Opinion ID: 747229
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: District Court's Advisement of Right to Appeal

Text: 6 Schuman contends that he was entitled to rely on the district court's advisement during sentencing that Schuman has a right to appeal. This contention lacks merit. 7 In United States v. Buchanan, 59 F.3d 914, 918 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 116 S.Ct. 430, 133 L.Ed.2d 345 (1995), we held: 8 Given the district court judge's clear statements at sentencing [that the defendant had the right to appeal], the defendant's assertion of understanding, and the prosecution's failure to object, we hold that in these circumstances, the district court's oral pronouncement controls and the plea agreement waiver is not enforceable. 9 Here, unlike Buchanan, the prosecutor promptly objected to the court's advisement of appellate rights as contrary to the plea agreement. In response, the judge stated that he would nonetheless advise Schuman of the right to appeal because he was not sure if Schuman had waived the right to appeal. Specifically the judge stated: I don't know whether under these circumstances whether his right of appeal has been lost or not. I'm making a finding it's up to the Ninth Circuit.... It's up to the Ninth Circuit to decide whether under the circumstances he's lost his right of appeal. 10 Thus, whereas Buchanan could have no reason but to believe that the court's advice on the right to appeal was correct, id., Schuman was made aware by both the court and the prosecutor's objection that the waiver of his right to appeal could preclude an appeal. See United States v. Littlefield, 105 F.3d 527, 529 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 117 S.Ct. 2423, 138 L.Ed.2d 186 (1997) (Hall, J. concurring) (concluding defendant waived right to appeal sentence, in part because the prosecution objected to the advisement of appellate rights); see, e.g., United States v. Zink, 107 F.3d 716, 718 (9th Cir.1997) (citing with approval Hall, J. concurrence in Littlefield ). We hold that the statements of the district court did not affect the waiver of the right to appeal contained in the plea agreement. 11