Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Marion HIS LAW, also known as Charlie Boy His Law, Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1996-06-05
Citations: 85 F.3d 379
Docket Number: No. 95-4228
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Marion HIS LAW, also known as Charlie Boy His Law, Appellant.
Judges: Before BEAM, LOKEN, and MORRIS SHEPPARD ARNOLD, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: Federal Reporter 3d Series
Volume: 85
Pages: 379–379

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Marion HIS LAW, also known as Charlie Boy His Law, Appellant.
No. 95-4228.
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
Submitted April 4, 1996.
Decided June 5, 1996.
Cheryl F. Laurenz-Bogue, Dupree, SD, for appellant.
Thomas J. Wright, Asst. U.S. Atty., Pierre, SD, for appellee.
Before BEAM, LOKEN, and MORRIS SHEPPARD ARNOLD, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Marion His Law challenges the sentence the district court imposed after he pleaded guilty to distributing and possessing with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841. The government argues the appeal should be dismissed because His Law agreed in the plea agreement to waive his right to appeal, or challenge via post-conviction writs of habeas corpus or co-ram nobis, the district court's entry of judgment and imposition of sentence. We construe this as a promise on His Law's part not to appeal his sentence. We have held that a promise made in a plea agreement is binding on the government and may be specifically enforced by a defendant. United States v. Kelly, 18 F.3d 612, 615-16 (8th Cir.1994). We conclude that this principle applies with equal force against defendants and therefore against His Law in this case.
We therefore specifically enforce His Law's promise against him by dismissing his appeal.
. The Honorable Charles B. Kornmann, United States District Judge for the District of South Dakota.