Document: 511 U.S. 39114 S.Ct. 1259127 L.Ed.2d 611 UNITED STATES, Petitionerv.Ralph Stuart GRANDERSON, Jr. No. 92-1662. Supreme Court of the United States Argued Jan. 10, 1994. Decided March 22, Syllabus * Respondent Granderson, a letter carrier, pleaded guilty to one count destruction mail. The potential imprisonment range for that crime was 0-6 months under Sentencing Guidelines. District imposed no prison time, sentencing Granderson instead 5 years' probation and fine. After tested positive cocaine, court resentenced him 18 U.S.C. § 3565(a), which provides if person serving sentence possesses illegal drugs, "the shall revoke defendant not less than one-third original sentence." Accepting Government's reading statute, concluded phrase "original sentence" referred term actually (60 months), rather month authorized by Accordingly, 20 months' imprisonment. Appeals upheld revocation Granderson's probation, but vacated his new sentence. Invoking rule lenity, agreed with Guidelines, actual Because had already served 11 sentence—more 6-months maximum Guidelines —the ordered released from custody. Held: minimum 3565(a)'s drug-possession proviso is originally applicable imprisonment, maximum. Pp. ____. (a) Government correct mandates renewed as required type punishment. contrast in §§ 3565(a)(1) (2) between "continu[ing]" "revok[ing]" alternative punishments who violates condition suggests must be continuation probation. Moreover, it would absurd punish drug-possessing probationers revoking their imposing longer original. However, contends incorrectly unambiguously calls based on statutory language appears differentiate, equate or amalgamate, probation" interpretation, furthermore, reads proviso's word "sentence" inconsistently. (b) Under proviso, sets duration revoked That avoids both linguistic anomalies presented construction disparities attend interpretation. Furthermore, contrary arguments, satisfies statute's purpose treating class drug possessors more severely other violators, need interpreted pari materia discrete, differently worded provision prescribing supervised release possessors. history furnishes additional cause resist indicates may have received Congress' careful attention been composed an obsolete federal regime drafter's mind. In these circumstances, where text, structure, fail establish position correct, lenity operates resolve ambiguity favor. (c) benchmark (d) 6 months, because he at time issued its decision, correctly release. P. 969 F.2d 980 (CA11 1992), affirmed. GINSBURG, J., delivered opinion Court, BLACKMUN, STEVENS, O'CONNOR, SOUTER, JJ., joined. SCALIA, KENNEDY, filed opinions concurring judgment. REHNQUIST, C.J., dissenting opinion, THOMAS, Thomas G. Hungar, petitioner. Gregory S. Smith, appointed this respondent. Justice GINSBURG Court. 1 This case presents question interpretation regarding law issue 3565(a). Congress did further define critical sentence," nor are those words, unmodified, used elsewhere Federal Criminal Code chapter sentencing. Embedded context, words 3565(a) susceptible least three interpretations. 2 Read isolation, could taken mean reimposition period construction, however, implausible, has urged neither party, generally demand increased sanction, plainly what intended. 3 Government, petitioner here, draw initially require incarceration, period. On reading, accepted respondent face 20-month mandatory 4 maintains refers incarceration initially, lieu 2-month minimum. see 1992); returns circuits divided.1 prescription late-hour addition Anti-Drug Abuse Act 1988, sprawling enactment takes up 364 pages Statutes Large. Pub.L. 100-690, 102 Stat. 4181-4545. attention. It composed, we suggest below, pre-1984 mind; does easily adapt established Reform 1984. According statute sensible recognize, common all courts grappled conundrum, prescribed punishment probationers.2 As punishment, rest principle " 'the will interpret criminal so increase penalty . when such can guess intended.' Bifulco v. States, 447 381, 387, 100 2247, 2252, 65 205 (1980), quoting Ladner 358 169, 178, 79 209, 214, 199 (1958). We therefore adopt affirm judgment Appeals. 7 mail, violation 1703(a). range, derived character offense offender's category, months. sentenced $2,000 fine.3 standard submit periodically urinary testing use. 8 Several weeks after sentencing, officer petitioned Finding possessed undertook resentence him, pursuant "not concluded, months) (0-6 months). accordingly 9 1992). observed far either underlying destroying mail (six cocaine possession (one year). Id., 983, n. 2. called "legal alchemy" convert "conditional liberty," correspondingly long term, into span geared lesser restraint. 984, Gordon, 961 426, 432 (CA3 id., [0-6 month] faced Guidelines," 60-month 984. 6-month maximum—the 985. II text reads: 10 "If any prior expiration termination "(1) continue without extending modifying enlarging conditions; 12 "(2) impose available initial 13 "Notwithstanding section, found controlled substance (Emphasis supplied.) 14 argues italicized unambiguous. establishes sentence, asserts, only very imposed, i.e., case, 60 months; "one-third thus But two reasons, continues, First, subsections (1) Second, urges, "punish" selected possessors, universe favorable treatment, particularly enacted part "The Act." 15 agree, reasons stated Otherwise make little sense.4 do relates set probationer See Penn, 17 F.3d 70, 73 (CA4 1994) ("a incarceration"). If wished convey meaning pressed instructed incarcerated probation," probation." 16 textual difficulty. "sentence," verb "sentence defendant," imprisonment" Yet, next appears, noun ("original sentence"), Again, designed capture might read: whose length Cf. Reves Ernst & Young, 507 ----, 113 1163, 1169, 122 525 (1993) ("it seems reasonable give similar construction" single sentence). commented, "[p]robation fungible"; they sentences fundamentally different character. F.2d, One-third liberty" scarcely resembling insists and, noted, measured "must be" resentencer back anterior III entails reference back. contends, refer 3565(a)(2), immediately preceding proviso: "other subchapter A [the general provisions] sentencing." argues, presumptive discretionary alternative, replaced. Starting top arrives A. 19 construction. differentiates, determines supra, keeps constant phrases defendant" While cannot explain how multiplying yield encounters shoal. 433 ("one-third years year ").5 also startling exceed offense; one-year maximum, 21 844(a), received, prosecuted afforded full constitutional protections trial, limited hearing.6 Indeed, consecutive (18 all). twenty proviso. allowed equal term—five ten times exposure offense, five possession. unlikely intended enlarge Court's discretion. 73.7 B 22 Two arguments against answered. observes tough sanctions abusers. Brief 22-26 (listing penalties statements members offenders severely). divine legislators' many "get offenders" reliable guidance particular provisions. None expressions, admits, focuses precise case." 24, 4; cf. Busic 446 398, 408, 1747, 1754, 64 381 (1980) ("[W]hile desire deter firearm abuses, unbounded. Our task here locate boundaries, inquiry advanced assertion wanted boundaries."). moreover, hardly favored. Instead, singled out among violators adverse treatment: They mandatory, optional, terms 23 Next, construed parallel provision, added same governing upon finding latter observes, release," expressly provided should "serve[d] prison." 3583(g). Correspondingly, maintains, acknowledges that, while spelled similarly say attributes difference fact unlike current regime, itself component commences 24 persuaded control Supervised release, incarceration. Persons post-incarceration serious probationers. follow terms, often shorter probation.8 Thus, approach, warranted sanction plus receive 25 counters were "extended special leniency." Reply 13, 14. even "lenient," ordinarily reflects warrant sum, sans following weighs heavily argument provisions materia. C 26 gives us Act, included, large complex measure, described member House Representatives "more like telephone book piece legislation." 134 Cong.Rec. 33290 (1988) (remarks Rep. Conte). first appeared roughly present form Senate floor amendment offered passed bill. 24924-24925 (House passage, Sept. 22); 30826 (Senate Oct. 14); 30945 (proviso included lengthy amendments proposed Sen. Nunn, 14). No conference report addresses aware post-conference discussion issue.9 inserted close inspection. Bass, 404 336, 344, 92 515, 520-521, 30 488 (1971) (applying noting "was last-minute amendment" bill hastily passed, discussion, hearings, report"). 27 Another probation-related shortly before casts doubt reading. amends prohibition using carrying explosive commission felony, provide part: law, place suspend convicted subsection. ." 6474(b), 4380, codified 844(h) (emphasis supplied). notwithstanding 1988 date enactment, intelligible law: 1984 abolished suspended sentences, "place yielded "impose 28 counsel suggested oral argument, Tr. Oral Arg. 22-23, 29-31, 36-41, drafters mind particular, practice suspending execution, placing 3651 (1982) (for punishable death life imprisonment," "suspend imposition execution conditions deems best"). fit suspension-of-execution scheme precisely: executed, determinate application, avoid incongruities interpretations sentence": albeit unexecuted, merely demonstrate drew match scheme, potent: closest post-1984 analogue implemented, held favor sentence.10 29 assurance chose view toward law.11 unexacting process enacted, evident anachronism another section leave doubtful design extraordinarily disproportionate severity urges. circumstances—where correct—we apply See, e.g., U.S., 347-349, S.Ct., 522-523. decide probation.12 IV 31 turn, finally, theory, Appeals' analysis, fatally flawed specify range—in Calculating 0-2 permit perverse result: resentencing possessor's then all. Recognizing curiosity, lower starting place, yields complains explained why top, middle bottom appropriate point reference.13 32 reason evident: solution response conundrum. Four measures hypothesized possibilities, point: calculated minimum, (3) some midpoint, (4) itself. possibilities quickly eliminated. Selecting whether midpoint point, purely arbitrary. practical result setting minimum: To say, example, 2-4 effectively 33 Using cases range), zero, incompatible apparent objective proviso—to assure serve hand, "a attributing legislature "an unjust conclusion." re Chapman, 166 661, 667, 677, 680, 41 L.Ed. 1154 (1897).14 V 34 decide, reject contention flawless, securely plausible language, difficulties identified position. Appeals, hold, range,15 35 36 Affirmed. 37 38 My to, precisely, KENNEDY. I agree well expresses, linguistically tenable leaves district free greater Wherein differ believe (as does) element considered puts it, "that 'original sentence' Post, ____ added). (THE CHIEF JUSTICE espouses view, post, ____.) me entire sentence; includes fine included. consisting $3,000 year's $1,000 well. Even majority, maintain measure consistency strained ought consider, ante, ____, equally fines forth Commission, Manual 5E1.2(c)(3) (Nov. 1993).* 39 Both my KENNEDY's, there exists problem comparing incomparable acknowledged. Since fine, must, order concur today's judgment, conclude, do, extra (beyond Guidelines' imposable offense) worth $667 (one-third fine) equivalent otherwise consider $5,000 USSG 5E1.2(c)(3), indeed departing upward 3553(b), towards 5-year And account purposes determining still me, probation—because 40 easy determine days' equals dollars' Comparing incommensurate always tricky business. Bendix Autolite Corp. Midwesco Enterprises, Inc., 486 888, 897, 108 2218, 2223-2224, 896 (SCALIA, judgment). frankly drafted adopted us; pronounce results reached straightforward utterly discern self-evident disposition obviously mistaken replacement. Green Bock Laundry Machine Co., 490 504, 527, 109 1981, 1994, 104 557 (1989) today suffer, varying degrees, double curse producing textually faithful plausibly ones. best, usual, written, let needed repairs. repairs perhaps thing about wretchedly upon. For 42 43 holding rests premises: first, means have, not, sentencing; second, imprisonment." Neither premise correct. analysis structure demonstrates, requires entitled prison. 44 Section provides, relevant 45 46 47 48 substance, thereby violating 3563(a)(3), 49 construes accept, substantial part, THE JUSTICE's critique true standing alone, read encompass including imposed. When preferable construe instructs "revoke says nothing Given this, subsequent better whole 50 disagree JUSTICE, conclusion follows, 51 Before 1984, system; contrast, (1982). altered understanding made kind 3561(a) (defendant "may probation"); ch. 7, pt. A2(a), 379 1993) ("[T]he recognized itself"). Probation deviation facts illustrate. conviction light placed Zone Table, carries 0 authorize defendants falling within A, 5B1.1(a)(1), subset member, 5B1.2(a)(1). then, 3553(a)(4) (the court, "shall kinds category guidelines") "to left unadorned, bear meanings, took care, matter, Chapter 227 Title 18, code. ("sentenced probation"), 3572(e) pay fine"), 3583(a) ("impos[e] imprisonment"). 52 drafting now us, brushes aside significant ambiguity, contending context," demonstrates "plainly intended" 14, 15. examine context ascertain meaning. Davis Michigan Dept. Treasury, 489 803, 809, 1500, 1504-1505, 103 891 (1989). Close leads conclude intend 53 7303(a)(2) (1988 Act). 4181, 4464. 7303(b)(2) concerns "[i]f terminate release." 4464, 3583(g) 54 Sections (b)(2) are, "parallel closely related." 26. pertain consequences non-custodial supervision. differ, course, fundamental respect: explicitly not. significant. '[W]here omits presumed acts intentionally purposely disparate inclusion exclusion.' Gozlon-Peretz 498 395, 404, 111 840, 846-847, 112 919 (1991), Russello 464 16, 23, 296, 300, 78 (1983) (internal quotations omitted). presumption loses force sections dissimilar scattered distant points enactment. given strong. use prison" compelling evidence mandate 7303(b)(2), proviso). 55 interposes structural own. consisted (a)(1) (a)(2), which, purposes, now. Those grant options violate involve drugs guns. permits conditions. 3565(a)(2) clear consequence 3565(a)(1), namely borne concludes, carry over 56 accepts, convincing. demands anything inherent Rather, follows (a)(2). off subsection (a)(2) (a)(1), every conceivable option. sense something probation: consequence, due juxtaposition 3565(a)(2). Taken itself, indicate place. assumed travel context. 57 import fails Act. noted above, states release" drugs. implicit release"; been, felt necessary explicit manner. So think believed 58 suffers final infirmity. tied odd result. "[I]mprisonment 'intrinsically different' punishment" Blanton North Las Vegas, 538, 542, 1289, 1292, 550 (1989), Muniz Hoffman, 422 454, 477, 95 2178, 2191, 319 (1975). Without belaboring Black Romano, 471 606, 611, 105 2254, 2257, 85 636 (1985), sort. Transforming via mathematical formula would, issue, constitute alchemy." events, expect ordinary course. 59 irrational tie term. He observe powers write observations speak question: viewed structure. above Concluding inconsistent lead anomaly tying mandated eliminate possibility discretion portions severe 61 unfortunate transparent; call result; most chosen questionable path reach destination. speculation Reading "would [pre-1984] precisely." ----. viewing light, adds, problems ibid. Although purports much reliance venture interpretive archaeology, extended matter otherwise. 62 technique, take quite novel traditional rules govern our statutes. Some look legislative history, motivating policies" manner defendant. R.L.C., 503 1329, 1331, 117 559 (1992) (plurality opinion) quotation marks Others eschew nebulous policies construing ---- - 1333 concurring). But, knowledge, none ever relied vague intuition "might mind" (ante, ____) law. am certain mindset framework discarded four earlier. 63 Of thinks done great guesswork: Assuming intuitions 2, 20, rush achieve views justice missed broader design, revocation. respectful submission, adhered President signed, effect own come conclusion. Deal 508 1993, 1998, 124 (1993). fortuity himself contend 12, overlook option binds probationers, just Granderson. Elder Holloway, --- 3, 114 1019, 1022-1023, (1994). Perhaps reaches policy, reflect hoped accomplish. result, accord saw enact. Put simple surmises, fired blank. Puerto Rico Consumer Affairs Isla Petroleum Corp., 485 495, 501, 1350, 1354, 99 582 ("[U]nenacted approvals, beliefs, desires laws"). beyond province rescue errors, think, along Congress, preferred Smith 4, 2050, 2063, 138 dissenting) ("Stretching effective devised exercise indulge in"); Pavelic LeFlore Marvel Entertainment Group, 493 120, 126, 110 456, 460, 107 438 ("Our improve it"); Locke, 84, 95, 1785, 1793, (1985) acted clarity foresight carte blanche redraft statutes effort perceived failed do"). admonition importance laws. "[B]ecause seriousness penalties, usually represents moral condemnation community, legislatures activity," 348, 523, (1971), therefor, (1980). today, bound appear anomalous compared cases. incongruities, providing sentences. 66 invoke proper answer. assuming, does, comes play, thought above. 67 Chief whom THOMAS joins, dissenting. 68 interprets sentenced." ignores natural dissent. 69 imprisonment; otherwise, explains, senseless.1 1263-1264; (1897) ("nothing settled effectuate intention, possible, conclusion"). stopped there, happy join opinion. Having resolved proceeds find another, exists. ultimately applied. 70 believes "unambiguously correct." Ante, explained, applied "merely [is] possible articulate narrow Government." Moskal 103, 108, 461, 465, 449 (1990). Instead reserved situations where, "[a]pplying well-established principles construction," 410, 849, remains grievous uncertainty Act," Chapman 500 453, 463, 1919, 1926, 524 (1991) citation 71 defined statute. basic defined, meaning." 462, 1925-1926; 2054, ("When normally meaning"). 72 Whether consults dictionary sense, plain: "Original" commonly understood "initial" "first order." Webster's Third New International Dictionary 1592 (Webster's) (defining "original" "of relating rise beginning initial, primary"); Black's Law 1099 (6th ed. 1990) "[p]rimitive" order"). "Sentence," meant "by judge imposes guilty." 2068; Dictionary, 1362 "[t]he inflicted, probation").2 sentenced. cannot, therefore, means: founders, believe, ordinarily, occasionally, Nor support nowhere "potential" "available," construed. Yet know twisted cannot—i.e., "available."3 74 occasions demonstrated Hicks Feiock, 624, 639, 11, 1423, 1433, 721 (using suspended); Tuten 460 660, 666-667, 1412, 1416, 75 359 youthful sentenced); DiFrancesco, 117, 135, 101 436, 328 148, 443 (Brennan, (both trial); Carolina Pearce, 395 711, 713, 1, 89 2072, 2074, 656 (1969), 743, 2084 (Black, part) (same); Pennsylvania ex rel. Sullivan Ashe, 302 51, 53, 59, 59-60, 82 (1937) (same). numerous show,4 until invariably expect: sentenced, distinguish intervening event—such Hicks, supra.5 heretofore firm grasp wonder surprise. alone combination, definitions simply seem open debate. Once accorded meaning, operation becomes perfectly clear.6 elementary canon plain control. Moskal, 465. Product Safety Comm'n GTE Sylvania, 102, 2051, 2056, 766 "[a]bsent clearly expressed intention contrary, statutory] regarded conclusive."7 76 offers several rejecting them persuades. begins suggesting calculate clearly. true, easily, wished, range. "available" (b); Sosa, 997 1130, 1133 (CA5 1993); Byrkett, 1399, 1400-1401 (CA8 1992) ("If referring sentence,' said, 'any sentencing,' did" (b)). 77 asserts according meanings "sentence." fixed incarceration; noun, concludes Thus 'to construction' (quoting Reves, 1169). changes (or was) to—prison probation; change meanings. '[p]robation fungible,' (citation omitted), "shoal" supposedly encountered explaining "how fungible sense. subsumed previously stated, are. include probation"). harsh surely method calculation. calculation 3583(g), substance. provides: Considering directed precisely problem, treatment Whatever differences strongly basis At least, removes imaginary blocks way 80 refuses normally—but necessarily 8. Simply end cases, persuasive refusing recognize obvious similarity methods decided general, return 81 Here, expresses concern harshness defendant.8 harsh. legitimate ground invalidating injecting principled Callanan 587, 596, 321, 326, 312 (1961) ("The [of lenity] expressed, overriding consideration being lenient wrongdoers"). produce glaringly unjust, raise intent." 463-464, 1922 citations creates incurable uncertainty: sound choosing calculating describing selects rejects selecting arbitrary." arbitrary, "sensible," picking selection smacks awarding consolation prize mistakenly victory main event. consistent apply.9 83 uncertainty. clear, it. reverse syllabus constitutes prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Lumber 200 337, 282, 287, 499. Compare 1994); Alese, (CA2 (per curiam ); Diaz, 989 391 (CA10 Clay, 982 959 (CA6 1993), cert. pending, 93-52; 426 (all interpreting Guidelines); 1130 1399 Corpuz, 953 526 (CA9 probation). KENNEDY—a reduced minimum—is notable originality. essayed answer KENNEDY finds statute." 1274 (describing "far transparent"). classified S.Rep. 98-225, p. 88 (1983), U.S.Code Cong. Admin.News 3182. KENNEDY's profit violations. example. determined, violated possessing allows "punished" reducing whenever two-thirds Surely implausible. dissent notes number rules, each instance nn. 4-5. involves "plain meaning" 4. further, "use 'sentence' defendant." cited instances, specifying (e.g., fine," 3551(c)), variant (see 3553(a), (b), (c), (e); 3554-3558). hearing, full-scale tried jury; also, proof stringent prosecutions. 3565(a); Fed.Rule Crim.Proc. 32.1; 429 (citing cases). (five 1703(a)) originally, specific reason" 3553(c), aggravating circumstance adequately Commission formulating guidelines. 3553(b). Upward departures exceptional infra, dissent's allow routine 1-5 Class D felonies; corresponding years. E felonies, available, 1-year misdemeanors, available; year. 3561(b), 3583(b). Debate night, 32633 ("I cognizant 2:20 morning, long") Dole); 33318 vote a.m.), anxious adjourn home elections away. Section-by-section analyses produced House, publication 32707 (Senate); 33236 (House). Cunningham, Levi, Green, Kaplan, Plain Meaning Hard Cases, Yale L.J. (1994) (forthcoming). chief difficulty suspension mentioned, neatly fits theory well: situation, hand "read[s] extent applicable, "deman[d] interpretation" opinion—that note urge presents. More assertions presuppose permissible one. SCALIA Revocation implies replacing changing unrevoked earlier (expressly declaring range); ) (holding (vacating exceeded range). identify issued. 980, 985 "in circumstances" depart "maximum 22. short considers departure warranted, prospect. makes scant assume presumptively Granderson's, rare departed downward Harrison, 815 F.Supp. 494 (DC government's motion, 97-121 10-year moved possession, basing ambiguous, require. Harrison's "applicable range" permitting reply since "implies 12. implication inhere contradicts body attached. sentencing" Presumably concede "any fine—in discernment replaced wrong. defense. 'revoke probation,' sentencing," There is, requirement baseline measuring requisite minimum—for un (because served) portion counts. reduces, unexplained replacement "probation component" component. imperative statute; interchangeability quoted abandons adopts intuited limitation remarkably criticizes foreclosed. usage, prepositional repeated again ]." "[N]ot one-third" time. revocation, money, consistently uses 3551(b) (e), 3554-3558. distinguishes "available." synonymous, knew crime"). opinions. Rather citing all, suffice review reveals once potentially rules. instance, 35(a)(2) (directing remand if, proceedings, incorrect"); 863 (providing rehearing court-martial, "no excess imposed"). 4A1.2(k) defendant); 7B1.4, comment., 5. proposition former. rightly senseless regardless means. readopt justifiably senseless. recognizes inconclusive. ("None expressions case' ") 4); 11. Where "isolated excerpts history," followed. Patterson Shumate, 504 2242, 2248, 119 519 (1992). disbelief probationer's offense. misses points. respondent's 1703(a), 3559(a)(4), 3581(b)(4). exactly violation—five By allowing faces 3565(a)—five readily suggestion "is prospect" involving departure. "makes sense" reasoning, "unlikely plausibility guide, choose benchmark.

Category: 0