Opinion ID: 668267
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: AIDS As a Ground for Downward Departure

Text: 17 Streat maintains that the district court was unaware it had discretion to depart downward on the ground that Streat was suffering from AIDS. The government counters that the sentencing judge was aware of her departure authority, but simply refused to depart. 18 There is little authority specifically addressing the circumstances under which AIDS is a proper ground for a downward departure. Still, sections of the guidelines could justify a downward departure under certain circumstances. Section 5H1.4, for example, contemplates downward departures for extraordinary physical impairment. See, e.g., United States v. Velasquez, 762 F.Supp. 39, 40 (E.D.N.Y.1991) (ruling that the defendant's metastasized cancer was a serious, life-threatening illness which alone warranted a downward departure); see also United States v. Ghannam, 899 F.2d 327, 329 (4th Cir.1990) (noting that Section 5H1.4 allows downward departures any time a sentencing court is presented with sufficient evidence of impairment); United States v. Slater, 971 F.2d 626, 634-35 (10th Cir.1992) (holding that a chronic depressive disorder can provide basis for departure). But see United States v. Carey, 895 F.2d 318 (7th Cir.1990) (ruling that although the defendant's age, coupled with several serious operations for a brain tumor, did not necessarily justify a downward departure, more particularized findings of an extraordinary physical impairment would support the district court's decision to depart); United States v. DePew, 751 F.Supp. 1195, 1199 (E.D.Va.1990) (finding that AIDS alone is not such a 'physical impairment'; nor is cancer or various other terminal or life threatening conditions), aff'd on other grounds, 932 F.2d 324 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 210, 116 L.Ed.2d 169 (1991). Whether AIDS alone, or AIDS accompanied by the physical deterioration characterizing the latter stages of the disease, warrants a downward departure need not be decided today. Upon remand, the district court will have the opportunity to exercise its discretion as permitted under the guidelines. 19 For these reasons, the district court's sentence is VACATED and this case is REMANDED for resentencing consistent with this opinion.