Opinion ID: 536231
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Inaccuracy of the Jury Instruction

Text: 14 On appeal, Arnett urges that instruction number 23 provided the jury with inaccurate and misleading information. Arnett's first contention is that the challenged instruction was inaccurate because it did not explain in detail to the jury how sentencing procedures would operate under the federal sentencing guidelines--in particular, the loss of parole and the possible term of imprisonment Arnett might receive. 15 The trial court has an obligation to give the jury clear and accurate instructions on the law which it is to apply to the questions before it. Dranow v. United States, 307 F.2d 545, 568 (8th Cir.1962). However, in the federal system the traditional role of the jury has been to decide questions of guilt or innocence, and not to determine the proper punishment a defendant should receive. United States v. Goodface, 835 F.2d 1233, 1237 (8th Cir.1987). Consequently, sentencing procedures or details regarding a defendant's possible punishment are irrelevant to the issues that a federal jury must decide. To inform a federal jury about a defendant's punishment would only introduce improper and confusing considerations before it. 16 This court has previously held that it is proper for a court to caution the jury not to consider the possible punishment to be given a defendant. United States v. Goodface; United States v. Briscoe, 574 F.2d 406, 408 (8th Cir.), cert. denied 439 U.S. 858, 99 S.Ct. 173, 58 L.Ed.2d 165 (1978). The court need not instruct the jury that the defendant will receive a mandatory sentence if he or she is found guilty. United States v. Goodface, 835 F.2d at 1236. Likewise, a court need not instruct a jury of sentencing procedures or possible punishment when a defendant is to be sentenced under the federal sentencing guidelines. Regardless of changes that the guidelines have made in sentencing procedures, the role of the jury remains the same and is limited to determining the defendant's guilt or innocence. Instruction number 23 properly cautioned the jury not to consider the sentence that might be given Thomas. The district court did not err in refusing to inform the jury of Thomas's possible punishment. 17 Arnett further contends that the federal sentencing guidelines have stripped the trial court of its earlier broad discretion in matters of sentencing, and that the challenged instruction was incorrect in saying that the court would determine her sentence. In her view, not the judge nor the jury, but the guidelines commission, is responsible for setting her sentence. 18 We do not agree with Arnett's interpretation of the sentencing guidelines. The guidelines restrict, but do not take away, the trial court's discretion in determining sentences. The court is responsible for determining the defendant's base offense level and has the power to make adjustments to that figure, according to its judgment. It is the court's role to select the defendant's sentence from the range established for the defendant's particular offense. See 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3553(a). The court can also depart from the guidelines range if it finds that aggravating or mitigating circumstances so warrant. See 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3553(b); United States Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual, Ch. 1, Pt.A, intro., 4(b). Although probation officers are required to submit presentence investigations to the court, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3552(a), the court retains the final responsibility to determine the appropriate sentence to be given to a defendant. Accordingly, instruction number 23 accurately stated the court's duty under the law in setting Arnett's sentence.