Opinion ID: 78565
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: District Court Grants Government's Motion

Text: On January 26, 2009, the district court issued an order granting the government's motion for reconsideration. The district court noted that Local Rule of Civil Procedure 7.2(E) for the Northern District of Georgia provides that motions for reconsideration can be filed within ten days after the entry of the order or judgment. [7] The district court concluded that it has discretion to decide when to amend its prior orders, that  James is controlling in this case, and that the court must calculate [Phillips's] base offense level according to the [s]entencing [g]uidelines currently in effect, rather than according to those in effect at the time of his 1989 conviction. Because Phillips's base offense level under the 2008 guidelines was 38, a two-step reduction under Amendment 715 yielded a base offense level of 36, the same base offense level he received in 1989. Given James and this calculation, the district court granted the government's motion for reconsideration. In its January 26 order, the district court stated that it was setting aside . . . the December 5, 2008 order of this court granting [Phillips's] § 3582(c)(2) motion for reduction of sentence. The court further stated that Defendant's original sentence of 360 months imprisonment, with a consecutive term of 60 months, therefore remains in place as imposed at his 1989 sentencing. All other terms of the Judgment and Commitment will remain unchanged. [8] Phillips timely appealed this January 26, 2009 order.