Misdirection

Noun

 * 1) An act of misleading, of convincing someone to concentrate in an incorrect direction.
 * The magician used misdirection to get us to watch his left hand while he did something with his right hand.
 * 1) (Legal - British English) An error of law within a judgement committed by a judge or judges of a lower court, particularly as found by an appeals court
 * Also self-misdirection

Thesaurus
bad policy, bum steer, college of Laputa, corruption, false coloring, impolicy, inexpedience, inexpediency, maladministration, malfeasance, malpractice, misadministration, misconduct, misconstruction, misfeasance, misgovernment, misguidance, mishandling, misinformation, misinstruction, misinterpretation, misknowledge, misleading, mismanagement, misrepresentation, misrule, misteaching, misuse, mystification, neglect, negligence, nonfeasance, obfuscation, obscurantism, obscuration, omission, perversion, slanting, sophistry, straining, torturing, wrongdoing