Opinion ID: 2708854
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Hunter’s Appeal

Text: First, we consider Hunter’s appeal. Hunter attempts to challenge the district court’s denial of his motion to suppress various incriminating evidence obtained through Title III wiretaps. “But there is an immediate and obvious barrier to his appeal.” United States v. Adigun, 703 F.3d 1014, 1018 (7th Cir. 2012). Hunter entered an unconditional “blind plea” of guilty. And “[a]n unconditional guilty plea precludes challenge to the denial of a motion to suppress because the guilty plea constitutes a waiver of non-jurisdictional defects occurring prior to the plea.” Id. at 1014–15. In his opening appellate brief, Hunter’s attorney stated that in his plea declaration, Hunter had expressly reserved the right to appeal the denial of his motion to suppress. But a defendant cannot unilaterally reserve the right to appeal pretrial motions. Rather, Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(a)(2) requires both the government and the district court to agree to a conditional plea. There was no such acquiescence in this case. At no time during the change 6 Nos. 12-2125, 12-2379, 12-2759, and 12-2975 of plea hearing did Hunter or his attorney raise his attempt to reserve the right to appeal the denial of his motion to suppress. When a defendant fails to comply with Rule 11(a)(2)’s requirements of obtaining “unequivocal government acquiescence” and “the explicit consent of the district court,” this court lacks jurisdiction to hear those claims. United States v. Combs, 657 F.3d 565, 569 (7th Cir. 2011). At oral argument, Hunter’s attorney conceded the error and asserted that his failure to obtain the government and district court’s approval of the reservation could constitute ineffective assistance of counsel. Whether this failure does in fact constitute ineffective assistance of counsel is questionable. See Adigun, 703 F.3d at 1020 n.1. But, as Hunter’s attorney also recognized, it would not be appropriate for him to argue his own ineffectiveness in this appeal. So we leave that question for another day and reject Hunter’s attempt to now challenge the denial of the motion to suppress.