Opinion ID: 180881
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: Appeals of sentences are governed by 18 U.S.C. § 3742 (2006). United States v. Hill, 70 F.3d 321, 323-24 (4th Cir. 1995). Section 3742(a) confers jurisdiction on this court to hear appeals of a sentence if it was: (1) imposed in violation of law; (2) imposed as a result of an incorrect application of the Guidelines; (3) greater than the sentence specified in the applicable guideline range; (4) imposed for an offense for which there is no sentencing guideline and is plainly unreasonable. 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a); Hill, 70 F.3d at 323-24. To the extent, therefore, that an appeal is a challenge to the amount of a downward departure, this court lacks jurisdiction to hear that appeal. See Hill, 70 F.3d at 324. Even in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005), this court lacks authority to review a sentencing court’s decision to depart (and to what degree) “unless the court failed to understand its ability to do so.” United States v. Brewer, 520 F.3d 367, 371 (4th Cir. 2008). The Government alleges that this appeal is an attempt to evade this court’s jurisdictional limitations by couching a challenge to a downward departure in the language of prosecutorial misconduct and ineffective assistance of counsel. We do not agree. Though Lopez’s ultimate goal may be to gain 3 greater leniency from a future downward departure motion, the court does have jurisdiction over the claims that she raises — namely, that the sentence was imposed in violation of the law because it was the result of prosecutorial misconduct and the breach of a plea agreement.