Source: http://www.caaflog.com/category/october-2017-term/united-states-v-jacobsen/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 01:19:10+00:00

Document:
CAAF decided the certified Army case of United States v. Jacobsen, 77 M.J. 81, No. 17-0408/AR (CAAFlog case page) (link to slip op.), on Monday, December 11, 2017. Answering only the discrete question presented in the JAG’s certification, a majority of CAAF holds that a trial counsel’s certification does not conclusively establish appellate jurisdiction over an interlocutory prosecution appeal.
Judge Ryan writes for the court, joined by Chief Judge Stucky, Judge Ohlson, and Judge Sparks. Senior Judge Cox dissents.
The case is an interlocutory appeal in an ongoing general court-martial involving an alleged sexual offense. Sergeant First Class (E-7) Jacobsen is the accused, and his defense includes a focus on the alleged victim’s lack of credibility. The prosecution wants to introduce a prior statement of the alleged victim to rehabilitate her credibility, but the military judge prohibited it from doing so. The prosecution then appealed that ruling.
Article 62 authorizes interlocutory appeals under limited circumstances. One of them is when a military judge issues “an order or ruling which excludes evidence that is substantial proof of a fact material in the proceeding.” Article 62(a)(1)(B). The prosecution filed such an appeal, and the trial counsel certified “that the evidence excluded is substantial proof of a fact material in the proceeding.” Article 62(a)(2).
Whether the trial counsel’s certification that evidence is “substantial proof of a fact material in the proceeding” is conclusive for purposes of establishing appellate jurisdiction under Article 62(a)(1)(b), Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Yesterday’s opinion answers this question with a no. A majority of CAAF adopts the reasoning of the Army CCA that because interlocutory appeals are allowed only when the case “actually meet[s] specified criteria,” slip op. at 4 (quoting CCA opinion), “the ACCA had to satisfy itself that it had appellate jurisdiction before proceeding to review the merits of the appeal,” slip op. at 5. As the lone dissenting voice, however, Senior Judge Cox “see[s] no reason in military practice for an application of Article 62, UCMJ, that second guesses the trial counsel’s certification as to the impact that excluding evidence has upon its ability to successfully try its case.” Diss. op. at 3.
sought to call a CID special agent to testify to the victim’s prior consistent statements under Mil. R. Evid. 801(d)(1)(B)(ii). The defense objected.
The military judge ruled that M.R.E. 801(d)(1)(B)(ii) does not apply in this case and that the Government could not admit the victim’s CID statement as rehabilitation evidence. The Government appealed his decision under Article 62, UCMJ.
Gov’t Div. Br. at 3 (citations to record omitted). Mil. R. Evid. 801(d)(1)(B) is part of the hearsay rule and is identical to Fed. R. Evid. 801(d)(1)(B). The federal rule was amended in 2014 in a way that makes any prior consistent statements of a witness non-hearsay, so long as the prior statement is otherwise admissible for rehabilitation (discussed here). The amendment was incorporated into the MCM in 2016 (noted here). The amendment did not, however, change what statements are otherwise admissible to rehabilitate a witness. See Fed. R. Evid. 801 advisory committee note to the 2014 amendment. See also United States v. Adams, 63 M.J. 691, 696-97 (A. Ct. Crim. App. 2006) (discussing circumstances when prior consistent statements are relevant).
Article 62 authorizes a prosecution appeal under certain, limited circumstances. One of them is of “an order or ruling which excludes evidence that is substantial proof of a fact material in the proceeding.” Article 62(a)(1)(B). Based on this authorization, the prosecution appealed the military judge’s ruling that prohibited the CID agent from testifying about the alleged victim’s prior statements.
Contrary to appellant’s claim, the military judge did not issue “[a]n order or ruling which excludes evidence that is substantial proof of a fact material in the proceeding.” UCMJ art. 62(a)(l)(B) (emphasis added). Although Congress intended to provide military prosecutors, to the extent practicable, with the same rights of appeal afforded to federal civilian prosecutors in 18 U.S.C. § 3731 (i.e., the right to appeal trial rulings dismissing charges or excluding substantive evidence), the jurisdictional language codified by Congress in Article 62, UCMJ, differs from 18 U.S.C. § 3731. See United States v. Lopez de Victoria, 66 M.J. 67, 68-71 (C.A.A.F. 2008) (explaining the general intent of Congress in enacting Article 62, UCMJ).
Specifically, the plain language of 18 U.S.C. § 3731 confers appellate jurisdiction over trial orders suppressing evidence, only conditioned upon timely certification from the United States attorney. United States v. Grace, 526 F.3d 499, 505-06 (9th Cir. 2008) (en banc). In contrast, the plain language of Article 62(a)(1), UCMJ, confers appellate jurisdiction for orders or rulings that actually meet specified criteria.
United States v. Jacobsen, No. 20160768, slip op. at 1 (A. Ct. Crim. App. Feb. 6, 2017) (order) (marks in original) (discussed here). The Government Appellate Division sought reconsideration and the CCA reached the same conclusion on March 16, 2017, again highlighting the different language of the civil and military statutes.
The JAG then certified the case to CAAF to determine whether a CCA may determine that a prosecution appeal does not meet the Article 62 criteria despite a trial counsel’s certification that it does.
An order or ruling which excludes evidence that is substantial proof of a fact material in the proceeding.
Art. 62(a)(1)(B). It’s a relatively new provision in the Code, having been added by the Military Justice Act of 1983, Pub. L. No. 98-209 (with additional grounds for appeal added in 1996).
Rule for Courts-Martial 908 details procedural steps for such an appeal, but it does not define the term (or perhaps terms) substantial proof of a fact material in the proceeding, leaving the matter up to the appellate court acting on the appeal.
Appellee will file an answer under Rule 22(b) on or before May 25, 2017.
Specifically, the plain language of 18 U.S.C. § 3731 confers appellate jurisdiction over trial orders suppressing evidence, only conditioned upon timely certification from the United States attorney. United States v. Grace, 526 F.3d 499, 505-06 (9th Cir. 2008) (en bane). In contrast, the plain language of Article 62(a)(l), UCMJ, confers appellate jurisdiction for orders or rulings that actually meet specified criteria. Although Article 62(a)(2), UCMJ, contains similar timeliness and certification requirements to 18 U.S.C. § 3731, these requirements are listed separate and apart from the jurisdictional basis. Essentially, 18 U.S.C. § 3731 vests the determination of the materiality of the excluded evidence solely with the United States attorney; in this important respect, Article 62, UCMJ, is not analogous. When Congress intends to confer the right to appeal based solely on the certification of a specified officer, it is perfectly capable of making that intention clear in statutory language. Compare 18 U.S.C. § 3731, and Article 67(a)(2), UCMJ, with Article 62(a), UCMJ.

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