FI L ED

U.S. COURT OF APPEAL S

EL EVENTH CI RCUI T

NOVEMB ER 29, 2010

J OHN L EY

CL ERK [ D O N O T P U B L I S H ]

I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S C O U R T O F A P P E A L S

F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C I R C U I T

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

N o

. 0 9

- 1 2 7 9 2

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

D

. C

. D o c k e t N o

. 0 4

- 0 0 0 1 4

- C R

- B A E

- 6

U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A

,

P l a i n t i f f

- A p p e l l e e

,

v e r s u s

J E N N I F E R B L A I N E

,

a

. k

. a

. J e n n i f

e r W a l k e r

,

D e f e n d a n t

- A p p e l l a n t

.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A p p e a l f r o m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s D i s t r i c t C o u r t

f o r t h e S o u t h e r n D i s t r i c t o f G e o r g i a

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

( N o v e m b e r 2 9

, 2 0 1 0 )

B e f o r e H U L L a n d M A R C U S

, C i r c u i t J u d g e s

, a n d W H I T T E M O R E

, D i s t r i c t *

J u d g e

.

Honora

ble J ames D. Whittemore, United States District Judge f or the Middle District of *

Florida , sitti ng by

desig nation.H U L L

, C i r c u i t J u d g e :

D e f e n d a n t J e n n i f

e r B l a i n e a p p e a l s t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s ( a ) d e n i a l o f h e r 1 8

U

. S

. C

. § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 ) m o t i o n f o r a s e n t e n c e r e d u c t i o n b a s e d o n A m e n d m e n t 7 0 6 t o

t h e S e n t e n c i n g G u i d e l i n e s

, ( b ) d e n i a l o f h e r m o t i o n f o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

, a n d ( c )

d e n i a l o f h e r m o t i o n f

o r a p p o i n t m e n t o f c o u n s e l i n h e r § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 ) p r o c e e d i n g s

.

A f t e r r e v i e w a n d o r a l a r g u m e n t

, w e a f f i r m i n p a r t a n d d i s m i s s i n p a r t

.

I

. F A C T U A L B A C K G R O U N D

A

. B l a i n e ’ s 2 0 0 4 S e n t e n c e

O n S e p t e m b e r 2 2

, 2 0 0 4

, D e f e n d a n t J e n n i f

e r B l a i n e ( “ B l a i n e ” ) p l e d g u i l t y t o

d i s t r i b u t i o n o f 5 g r a m s o r m o r e o f c o c a i n e b a s e ( “ c r a c k ” )

, i n v i o l a t i o n o f 2 1 U

. S

. C

.

§ 8 4 1 ( a )

.

T h e P r e s e n t e n c e I n v e s t i g a t i o n R e p o r t ( “ P S I ” ) a s s i g n e d B l a i n e a c r i m i n a l

h i s t o r y c a t e g o r y o f I I b a s e d o n : ( 1 ) o n e p o i n t f o r a 2 0 0 1 a f

f r a y c o n v i c t i o n

, a n d ( 2 )

t w o p o i n t s f

o r b e i n g o n p r o b a t i o n f

o r t h e a f f r a y c o n v i c t i o n w h e n s h e c o m m i t t e d t h e

i n s t a n t c o c a i n e o f

f e n s e

. T h e P S I r e p o r t e d B l a i n e ’ s t o t a l o f f e n s e l e v e l w a s 3 2

, a n d 1

Bla ine’s base offe nse leve l for her drug conviction was de termined with re fer ence to 1

“[t] he off ense le vel spec ified in the DrugQuantity Table se t forth in subsection (c ).” U .S.S.G.

§ 2D.1.1(a )(3) (2004). The PSI attributed to Bla ine a dr ug quantity

of 134.6 g rams of c rac k

coca ine base d on the drug s involved in the transac tions on Februa ry 6, 2002, Fe bruar

y 21, 2002,

and Aug ust 28, 2002. Pursuant to the 2004 version of the Dr ug Quantity

Table, the PSI assig ned

Bla ine a ba se off

ense le vel of 32 be cause her of fense involved at least 50 g rams but less than

150 g rams of c rac k coca ine. See U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c )(4) (2004). B laine did not appea l the

district court’s drugquantity finding or the district cour t’s g uidelines ca lculations based on that

2B l a i n e ’ s c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y c a t e g o r y w a s I I

, y i e l d i n g a n a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e o f

1 3 5 t o 1 6 8 m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t

.

A t t h e s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t r e m o v e d t h e t w o c r i m i n a l

h i s t o r y p o i n t s f

o r b e i n g o n p r o b a t i o n

, a n d t h u s B l a i n e ’ s c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y b e c a m e

c a t e g o r y I

. T h e g o v e r n m e n t d i d n o t o b j e c t t o t h e r e d u c t i o n o f B l a i n e ’ s c r i m i n a l

h i s t o r y f r o m c a t e g o r y I I t o I

. B a s e d u p o n a t o t a l o f f e n s e l e v e l o f 3 2 a n d a c r i m i n a l 2

h i s t o r y c a t e g o r y o f I

, B l a i n e ’ s a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e b e c a m e 1 2 1 t o 1 5 1

m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t

.

A t s e n t e n c i n g

, t h e p r o b a t i o n o f f i c e r t e s t i f

i e d t h a t B l a i n e h a d t e s t e d p o s i t i v e

f o r c o c a i n e a f

t e r p l e a d i n g g u i l t y b u t p r i o r t o s e n t e n c i n g

. T h e p r o b a t i o n o f f i c e r a l s o

p o i n t e d o u t t h a t r e d u c i n g B l a i n e ’ s c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y t o c a t e g o r y I m a d e h e r e l i g i b l e

f o r a s a f e t y v a l v e r e d u c t i o n

. I n r e s p o n s e

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t s a i d

, “ I w i l l c o n s i d e r i t

,

drug quantity

finding

.

The district cour

t stated, “I

think I will roll back those two points. Recalc ulate it 2

[P robation Off

icer ] Highsmith.” The district cour t confirmed tha t the g overnme nt had no

objection to rec alculating Bla ine’s cr iminal hist ory , but stated, “While I ’m ruling ag ainst the

probation off

icer , I think lega lly

he is corr ect . . . .” This colloquy then occ urre d:

District Court: W hat is the Total Off ense L evel now.

Mr. Hig hsmith: I t would stay at 32.

District Court: All right.

Mr. Hig hsmith: And the Criminal History Categ ory would be one.

District Court: All right.

Mr. Hig hsmith: That would be 121 months to 151 months im prisonment.

District Court : Ve ry g ood. Now, does the g overnme nt wish to be hear d as

to the appropr iate sente nce, Mr . Kra mer?

Mr. Kra mer: No, Your

Honor. We do not.

3b u t I ’ m n o t g o i n g t o i m p l e m e n t i t

. ” T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t s e n t e n c e d B l a i n e t o 1 2 1

m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t

, w h i c h w a s a t t h e l o w e n d o f t h e a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e

.

I n i t s s u b s e q u e n t w r i t t e n S t a t e m e n t o f R e a s o n s d a t e d D e c e m b e r 1 5

, 2 0 0 4

,

t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t i n d i c a t e d t h a t i t w a s a d o p t i n g t h e P S I a n d g u i d e l i n e s a p p l i c a t i o n s

w i t h o u t c h a n g e

. T h e S t a t e m e n t o f R e a s o n s d i d n o t r e f e r t o a c a t e g o r y I c r i m i n a l

h i s t o r y

, b u t s t a t e d t h a t B l a i n e ’ s t o t a l o f f e n s e l e v e l w a s 3 2

, h e r c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y

c a t e g o r y w a s I I

, a n d i m p r i s o n m e n t r a n g e b e f o r e d e p a r t u r e s w a s 1 3 5 t o 1 6 8 m o n t h s

.

T h e S t a t e m e n t o f R e a s o n s i n d i c a t e d t h a t a U

. S

. S

. G

. § 4 A 1

. 3 d e p a r t u r e b e l o w t h e

g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e w a s a p p r o p r i a t e b e c a u s e “ a c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y c a t e g o r y o f I I

s u b s t a n t i a l l y o v e r

- r e p r e s e n t s t h e s e r i o u s n e s s o f t h e d e f e n d a n t ’ s c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y

. ”

B l a i n e d i d n o t a p p e a l h e r o r i g i n a l 1 2 1

- m o n t h s e n t e n c e

. O n J u n e 7

, 2 0 0 5

,

B l a i n e f i l e d a m o t i o n t o v a c a t e h e r c r a c k c o c a i n e c o n v i c t i o n

, w h i c h w a s d e n i e d b y

t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t o n O c t o b e r 2 4

, 2 0 0 5

.

B

. B l a i n e ’ s 2 0 0 8 M o t i o n u n d e r § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 )

I n 2 0 0 7

, t h e S e n t e n c i n g C o m m i s s i o n p r o m u l g a t e d a m e n d m e n t s t o t h e

S e n t e n c i n g G u i d e l i n e s

, w h i c h r e t r o a c t i v e l y l o w e r e d

, b y t w o l e v e l s

, m o s t o f t h e

b a s e o f f e n s e l e v e l s a p p l i c a b l e t o c r a c k c o c a i n e o f f e n s e s

. S e e U

. S

. S

. G

. a p p

. C

,

a m e n d s

. 7 0 6

, 7 1 3

. T h e a m e n d e d D r u g Q u a n t i t y T a b l e p r o v i d e s f o r a b a s e o f

f e n s e

l e v e l o f 3 0 f

o r o f f e n s e s i n v o l v i n g a t l e a s t 5 0 g r a m s b u t l e s s t h a n 1 5 0 g r a m s o f

4c r a c k c o c a i n e

. S e e U

. S

. S

. G

. § 2 D 1

. 1 ( c ) ( 5 ) ( 2 0 0 9 )

. T h u s

, a f t e r A m e n d m e n t 7 0 6

,

t h e a p p l i c a b l e b a s e o f

f e n s e l e v e l f

o r B l a i n e ’ s o f

f e n s e w a s l o w e r e d f

r o m 3 2 t o 3 0

.

O n J a n u a r y 2 5

, 2 0 0 8

, B l a i n e f i l e d a m o t i o n f

o r t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f c o u n s e l t o

a s s i s t h e r i n f

i l i n g a s e n t e n c i n g r e d u c t i o n m o t i o n u n d e r 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 )

. I n

a n o r d e r d a t e d M a r c h 5

, 2 0 0 8

, t h e m a g i s t r a t e j u d g e d e n i e d B l a i n e ’ s m o t i o n t o

a p p o i n t c o u n s e l

.

O n M a r c h 1 1

, 2 0 0 8

, B l a i n e f i l e d

, p r o s e

, a § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 ) m o t i o n t o r e d u c e h e r

1 2 1

- m o n t h s e n t e n c e b a s e d o n A m e n d m e n t 7 0 6

. O n J u n e 2 3

, 2 0 0 8

, t h e d i s t r i c t

c o u r t d e n i e d B l a i n e ’ s § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 ) m o t i o n

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t f o u n d t h a t B l a i n e ’ s

p r e v i o u s o f

f e n s e l e v e l w a s 3 2

, s h e h a d a c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y c a t e g o r y o f I I

, w i t h a

r e s u l t i n g a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e o f 1 3 5 t o 1 6 8 m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t

.

A p p l y i n g A m e n d m e n t 7 0 6 ’ s t w o

- l e v e l r e d u c t i o n

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t f o u n d t h a t

B l a i n e ’ s a m e n d e d o f

f e n s e l e v e l w a s 3 0 a n d h e r c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y c a t e g o r y w a s I I

,

w i t h a r e s u l t i n g a m e n d e d g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e o f 1 0 8 t o 1 3 5 m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t

.

T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t h e n f o u n d t h a t B l a i n e ’ s o r i g i n a l 1 2 1

- m o n t h s e n t e n c e f e l l w i t h i n

h e r n e w g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e o f 1 0 8 t o 1 3 5 m o n t h s

, t h a t t h e s e n t e n c i n g c o u r t h a d

d e p a r t e d b e l o w B l a i n e ’ s o r i g i n a l g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e o f 1 3 5 t o 1 6 8 m o n t h s

, a n d t h a t

“ a s e n t e n c e o f 1 2 1 m o n t h s a d e q u a t e l y a d d r e s s e s t h e s e n t e n c i n g f a c t o r s f o u n d a t 1 8

5U

. S

. C

. § 3 5 5 3 ( a )

. ” 3

B l a i n e h a d 1 4 d a y s

, o r u n t i l J u l y 7

, 2 0 0 8

, t o a p p e a l t h e d e n i a l o f h e r

§ 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 ) m o t i o n

. S e e F e d

. R

. A p p

. P

. 4 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( A )

. B l a i n e d i d n o t f i l e a n o t i c e 4

o f a p p e a l w i t h i n t h a t t i m e f r a m e

.

C

. B l a i n e ’ s M o t i o n f o r R e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

O n J u l y 1 6

, 2 0 0 8

, B l a i n e f i l e d a m o t i o n f

o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e J u n e 2 3

,

2 0 0 8 d e n i a l o f h e r § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 ) m o t i o n

. B l a i n e ’ s m o t i o n f o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n w a s

f i l e d 2 3 d a y s a f

t e r t h a t J u n e 2 3 d e n i a l

.

B l a i n e ’ s m o t i o n f

o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n a r g u e d t h a t

, i n d e n y i n g h e r § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 )

m o t i o n

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t i n c o r r e c t l y r e c a l c u l a t e d B l a i n e ’ s n e w b a s e o f f e n s e l e v e l

a n d n e w g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e f i n d i n g s o f t h e c o u r t d u r i n g t h e

o r i g i n a l s e n t e n c i n g

. B l a i n e p o i n t e d o u t t h a t ( 1 ) h e r o r i g i n a l s e n t e n c e w a s b a s e d o n

a n o f f e n s e l e v e l o f 3 2 a n d a c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y c a t e g o r y o f I

, r e s u l t i n g i n a n a d v i s o r y

The same district court judg e who or igina lly sentenc ed B laine and w rote the Stateme nt 3

of Reasons a lso ruled on B laine’s motions in her § 3582(c ) proc eeding s.

I n 2008 and until Dece mber 1, 2009, for mer Rule 4(b) g ave a

criminal def

endant ten 4

day s from the e ntry

of the orde r appe aled to file a notice of a

ppeal. F ed. R. App. P. 4(b)(1) (A)( i)

(2009). The curr ent filing deadline of fourtee n day s in Rule 4(b) went into ef fec t on Dece mber

1, 2009. The Supreme Court’s order amending the Fe dera l Rules of Appellate Proc edure instruct

that the amendme nts “shall g overn a ll procee dings in a ppellate c ases” commence d afte r

Dec ember

1, 2009 “and, insofa

r as just and pra cticable , all proce eding s then pending .” Or der of

Marc h 26, 2009.

Be cause Bla ine’s appe al bef ore this Court was pe nding a s of Dec ember 1, 2009, and the

amendments ha ve no mater ial eff ect on the outc ome of this appea l, we exerc ise our discre tion

and apply the amende d fourtee n-day period in Rule 4(b) thr oug hout this opi nion.

6g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e o f 1 2 1 t o 1 5 1 m o n t h s

, ( 2 ) t h a t h e r 1 2 1

- m o n t h s e n t e n c e w a s a t t h e

l o w e n d o f t h a t i n i t i a l r a n g e

, ( 3 ) t h a t a t w o

- l e v e l r e d u c t i o n i n h e r b a s e o f f e n s e l e v e l

( b a s e d u p o n A m e n d m e n t 7 0 6 ) r e s u l t s i n a b a s e o f f e n s e l e v e l o f 3 0

, w h i c h w i t h h e r

c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y o f c a t e g o r y I

, y i e l d s a n e w a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e o f 9 7 t o 1 2 1

m o n t h s

, a n d ( 4 ) t h a t h e r n e w s e n t e n c e s h o u l d b e 9 7 m o n t h s

, w h i c h i s a t t h e l o w

e n d o f t h a t r e c a l c u l a t e d r a n g e

. 5

O n A p r i l 9

, 2 0 0 9

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d e n i e d B l a i n e ’ s m o t i o n f o r

r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n f

o r t h e s a m e r e a s o n s s t a t e d i n i t s e a r l i e r d e n i a l o f B l a i n e ’ s

§ 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 ) m o t i o n

.

D

. B l a i n e ’ s N o t i c e o f A p p e a l

B l a i n e t h e n f

i l e d a n o t i c e o f a p p e a l

, i n w h i c h s h e

, p r o s e

, a p p e a l e d t h e

d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s o r d e r s e n t e r e d o n M a r c h 5

, 2 0 0 8 ( d e n i a l o f c o u n s e l )

, J u n e 2 3

, 2 0 0 8

( d e n i a l o f § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 ) m o t i o n )

, a n d A p r i l 9

, 2 0 0 9 ( d e n i a l o f m o t i o n o f

Bla ine’s motion for re consideration also arg ued that, at the or igina l 2004 sentencing , the 5

district court er

red by using the 134.6 g rams-qua ntity (the PSI attributed to Bla ine) to dete rmine

Bla ine’s initial offense level of 32. B laine’s motion arg ued that the 134.6- g ram a mount was not

admitted during her g uilty plea or submitt ed to a jury

and prove n bey ond a re asonable doubt.

Bla ine’s motion contended tha t the district court wa s require d to use only the 18 to 20 g ram

amount to which she stipulated at the time of her ne g otiated g uilty

plea a nd that in 2004 her

corr ect ba se off

ense le vel was 26, w hich, af ter Ame ndment 706, should be reduc ed to level 24.

Bla ine does not ra ise this arg ument on appea l, and, in any event, this arg

ument is outside the

limit ed scope of a § 3582( c)( 2) proc eeding . See United States v. B ravo, 203 F .3d 778, 781-82

(11th Cir. 2000) (e x plaining tha t in § 3582(c)( 2) proc eeding s, “all orig inal sentenc ing

deter minations remain uncha

ng ed with the sole e x ception of” the amende d g uideline, which the

district court substitutes to reca lculate the g uidelines rang e bef ore de ciding whether

to exercise

its discretion to either impose a ne w sentenc e or r etain the old sente nce)

.

7r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n )

. A t t a c h e d t o B l a i n e ’ s n o t i c e o f a p p e a l w a s a s t a t e m e n t s i g n e d b y

B l a i n e c e r t i f

y i n g t h a t o n A p r i l 1 6

, 2 0 0 9 s h e p l a c e d t h e n o t i c e o f a p p e a l i n t h e

h a n d s o f p r i s o n o f

f i c i a l s w i t h f

i r s t c l a s s p o s t a g e f

o r m a i l i n g

. H o w e v e r

, B l a i n e ’ s

n o t i c e o f a p p e a l w a s n o t d o c k e t e d i n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t u n t i l M a y 2 9

, 2 0 0 9

.

O n A u g u s t 1 8

, 2 0 0 9

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t e n t e r e d a n o r d e r g r a n t i n g B l a i n e ’ s

m o t i o n t o a p p e a l i n f

o r m a p a u p e r i s

. I n t h a t o r d e r

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t a d d r e s s e d

B l a i n e ’ s o r i g i n a l 1 2 1

- m o n t h s e n t e n c e a n d t h e i s s u e o f w h e t h e r t h a t c o u r t h a d

a c t u a l l y r u l e d t h a t B l a i n e ’ s c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y w a s c a t e g o r y I o r w h e t h e r i t h a d

g r a n t e d a d o w n w a r d d e p a r t u r e a t t h e o r i g i n a l s e n t e n c i n g

, s t a t i n g :

A t s e n t e n c i n g

, B l a i n e ’ s c o u n s e l e f f e c t i v e l y a r g u e d t h a t s u c h a

h i s t o r y d i d n o t j u s t i f

y a s s i g n i n g B l a i n e a c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y c a t e g o r y o f

I I

. T h u s

, t h e C o u r t s e n t e n c e d h e r t o 1 2 1 m o n t h s

, w h i c h w a s t h e

l o w e s t s e n t e n c e i n t h e r a n g e t h a t s h e w o u l d h a v e b e e n a s s i g n e d i f s h e

h a d b e e n a s s i g n e d a c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y o f I

. T h e C o u r t f e l t t h a t t h i s

s e n t e n c e b e s t s e r v e d t h e i n t e r e s t s o f j u s t i c e

. T h e g o v e r n m e n t a g r e e d

w i t h t h e s e n t e n c e a n d d i d n o t o b j e c t t o t h e C o u r t ’ s a c t i o n

.

T h e r e i s c o n f

u s i o n o v e r w h e t h e r t h e C o u r t o r i g i n a l l y g r a n t e d

B l a i n e a d o w n w a r d d e p a r t u r e o r w h e t h e r i t h a d a c t u a l l y r u l e d t h a t h e r

c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y s h o u l d b e I

. A f t e r r e v i e w i n g t h e s e n t e n c i n g

t r a n s c r i p t

, t h e r e i s c e r t a i n l y l a n g u a g e s u p p o r t i n g B l a i n e ’ s c o n t e n t i o n

t h a t t h e C o u r t f

o u n d t h a t s h e h a d a c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y o f I

. O n t h e o t h e r

h a n d

, t h e C o u r t n o t e d t h a t t h e p a r o l e o f f i c e r w a s “ l e g a l l y c o r r e c t ” t o

a s s i g n B l a i n e a c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y c a t e g o r y o f I I

. W h e n t h i s C o u r t r u l e d

o n B l a i n e ’ s m o t i o n f

o r a s e n t e n c e r e d u c t i o n

, i t s v i e w w a s t h a t i t h a d

o r i g i n a l l y “ d e p a r t e d b e l o w [ B l a i n e ] ’ s o r i g i n a l g u i d e l i n e r a n g e

. ”

A d m i t t e d l y

, t h e C o u r t c o u l d h a v e m a d e i t c l e a r e r d u r i n g s e n t e n c i n g

w h e t h e r i t w a s g r a n t i n g a d o w n w a r d d e p a r t u r e o r a c t u a l l y r u l i n g t h a t

B l a i n e ’ s c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y s h o u l d b e I

.

I n a n y e v e n t

, e v e n i f B l a i n e ’ s s e n t e n c i n g g u i d e l i n e r a n g e w e r e

8r e c a l c u l a t e d b a s e d o n a c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y o f I

, B l a i n e ’ s c u r r e n t s e n t e n c e

w o u l d f a l l w i t h i n t h e a m e n d e d g u i d e l i n e r a n g e ( a l b e i t a t t h e h i g h e n d )

o f 9 7 t o 1 2 1 m o n t h s

. I n d e n y i n g B l a i n e ’ s m o t i o n f o r a s e n t e n c e

r e d u c t i o n

, t h e C o u r t f

o u n d t h a t t h e s e n t e n c e f a l l s w i t h i n t h e a m e n d e d

g u i d e l i n e r a n g e a n d a d e q u a t e l y a d d r e s s e s t h e s e n t e n c i n g f a c t o r s s e t

f o r t h i n 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 3 5 5 3 ( a )

. T h a t r e m a i n s t r u e w h e t h e r B l a i n e ’ s

s e n t e n c e w a s o r i g i n a l l y c a l c u l a t e d b a s e d o n a c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y o f I o r

I I

.

( C i t a t i o n s o m i t t e d

, b r a c k e t s i n o r i g i n a l

. ) O f i m p o r t a n c e h e r e i s t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s

d e t e r m i n a t i o n t h a t i t w o u l d i m p o s e t h e s a m e 1 2 1

- m o n t h s e n t e n c e w h e t h e r B l a i n e ’ s

c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y c a t e g o r y w a s I o r I I

.

E

. B r i e f

i n g o n A p p e a l a s t o § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) P r o c e e d i n g s

O n A u g u s t 3 1

, 2 0 0 9

, B l a i n e

, p r o s e

, f i l e d h e r b r i e f o n a p p e a l

.

O n S e p t e m b e r 2 8

, 2 0 0 9

, t h e g o v e r n m e n t f i l e d i t s b r i e f c l a i m i n g B l a i n e ’ s a p p e a l

w a s n o t t i m e l y f

i l e d

.

O n J a n u a r y 1 9

, 2 0 1 0

, t h i s C o u r t a p p o i n t e d c o u n s e l f o r B l a i n e a n d d i r e c t e d

t h e p a r t i e s t o f

i l e s u p p l e m e n t a l b r i e f

s a d d r e s s i n g t h e s e i s s u e s : ( 1 ) W h e t h e r B l a i n e ’ s

p r o s e n o t i c e o f a p p e a l w a s t i m e l y f i l e d a s t o e i t h e r t h e d e n i a l o f B l a i n e ’ s 1 8 U

. S

. C

.

§ 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 ) m o t i o n t o r e d u c e h e r s e n t e n c e o r t h e d e n i a l o f B l a i n e ’ s m o t i o n f o r

r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n ; a n d ( 2 ) w h e t h e r

, i n l i g h t o f E b e r h a r t v

. U n i t e d S t a t e s

, 5 4 6 U

. S

. 1 2

,

1 2 6 S

. C t

. 4 0 3 ( 2 0 0 5 )

, t h i s C o u r t h a s j u r i s d i c t i o n a l t h o u g h B l a i n e ’ s m o t i o n f o r

r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n w a s d a t e d J u l y 1 6

, 2 0 0 8

, m o r e t h a n f o u r t e e n d a y s a f

t e r e n t r y o f t h e

d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s J u n e 2 3

, 2 0 0 8 o r d e r d e n y i n g B l a i n e ’ s § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 ) m o t i o n

.

9I I

. D I S C U S S I O N

O n a p p e a l

, t h e g o v e r n m e n t a r g u e s t h a t B l a i n e ’ s n o t i c e o f a p p e a l w a s

d o c k e t e d o n M a y 2 9

, 2 0 0 9

, a n d i s u n t i m e l y a s t o b o t h ( 1 ) t h e A p r i l 9

, 2 0 0 9 d e n i a l

o f h e r m o t i o n f

o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n a n d ( 2 ) t h e J u n e 2 3

, 2 0 0 8 d e n i a l o f h e r § 3 5 8 2 ( c )

m o t i o n

. B l a i n e r e p l i e s t h a t s h e t i m e l y s u b m i t t e d h e r n o t i c e o f a p p e a l t o p r i s o n

o f f i c i a l s o n A p r i l 1 6

, 2 0 0 9

, m a k i n g i t t i m e l y a s t o t h e A p r i l 9

, 2 0 0 9 d e n i a l o f h e r

m o t i o n f o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

. B l a i n e a l s o c o n t e n d s h e r m o t i o n f o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

t o l l e d t h e t i m e f

o r a p p e a l i n g t h e J u n e 2 3

, 2 0 0 8 d e n i a l o f h e r § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) m o t i o n

. W e

f i r s t r e v i e w t h e r e l e v a n t g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s a n d t h e n a p p l y t h e m t o B l a i n e ’ s a p p e a l

. 6

A

. T i m e R e q u i r e m e n t s f o r N o t i c e o f A p p e a l

T o b e t i m e l y

, a d e f

e n d a n t ’ s n o t i c e o f a p p e a l i n a c r i m i n a l c a s e m u s t b e f i l e d

i n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t n o l a t e r t h a n f o u r t e e n d a y s a f

t e r t h e c h a l l e n g e d o r d e r i s e n t e r e d

.

S e e F e d

. R

. A p p

. P

. 4 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( A )

. H o w e v e r

, u n l i k e t h e c i v i l a p p e a l r u l e s

, t h e

d e a d l i n e i n R u l e 4 ( b ) f

o r c r i m i n a l d e f

e n d a n t s i s n o t j u r i s d i c t i o n a l b e c a u s e i t i s n o t

g r o u n d e d i n a f

e d e r a l s t a t u t e

. U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. L o p e z

, 5 6 2 F

. 3 d 1 3 0 9

, 1 3 1 1

- 1 3

( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 9 )

. N e v e r t h e l e s s

, t h i s C o u r t m u s t a p p l y t h e R u l e 4 ( b ) t i m e l i m i t s

u p o n o b j e c t i o n b y t h e g o v e r n m e n t t o a d e f e n d a n t ’ s u n t i m e l y n o t i c e o f a p p e a l

.

L o p e z

, 5 6 2 F

. 3 d a t 1 3 1 3

. S p e c i f i c a l l y

, t h i s C o u r t

, i n L o p e z

, h e l d t h a t “ [ t ] i m e

We review questions of appe llate jurisdiction de novo. United States v. Cartwr ight, 413 6

F.3d 1295, 1299 ( 11th Cir. 2005).

10l i m i t a t i o n s i n c o u r t

- a d o p t e d r u l e s o f p r o c e d u r e a r e n o t j u r i s d i c t i o n a l ; t h o s e

d e a d l i n e s p r o v i d e r u l e s f o r p r o c e s s i n g c l a i m s t h a t ‘ a s s u r e r e l i e f t o a p a r t y p r o p e r l y

r a i s i n g t h e m

, b u t d o n o t c o m p e l t h e s a m e r e s u l t i f t h e p a r t y f o r f e i t s t h e m

. ’ ” I d

. a t

1 3 1 2 ( q u o t i n g a n d a p p l y i n g r u l e r e c o g n i z e d i n E b e r h a r t v

. U n i t e d S t a t e s

, 5 4 6 U

. S

.

1 2

, 1 9

, 1 2 6 S

. C t

. 4 0 3

, 4 0 7 ( 2 0 0 5 ) )

. I n L o p e z

, t h i s C o u r t a l s o h e l d t h a t a n a p p e l l e e

d o e s n o t f

o r f e i t i t s o b j e c t i o n t o a n u n t i m e l y f i l e d n o t i c e o f a p p e a l b y r a i s i n g i t f o r

t h e f i r s t t i m e i n i t s m e r i t s b r i e f

, n o t i n g t h a t “ [ t ] h e r e i s n o p r o v i s i o n i n t h e F e d e r a l

R u l e o f C r i m i n a l P r o c e d u r e o r t h e F e d e r a l R u l e o f A p p e l l a t e P r o c e d u r e r e q u i r i n g

e a r l i e r o b j e c t i o n t o a l a t e n o t i c e o f a p p e a l

. ” I d

. a t 1 3 1 3 ( q u o t i n g U n i t e d S t a t e s v

.

G a r d u n o

, 5 0 6 F

. 3 d 1 2 8 7

, 1 2 9 2 ( 1 0 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 7 ) )

.

A n o t i c e o f a p p e a l f

i l e d b y a p r o s e p r i s o n e r i s d e e m e d f i l e d o n t h e d a t e t h e

p r i s o n e r d e l i v e r s i t t o p r i s o n a u t h o r i t i e s f o r m a i l i n g o r p l a c e s i t i n t h e p r i s o n m a i l

s y s t e m

. S e e F e d

. R

. A p p

. P

. 4 ( c ) ; H o u s t o n v

. L a c k

, 4 8 7 U

. S

. 2 6 6

, 2 7 6

, 1 0 8 S

. C t

.

2 3 7 9

, 2 3 8 5 ( 1 9 8 8 ) ; W i l l i a m s v

. M c N e i l

, 5 5 7 F

. 3 d 1 2 8 7

, 1 2 9 0 n

. 2 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. )

, c e r t

.

d e n i e d

,

_ _ U

. S

.

_ _ , 1 2 9 S

. C t

. 2 7 4 7 ( 2 0 0 9 )

. “ T i m e l y f i l i n g m a y b e s h o w n b y a

d e c l a r a t i o n i n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h 2 8 U

. S

. C

. § 1 7 4 6 o r b y a n o t a r i z e d s t a t e m e n t

, e i t h e r

o f w h i c h m u s t s e t f

o r t h t h e d a t e o f d e p o s i t a n d s t a t e t h a t f i r s t

- c l a s s p o s t a g e h a s

b e e n p r e p a i d

. ” F e d

. R

. A p p

. P

. 4 ( c ) ( 1 )

. A b s e n t e v i d e n c e t o t h e c o n t r a r y

, t h e r e i s a

p r e s u m p t i o n t h a t a p r i s o n e r d e l i v e r e d h e r p l e a d i n g t o p r i s o n o f f i c i a l s o n “ t h e d a y

11[ s h e ] s i g n e d i t

. ” S e e W a s h i n g t o n v

. U n i t e d S t a t e s

, 2 4 3 F

. 3 d 1 2 9 9

, 1 3 0 1 ( 1 1 t h C i r

.

2 0 0 1 )

.

B

. B l a i n e ’ s N o t i c e o f A p p e a l

T u r n i n g t o B l a i n e ’ s a p p e a l

, w e r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s b r i e f o n

a p p e a l c o n t e n d s t h i s C o u r t s h o u l d u s e M a y 2 9

, 2 0 0 9 a s t h e d a t e B l a i n e f i l e d h e r

n o t i c e o f a p p e a l i n h e r § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) p r o c e e d i n g s

. B e c a u s e B l a i n e

, o n A p r i l 1 6

, 2 0 0 9

,

p l a c e d h e r n o t i c e o f a p p e a l i n t h e h a n d s o f p r i s o n o f f i c i a l s w i t h f

i r s t c l a s s p o s t a g e

a f f i x e d

, w e u s e A p r i l 1 6

, 2 0 0 9 a s t h e a p p e a l d a t e a n d n o t t h e M a y 2 9

, 2 0 0 9 d a t e

h e r n o t i c e o f a p p e a l w a s d o c k e t e d i n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

. S e e H o u s t o n

, 4 8 7 U

. S

. a t

2 7 6 ( c o n c l u d i n g t h a t “ n o t i c e o f a p p e a l [ i s ] f i l e d a t t h e t i m e [ t h e p r i s o n e r ] d e l i v e r e d

i t t o t h e p r i s o n a u t h o r i t i e s f o r f o r w a r d i n g i t t o t h e c o u r t c l e r k

. ” )

.

B e c a u s e B l a i n e ’ s n o t i c e o f a p p e a l i s d e e m e d f i l e d o n A p r i l 1 6

, 2 0 0 9

, h e r

n o t i c e i s t i m e l y f

i l e d a s t o t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s A p r i l 9

, 2 0 0 9 d e n i a l o f B l a i n e ’ s

m o t i o n f o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

. S e e W a s h i n g t o n

, 2 4 3 F

. 3 d a t 1 3 0 1

. H o w e v e r

,

B l a i n e ’ s A p r i l 1 6

, 2 0 0 9 n o t i c e o f a p p e a l i s n o t t i m e l y f i l e d a s t o t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s

J u n e 2 3

, 2 0 0 8 o r d e r d e n y i n g h e r § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 ) m o t i o n f o r s e v e r a l r e a s o n s

, a n y o n e

o f w h i c h i s s u f

f i c i e n t

.

F i r s t

, t h e g o v e r n m e n t h a s n o t f o r f e i t e d i t s o b

j e c t i o n t o B l a i n e ’ s u n t i m e l y

n o t i c e o f a p p e a l b e c a u s e i t p r o p e r l y o b j e c t e d i n t h i s C o u r t

. B e c a u s e t h e

12g o v e r n m e n t h a s n o t f o r f e i t e d i t s o b

j e c t i o n t o B l a i n e ’ s u n t i m e l y n o t i c e o f a p p e a l

,

w e m u s t a p p l y t h e t i m e l i m i t s o f R u l e 4 ( b )

. S e e L o p e z

, 5 6 2 F

. 3 d a t 1 3 1 3

. U n d e r

R u l e 4 ( b )

, B l a i n e h a d f

o u r t e e n d a y s f

r o m J u n e 2 3

, 2 0 0 8

, o r u n t i l J u l y 7

, 2 0 0 8

, t o

a p p e a l t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s d e n i a l o f h e r § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) m o t i o n

. S e e F e d

. R

. A p p

. P

.

2 6 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( c o u n t i n g e v e r y d a y

, i n c l u d i n g i n t e r m e d i a t e S a t u r d a y s

, S u n d a y s a n d l e g a l

h o l i d a y s )

. B l a i n e ’ s n o t i c e o f a p p e a l w a s n o t f i l e d u n t i l A p r i l 1 6

, 2 0 0 9

, a n d i s 7

t h e r e f o r e u n t i m e l y u n d e r R u l e 4 ( b )

.

S e c o n d

, w e r e c o g n i z e t h a t R u l e 4 ( b ) ( 4 ) p e r m i t s t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

, u p o n a

f i n d i n g o f e x c u s a b l e n e g l e c t o r g o o d c a u s e

, t o e x t e n d t h e t i m e f o r B l a i n e t o f

i l e a

n o t i c e o f a p p e a l b y n o m o r e t h a n t h i r t y d a y s f r o m t h e f o u r t e e n

- d a y d e a d l i n e o f J u l y

7

, 2 0 0 8

. S e e F e d

. R

. A p p

. P

. 4 ( b ) ( 4 ) ; U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. W a r d

, 6 9 6 F

. 2 d 1 3 1 5

, 1 3 1 7

-

1 8 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 8 3 )

. T h a t t h i r t y

- d a y p e r i o d e n d e d o n A u g u s t 6

, 2 0 0 8

, b u t a g a i n

,

B l a i n e d i d n o t f

i l e h e r n o t i c e o f a p p e a l u n t i l A p r i l 1 6

, 2 0 0 9

. A f t e r A u g u s t 6

, 2 0 0 8

,

t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

, e v e n u p o n a f i n d i n g o f e x c u s a b l e n e g l e c t o r g o o d c a u s e

, w a s n o t

a u t h o r i z e d t o g r a n t B l a i n e ’ s u n t i m e l y n o t i c e o f a p p e a l

. T h u s

, a r e m a n d w o u l d n o t

Under either the ten-da

y or the four

teen- day version of Rule 4( b), B laine’s Apr il 16, 7

2009 notice of a

ppeal is untimely . See supra note 6.

To the extent Blaine’ s counsel sug g ests we should trea t her § 3582 proc eeding

as a c ivil

proce eding and use a

thirty -day

appea l time, this Court and other c ircuits have a lrea dy conclude d

that a § 3582(c )(2) proce eding is not civil i n nature . United States v. Webb, 565 F.3d 789, 794

(11th Cir. 2009) (indica ting § 3582( c)( 2) motions are “ a continuation of a criminal ca se” r ather

than a “ civil post-conviction action like a ha beas pe tition” (quotation marks omitted)); United

States v. Fa ir, 326 F.3d 1317, 1318 ( 11th Cir. 2003) (same a nd listi ng other c ircuit ca ses).

13a i d B l a i n e b e c a u s e h e r A p r i l 1 6

, 2 0 0 9 n o t i c e o f a p p e a l w o u l d s t i l l b e u n t i m e l y e v e n

i f s h e s h o w e d e x c u s a b l e n e g l e c t o r g o o d c a u s e

.

T h i r d

, B l a i n e ’ s J u l y 1 6

, 2 0 0 8 m o t i o n f o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d i d n o t t o l l t h e

a p p e a l p e r i o d a s t o t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s J u n e 2 3

, 2 0 0 8 d e n i a l o f h e r § 3 5 8 2 ( c )

m o t i o n

. A l t h o u g h n o t e x p r e s s l y a u t h o r i z e d b y t h e F e d e r a l R u l e s o f C r i m i n a l

P r o c e d u r e

, a m o t i o n f

o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f a n a p p e a l a b l e c r i m i n a l o r d e r w i l l t o l l

t h e t i m e f

o r f i l i n g a n o t i c e o f a p p e a l i f s u c h m o t i o n i s f i l e d w i t h i n t h e a p p e a l

p e r i o d

. S e e U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. D i e t e r

, 4 2 9 U

. S

. 6

, 8

- 9

, 9 7 S

. C t

. 1 8

, 1 9

- 2 0 ( 1 9 7 6 ) ;

U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. V i c a r i a

, 9 6 3 F

. 2 d 1 4 1 2

, 1 4 1 3

- 1 4 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 2 )

. A s n o t e d

a b o v e

, B l a i n e h a d f

o u r t e e n d a y s

, o r u n t i l J u l y 7

, 2 0 0 8

, t o a p p e a l t h e J u n e 2 3

, 2 0 0 8

d e n i a l o f h e r § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) m o t i o n

. A c c o r d i n g l y

, B l a i n e h a d t o f i l e h e r m o t i o n f

o r

r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n w i t h i n f o u r t e e n d a y s

, o r b y J u l y 7

, 2 0 0 8

, i n o r d e r t o t o l l t h e t i m e

f o r f i l i n g a n o t i c e o f a p p e a l

. B l a i n e d i d n o t f i l e h e r m o t i o n f

o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

u n t i l J u l y 1 6

, 2 0 0 8

, a n d t h u s n o t o l l i n g o c c u r r e d

. 8

We rejec t Blaine ’s ar g ument that her pr ocedur al due pr ocess r ights we re violate d. “[A] 8

§ 3582(c) (2) motion is simpl y a vehic le throug h which appr opriately sentenc ed prisoner s can

urg e the c ourt to exercise lenie ncy to give cer

tain defe ndants the bene fits of an a mendment to the

Guidelines, ra ther than a

challeng e to the appr opriatene ss of the orig inal sentenc e.” U nited

States v. Webb, 565 F.3d 789, 794 (11th Cir. 2009) (quota tion marks omitted). A defe ndant

bring ing a

§ 3582(c) (2) motion has no statutory or constitutional rig ht to appointed counsel or to

a hea ring befor e the district cour t or to be pre sent at such a hear ing. I d. at 795. Ther e is also no

statutory or other r equire ment that district courts in their § 3582(c )(2) order s must advise

defe ndants in writing tha t they have te n or four

teen da y s to appea l the ruling on a § 3582(c )(2)

motion. Under the mailbox rule, all Blaine had to do was g ive her notice of a

ppeal to the pr ison

officia ls by

either July

7, 2008, or at lea st by

Aug ust 6, 2008, seeking a thirty -day extension

14F o r a l l t h e s e r e a s o n s

, B l a i n e ’ s n o t i c e o f a p p e a l i s u n t i m e l y a s t o t h e d i s t r i c t

c o u r t ’ s d e n i a l o f h e r M a r c h 5

, 2 0 0 8 r e q u e s t f o r a p p o i n t e d c o u n s e l a n d t h e J u n e 2 3

,

2 0 0 8 d e n i a l o f h e r § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 ) m o t i o n

. W e t h e r e f o r e d i s m i s s B l a i n e ’ s a p p e a l a s 9

t o t h e s e t w o o r d e r s a n d a d d r e s s o n l y t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s A p r i l 9

, 2 0 0 9 d e n i a l o f

B l a i n e ’ s m o t i o n f

o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

, t h e o n l y o r d e r f o r w h i c h B l a i n e ’ s n o t i c e o f

a p p e a l i s t i m e l y

.

C

. M o t i o n f

o r R e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

B l a i n e a r g u e s t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t s h o u l d h a v e g r a n t e d h e r m o t i o n f o r

r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n b e c a u s e t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t f a i l e d t o p r o p e r l y r e c a l c u l a t e h e r

g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e u s i n g a c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y c a t e g o r y I

.

W e a f f i r m t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s d e n i a l o f B l a i n e ’ s m o t i o n f o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

b e c a u s e

, b y t h e t i m e B l a i n e f i l e d h e r m o t i o n o n J u l y 1 6

, 2 0 0 8

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

l a c k e d j u r i s d i c t i o n t o m o d i f y B l a i n e ’ s 1 2 1

- m o n t h s e n t e n c e ( r e i m p o s e d e f f e c t i v e l y

o n J u n e 2 3

, 2 0 0 8 )

. S e e U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. P h i l l i p s

, 5 9 7 F

. 3 d 1 1 9 0

, 1 1 9 8 ( 1 1 t h C i r

.

2 0 1 0 )

. T h e a u t h o r i t y o f a d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o m o d i f y a s e n t e n c e “ i s n a r r o w l y l i m i t e d

under Rule 4( b)(4) . Given that the r ules build in a thirty -day

extension for excusable neg lect, we

see no due proce ss violation where B laine did not file her notice of a

ppeal until April 6, 2009.

Bla ine’s Apr il 16, 2009 notice of appe al is even more untimely as to the district court’ s 9

Marc h 5, 2008 order

deny ing he r motion for appointed c ounsel. Bla ine’s notice of appea l was

not filed within either the f ourtee n-day

period in Rule 4(b)( 1)(a ) or the thirty -day period in Rule

4(b)( 4). Nor did she file a motion for r econside ration within fourtee n day s of that Marc h 5, 2008

order to toll t he time for f

iling the notice of appe al.

15b y s t a t u t e

. ” I d

. a t 1 1 9 4

- 9 5

. U n d e r § 3 5 8 2 ( c )

, “ a c o u r t m a y n o t m o d i f y a n

i m p r i s o n m e n t s e n t e n c e e x c e p t i n t h e s e t h r e e c i r c u m s t a n c e s : ( 1 ) w h e r e t h e B u r e a u

o f P r i s o n s h a s f

i l e d a m o t i o n a n d e i t h e r e x t r a o r d i n a r y a n d c o m p e l l i n g r e a s o n s

w a r r a n t a r e d u c t i o n o r t h e d e f e n d a n t i s a t l e a s t 7 0 y e a r s o l d a n d m e e t s c e r t a i n o t h e r

r e q u i r e m e n t s ; ( 2 ) w h e r e a n o t h e r s t a t u t e o r F e d e r a l R u l e o f C r i m i n a l P r o c e d u r e 3 5

e x p r e s s l y p e r m i t s a s e n t e n c e m o d i f i c a t i o n ; o r ( 3 ) w h e r e a d e f e n d a n t h a s b e e n

s e n t e n c e d t o a t e r m o f i m p r i s o n m e n t b a s e d o n a s e n t e n c i n g r a n g e t h a t w a s

s u b s e q u e n t l y l o w e r e d b y t h e C o m m i s s i o n a n d c e r t a i n o t h e r r e q u i r e m e n t s a r e m e t

. ”

P h i l l i p s

, 5 9 7 F

. 3 d a t 1 1 9 4

- 9 5 ( c i t a t i o n s o m i t t e d ) ; s e e a l s o 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 1 )

-

( 2 )

. “ T h i s C o u r t h a s h e l d t h a t t h e s e v e n

- d a y t i m e l i m i t i n R u l e 3 5 ( a ) i s

j u r i s d i c t i o n a l

, a n d o u t s i d e o f R u l e 3 5 ( c ) t h e r e e x i s t s n o ‘ i n h e r e n t a u t h o r i t y ’ f o r a

d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o m o d i f

y i t s s e n t e n c e

. ” I d

. a t 1 1 9 6

- 9 7

.

I n i t s o r d e r d e n y i n g B l a i n e ’ s § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 ) m o t i o n

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

, i n f a c t

,

m o d i f i e d B l a i n e ’ s s e n t e n c i n g g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e f r o m 1 3 5 t o 1 6 8 m o n t h s ’

i m p r i s o n m e n t t o 1 0 8 t o 1 3 5 m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t

. H o w e v e r

, a f t e r c o n s i d e r i n g

t h e § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) f

a c t o r s

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t r e i m p o s e d t h e o r i g i n a l 1 2 1

- m o n t h s e n t e n c e

.

A f t e r r u l i n g o n B l a i n e ’ s § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 ) s e n t e n c i n g m o t i o n

, a l b e i t w i t h n o c h a n g e i n

t h e d u r a t i o n o f h e r s e n t e n c e

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s j u r i s d i c t i o n t o m o d i f y B l a i n e ’ s

s e n t e n c e w a s c o n s t r a i n e d

. O n c e t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d e n i e d B l a i n e ’ s § 3 5 8 2 ( c ) ( 2 )

16m o t i o n

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d n o t h a v e a u t h o r i t y t o m o d i f y h e r s e n t e n c e e x c e p t a s

e x p r e s s l y p r o v i d e d b y R u l e 3 5

. P h i l l i p s

, 5 9 7 F

. 3 d a t 1 1 9 5 ( s t a t i n g t h a t “ a b s e n t

o t h e r e x p r e s s s t a t u t o r y a u t h o r i t y

, m o d i f i c a t i o n o f a n i m p r i s o n m e n t s e n t e n c e c a n

o n l y b e d o n e p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 3 5 ” )

. U n d e r P h i l l i p s a n d R u l e 3 5

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

h a d t h e p o w e r t o c o r r e c t a n y c l e a r e r r o r i n B l a i n e ’ s r e i m p o s e d s e n t e n c e w i t h i n

s e v e n d a y s o f s e n t e n c i n g ( i

. e

. , w i t h i n s e v e n d a y s o f d e n i a l o f B l a i n e ’ s § 3 5 8 2 ( c )

m o t i o n o n J u n e 2 3

, 2 0 0 8 )

. B e c a u s e B l a i n e f i l e d h e r m o t i o n f

o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n 1 0

o n J u l y 1 6

, 2 0 0 8

, a f

t e r t h e s e v e n

- d a y p e r i o d e x p i r e d o n J u n e 3 0

, 2 0 0 8

, t h e d i s t r i c t

c o u r t h a d n o j u r i s d i c t i o n t o a c t

.

A F F I R M E D I N P A R T ; D I S M I S S E D I N P A R T

.

I n Phill ips, this C ourt said, “We re cog nize that in a § 3582(c)( 2) matter, a ll origina l 1 0

sentenc ing de terminations rema in unchang ed with the sole e x ception of the g uideline ra ng e that

has bee n amende d since the or igina l sentencing . . . . But the ta sks the district court does have in a

§ 3582 proce eding show it is a sentencing , albeit a trunc ated one .” 597 F .3d at 1198 (c itations

and interna l quotation marks omitted). Although the district court in Phill ips gr anted the

defe ndant’s § 3582(c )(2) motion and reduc ed the se ntence by 36 months, id. at 1192, thi s

principle a

pplies equally

when the district c ourt, afte r consider ing the § 3553(a) fac tors,

conclude s that the defe ndant’s sente nce should stay the same a

nd denies the § 3582( c)( 2) motion

on the merits.

17