therefore comes as a surprise to find him adopting a somewhat unorthodox approach to the question of rabbinic fallibility regarding the Sanhedrin.