Case Name: UNITED STATES of America v. Anthony JACKSON, Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2008-12-09
Citations: 301 F. App'x 153
Docket Number: No. 06-2902
Parties: UNITED STATES of America v. Anthony JACKSON, Appellant.
Judges: Before: McKEE and AMBRO, Circuit Judges and IRENAS , Senior District Judge.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 301
Pages: 153–154

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America v. Anthony JACKSON, Appellant.
No. 06-2902.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) Feb. 4, 2008.
Opinion Filed: Dec. 9, 2008.
Richard P. Barrett, Michelle T. Rotella, Office of United States Attorney, Philadelphia, PA, for Appellee.
Jeanne K. Damirgian, Lake Ariel, PA, for Appellant.
Before: McKEE and AMBRO, Circuit Judges and IRENAS , Senior District Judge.
Honorable Joseph E. Irenas, Senior United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey, sitting by designation.

Opinion:
OPINION
MCKEE, Circuit Judge.
Anthony Jackson appeals the sentence that was imposed on remand following his appeal from the sentence that was originally imposed. He argues that the district court committed plain error by denying him his right of allocution before resentencing him. For the reasons that follow, we will affirm.
I.
As we are writing primarily for the parties who are familiar with this case, we need not set forth the factual or procedural background except insofar as may be helpful to our brief discussion.
Jackson's original counsel was allowed to withdraw and we are now in receipt of a letter from subsequently appointed counsel, Peter A. Levin, wherein counsel informs us that after reviewing the record and consulting with his client, he has decided not to file a supplemental brief.
We previously vacated the defendant's conviction on Count One of the indictment because that offense was a lesser included offense of the charges in Count Two. See United States v. Jackson, 443 F.3d 293 (3d Cir.2006). Accordingly, we vacated the sentence on Count One and remanded for resentencing on Count Two. On remand, the district court reimposed the same sentence on Count Two without hearing from Jackson.
Jackson now cites Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(i)(4)(A) in arguing that this was error because he was denied his right of allocution. Rule 32(i)(4)(A)(ii) provides that a sentencing court must "address the defendant personally in order to permit the defendant to speak or present any information to mitigate the sentence." Although the district court did not ask Jackson if he wished to speak at the re-sentencing, Jackson never objected to the proceeding, nor did he ask to be heard before the new sentence was imposed. Accordingly, we review only for "plain error." United States v. Plotts, 359 F.3d 247, 248-249 (3d Cir.2004). Under that standard of review, we may award relief if Jackson can establish an error, that was plain, and "affected [his] substantial rights." See United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 734-735, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993).
Jackson also relies on United States v. Plotts, 359 F.3d 247, 250 (3d Cir.2004). Plotts was sentenced for a violation of supervised release, a transgression that is not punished with mandatory imprisonment. Id. at 251. Accordingly, Plotts' ability to address the court was potentially important to the court's determination of an appropriate sentence. "[A] defendant is often his most persuasive and eloquent advocate." Under those circumstances, we concluded that denying Plotts an opportunity to address the court before sentence was imposed affected his substantial rights. Id. at 250.
We reasoned that a "violation of the right of allocution could play a role in a court's sentencing decision whenever there exists any disputed facts in connection with sentencing or any defense arguments that might reduce the applicable guideline range or ultimate sentence." Id.
Jackson's situation is different. The court already heard from Jackson at the original sentencing. Jackson points to nothing to suggest that he was in any way prejudiced by not addressing the court once again before resentencing on remand, and we see nothing in the record to indicate that the loss of that opportunity affected his substantial rights in any way. Nothing on this record suggests that he was prejudiced and allowing this sentence to stand despite that procedural defect in no way undermines the public's confidence in the judicial system. United States v. Young, 470 U.S. 1, 16, 105 S.Ct. 1038, 84 L.Ed.2d 1 (1985). Relief based upon plain error should only be granted to correct those errors "in which a miscarriage of justice would otherwise result." Id., at 15, 105 S.Ct. 1038. That is simply not this case.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, we will affirm the judgment of sentence.