Opinion ID: 780951
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Reduction in Sentence

Text: 14 With respect to the first argument, counsel relies on Fed.R.Crim.P. 43(c) (now Rule 43(b)(4)). 2 Rule 43(c) provided that a defendant's presence is not required during a proceeding involving a reduction or correction of sentence pursuant to Rule 35(b) or (c) or 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c). Attorney Cassidy admits that these circumstances are technically inapplicable to Arrous in the instant case: Rule 35(b) allows for reduction of sentence upon the government's motion to reflect defendant's substantial assistance; Rule 35(c) (now Rule 35(a)) allows a district court to correct a sentence, within 7 days, that was imposed as a result of arithmetical, technical, or other clear error; and 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c) applies only to modification of a term of imprisonment on motion from the Bureau of Prisons or for subsequent change in the United States Sentencing Guidelines. None of these circumstances are present in this case. 15 Arrous' resentencing therefore falls under Rule 35(a), the provision that allows correction of a sentence imposed on remand from the Court of Appeals for a district court's error of law (now removed from Rule 35). Rule 35(a) does not fall within Rule 43(c)'s provision allowing a defendant's absence. Defense counsel nonetheless insists that the rationale behind Rule 43(c) applies here, as it would to any remand for the purpose of reducing a sentence or eliminating a penalty. She urges that United States v. Rivers, 50 F.3d 1126, 1132 (2d Cir.1995), supports her contention because that case ruled that resentencing for a sentence reduction for legal error under Rule 35 does not require a defendant's presence, as distinct from other types of resentencing, such as resentencing for factfinding which does require defendant's presence. 16 We cannot agree that Rule 43(c) makes Arrous' appeal frivolous because that rule does not vitiate his right to be present at the resentencing hearing, even if its rationale applies to a remand under Rule 35(a). The law recognizes a distinction between a proceeding by which the district court corrects or changes a pre-existing sentence, and one where the district court re-enters a sentence which has been vacated or set aside by the Court of Appeals. See United States v. Suleiman, 208 F.3d 32, 40-41 (2d Cir.2000); United States v. Londono, 100 F.3d 236, 242 (2d Cir.1996); United States v. Moree, 928 F.2d 654, 655-56 (5th Cir.1991). In the former situation, we have held that a defendant need not be present; while in the latter, a defendant has a constitutional right to be present, because technically a new sentence is being imposed in place of the vacated sentence. See United States v. Johnson, 315 F.2d 714, 716-17 (2d Cir. 1963) (recognizing defendant's fundamental right to be present when new sentence is imposed). Thus, since Arrous' sentence has been vacated and remanded, his presence cannot be excused under Rule 43(c). 17 Even though defense counsel may be correct that the rationale behind Rule 43(c) applies in the instant case, we have been reluctant in the past to make exceptions to the rule that a defendant has a right to be present at sentencing, and we generally adhere to the fine line between modifying a sentence, and imposing a new sentence, however technical such distinction may be in some cases. For example, some of our prior cases have declined to vacate a sentence, choosing instead to remand an existing sentence to the district court for modification, in order to avoid the constitutional difficulty associated with sentencing an involuntarily absent defendant. See, e.g., Suleiman, 208 F.3d at 40-41 (refusing to vacate and remand for resentencing, where sentence enhancement warranted, because deported defendant could not be present for proceedings); Londono, 100 F.3d at 242 (reinstating erroneous sentence and remanding for correction pursuant to Rule 35(a)(1) to obviate the issue of whether new sentence could be imposed on deported defendant in his absence). 18 Yet Rivers, rather than supporting counsel's assertion, suggests that it is arguable that any ... exercise of sentencing discretion is the functional equivalent of a sentencing proceeding at which presence [of defendant] is required. Rivers, 50 F.3d at 1132-33. Moreover, the commentary to the 1998 amendments to Rule 43 confirms what sound judicial policy had previously concluded: that a sentencing proceeding being conducted on remand by an appellate court under Rule 35(a) would continue to require the defendant's presence. Fed.R.Crim.P. 43 advisory committee's note. 19 The current rule arises out of respect for a defendant's right to be present at a sentencing proceeding, to allocute, and to respond to the definitive decision of the sentencing judge. See United States v. Behrens, 375 U.S. 162, 167-68, 84 S.Ct. 295, 11 L.Ed.2d 224 (1963) (Harlan, J., concurring); Johnson, 315 F.2d at 717. Since we avoid interpreting statutes in a way that may create constitutional problems, see Edward J. DeBartolo Corp. v. Florida Gulf Coast Building & Construction Trades Council, 485 U.S. 568, 575, 108 S.Ct. 1392, 99 L.Ed.2d 645 (1988), we decline to find that a defendant's presence is not required by the rule on the facts presented here. Hence, Rule 43(c) does not provide a sound basis for us to rule that the district court did not err, and that Arrous' appeal thus is frivolous under Anders.