Opinion ID: 748104
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The District Court's Refusal to Depart Downward

Text: 39 Finally, Grzesczuk argues that the district court erred when it declined to depart downward under Sentencing Guideline § 4A1.3. A district court's discretionary refusal to grant a downward departure cannot be reviewed on appeal. Sablan, 92 F.3d 865, 870 (9th Cir.1996); United States v. Eyler, 67 F.3d 1386, 1390 n. 5 (9th Cir.1995). However, if the sentencing court indicated that it lacked the discretion to depart, that ruling is reviewed de novo. United States v. Brownstein, 79 F.3d 121, 122 (9th Cir.1996). 40 The court's determination that a downward departure would be inappropriate indicates that the court knew it had the discretion to depart but chose not to do so. That decision is unreviewable.