Opinion ID: 200842
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Deferential Review After the PROTECT Act

Text: 135 We also reject a final argument by the defense, said to be drawn from Ornelas v. United States, 517 U.S. 690, 116 S.Ct. 1657, 134 L.Ed.2d 911 (1996), that de novo review involves deference not only to the district court's determinations of historical fact, but also to its ultimate conclusions — for example, whether a defendant's good works are exceptional. It is true that in sentencing cases, appellate review must occur with full awareness of, and respect for, the trier's superior `feel' for the case. United States v. Diaz-Villafane, 874 F.2d 43, 49-50 (1st Cir.1989). We do agree that this court must defer to a sentencing court's findings of historical fact, even after the PROTECT Act. The Act did not alter the provision in § 3742(e) that the district court's findings of fact must be accepted unless clearly erroneous. See § 3742(e). Other circuits agree with this interpretation of the Act. Mallon, 345 F.3d at 946; Jones, 332 F.3d at 1300 n. 9. Indeed, the government concedes this point. To the extent amicus suggests that the court of appeals should defer to the district court's application of the departure guidelines to the facts, however, its argument is refuted by the plain text of § 3742(e). After the PROTECT Act, that kind of deference is not ours to give.