Opinion ID: 4557751
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Downward Departure/Variance

Text: Lastly, Brodie argues that the District Court erred in failing to grant a downward departure and/or variance based on the fact that his criminal history overrepresented the efforts to obstruct the investigation, prosecution, or sentencing of ‘the offense of conviction.’” (quoting United States v. Kim, 27 F.3d 947, 958 (3d Cir. 1994))). 21 See United States v. Grier, 475 F.3d 556, 570 (3d Cir. 2007) (reasoning that a finding is clearly erroneous, despite evidence supporting it, when the reviewing body “‘is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed’” (quoting Concrete Pipe & Prods. of Cal., Inc. v. Constr. Laborers Pension Trust for S. Cal., 508 U.S. 602, 622 (1993))). 22 See United States v. Altman, 901 F.2d 1161, 1165 (2d Cir. 1990) (reasoning that a defendant’s medical condition may have deprived him of the ability to act willfully and remanding for consideration of proffered medical evidence). 23 Compare Agudelo, 414 F.3d at 350, with United States v. Lincecum, 220 F.3d 77, 7980 (2d Cir. 2000) (affirming application of § 3C1.1 enhancement where defendant “gave a detailed account of at least three such requests [to speak with an attorney].”). 24 App. 40. 9 seriousness of his history,25 and on the basis of his military service26 and physical and mental condition.27 At the outset, we find that we do not have jurisdiction to review the District Court’s denial of Brodie’s departure motions. The District Court in no way indicated that a departure was legally impermissible, and instead demonstrated that its decision not to depart was based on a well-reasoned exercise of discretion.28 To the extent that Brodie separately challenges the District Court’s denial of a downward variance, any such challenge is meritless. The District Court clearly identified the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors and explained why it declined to grant a downward variance based on each of the mitigating circumstances advanced by Brodie.