Legal Document

518 U.S. 120116 S.Ct. 205135 L.Ed.2d 427 MELENDEZv.UNITED STATESCertiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for Third Circuit No. 95-5661. Argued February 27, 1996 Decided June 17, Syllabus After agreeing with others buy cocaine, petitioner was charged a conspiracy violative 21 U. S. C. Section(s) 846, which carries statutory minimum sentence 10 years' imprisonment. He ultimately signed plea agreement providing, inter alia, that in return his cooperation Government's investigation and guilty plea, Government would move sentencing court, pursuant 5K1.1 Sentencing Guidelines, depart downward from otherwise applicable Guideline range, turned out be 135-to-168 months' Although noted applicability 10-year sentence, neither it nor ensuing motion mentioned departure below minimum. Pursuant motion, District departed range petitioner. It also ruled, however, had no authority because not made 18 3553(e), do so. thus sentenced years, affirmed. Held: A attesting defendant's substantial assistance criminal requesting district court does authorize lower sentence. Pp. 3-11. (a) create "unitary" system. Title 3553(e) requires or authorizing "impose level established by statute as sentence" before may impose such Nothing suggests has power when authorized it, but instead moved only Guidelines range. Nor anything 28 994(n) suggest Commission itself dispense 3553(e)'s requirement, alternatively, "deem" different action - Section cannot read attempting exercise this nonexistent authority. That section states that, "[u]pon government . guidelines," while its Application Note 1 declares "[u]nder circumstances set forth justify statutorily required sentence." One is The correct relevant provisions merely charge constraining court's discretion choosing specific once minimum, "implementing" improperly attempt modify requirement. 3-10. (b) For two reasons, need decide whether reading permit construct unitary system providing willing if finds appropriate. First, even done so, help petitioner, since here. Second, adopted type 10-11. 55 F. 3d 130, Thomas, J., delivered opinion Court, Rehnquist, Scalia, Kennedy, Souter, Ginsburg, JJ., joined, O'Connor Breyer, joined Parts I II. filed concurring opinion. Stevens, an judgment. part dissenting part, O'Connor, joined. NOTICE: This subject formal revision publication preliminary print Reports. Readers are requested notify Reporter Decisions, Supreme States, Washington, D.C. 20543, any typographical other errors, order corrections goes press. Justice Thomas Court. issue here under permits We hold not. I. 2 Petitioner several entered into cocaine confidential informants Customs Service. As result, conspiring distribute possess intent more than five kilograms see 406, 84 Stat. 1265, amended, crime imprisonment, 841(b)(1)(A). Plea negotiations ensued, cooperating agreement. provided, pertinent petitioner's "move guideline range." App. 9. offense plead "carries mandatory penalty imprisonment." Id., at 6. did require specifically state oppose 3 pleaded conspiracy. probation officer determined 135 168 In letter described rendered "a what [c]ourt ha[d] [sic] guidelines." 13-14. "[t]his 5K1.1." 13. request although, again, opposed departure. granted Guidelines. However, ruled so depart; imposed statute. 4 On appeal, contended erred concluding he argued, allows See Commission, Manual 5K1.1, p. s. (Nov. 1995) (USSG). divided panel rejected argument affirmed 130 (1995). petition rehearing denied, six judges dissenting. 5 we Wade v. 504 181, 185 (1992), Courts disagree minimum.1 6 certiorari resolve conflict. 516 ___ now 7 question presented involves subsections federal statutes policy statement provides: 8 "(e) Limited Upon Government, shall have reflect prosecution another person who committed offense. Such accordance guidelines statements issued 994 title 28, Code." 9 994(n), turn, states: "(n) assure general appropriateness imposing imposed, including take account offense." 11 Finally, text 12 "Section(s) 5K1.1.Substantial Assistance Authorities (Policy Statement) "Upon stating defendant provided offense, guidelines. 13 "(a) appropriate reduction reasons stated include, limited to, consideration following: [List factors consideration, including] government's evaluation rendered." USSG 5K1.1. 14 argues creates calls system, minimum.2 views establishing binary withholding parties argue, naturally, their respective interpretations actually were permissible ones 994(n).3 15 believe amici repeatedly characterize "motion occurred," Brief 12, acknowledging `substantial assistance,' " id., 8, like. But term "motion" generally means "[a]n application judge purpose obtaining rule directing some act favor applicant." Black's Law Dictionary 1013 (6th ed. 1990).4 Papers simply "acknowledging" sufficient they indicate desire for, consent minimum.5 16 Of course, "acknowledge" here: agree nothing 17 Moreover, non-existent says: "Under sentence," comment., n. 1. is, explained previously, argue "accordance" Guidelines; directs draft provision covering cases, cases warranted; creating then failed meet obligation, implements 994(n). They (1) reference 5K1.1's indicates "conduit" "implementation" 3553(e); (2) 2's use broad "sentencing reduction," rather "departure range," supports view authorizes departures minimum;6 (3) makes sense on assumption retains "full discretionary power" over extent (i.e., choose confirming assistance);7 (4) alone (rather 3553(e)) 2D1.1's further claim conduit implementation 3553(e);8 (5) 5K1.1(a) limiting apply sentences after moves will wholly unlimited those circumstances. 19 view, already gives prosecutor. urges us last inclusion phrase "including requiring constrain contends first paragraph (as well range); requirements relate consider listed (1)-(5) determining According difficulties gaps referred vanish construed. 20 parts minimum.9 Congress beyond adopting regarding particular selected. various invoked could certainly clearer, interpretation current better one. guide selects range.10 not, attempted requirement spelled 22 Hence, correctly concluded lacked less III. 23 What stake long run can make one departure, apparently reads adjusting Tr. Oral Arg. 26-31. 24 second reasons. Neither commentary expressly limits situations ., say: any, Rather, permitting requests noted, supra, 7-10, Notes 2D1.1 compel reading. 25 judgment 26 ordered. 27 djq concurring. conclusion asking company characterization numbered deals best each referent directly applies reductions minimums. (which "the legal equivalent statement," 1B1.7) where dealt my discharged responsibility Notes, effectively tell courts motions Thus, disagreement suggestion treated separately. say leave that. 29 30 persuaded me intended based eminently reasonable, but, am convinced intend it. unless relief. notwithstanding serious doubts concerning wisdom congressional decision higher considered very fact confer minima prosecutor Commission. 31 concur Court's 3553(e). 32 whom joins, part. 33 join II opinion, like Congress' statutes. Part III, write own and, exercised "unitary system." 34 To understand must keep mind facts. many "substantial assistance" involve sentences, sentences. When seeks robbery, fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, most offenses, worry about either applies, far there practical likelihood drastic enough relevant. govern these call sets "Substantial Guideline." 35 convictions implicate special (applicable particularly drug weapon offenses) "mandatory minimum" Mandatory Minimum Penalties Federal Criminal System, Appendix A, pp. A1-A8 (Aug. 1991) (Mandatory Penalties). law normally cf. 3553(f) (limitation minimums certain cases); 5C1.2 (same). reason, namely, assistance," Statute." 36 With basic facts mind, might ask Substantial Guideline. particular, words mean same thing Statute? Or tougher, perhaps lenient, standard minimums) issue? 37 answer interpretive question, Statute using words. interpreted, files kind file obtain issue. 38 My believing tie (thereby recognizing two) said, language used virtually identical appears Statute. Compare s., nowhere key something places (the Statute) appear, imagine reason why wanted standards through words, thereby additional administrative complexity risking unnecessary confusion. Third, Commission's refers indiscriminately. 2D1.1, (citing proposition "waived"); Penalties, 59 (discussing motions"). 39 reaching contrary specify without Ante, (emphasis added; internal quotation marks omitted). surprising neglected add crystal clarity Guideline, governs sense, instead, interplay 1, relatively common, 7. 40 recognize avoids having "whether 10. difficult delegated determine reward reduced lawful reasonable. See, e.g., Shabazz, 933 2d 1029, 1035 (CADC) (Thomas, J.) Chevron A. Inc. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 837, 842-845 (1984)), cert. denied sub nom. McNeil 502 964 (1991). And seems perfectly Indeed, Rules Procedure post-judgment motions. Fed. Rule Crim. Proc. 35(b) ("[O]n within year imposition reduce "to subsequent, assistance"; include sentence"). Thus system," free maintain change light evolving justice policies. 41 case, accepted "departure" 135-month crime, disposition correct. Either warrant insufficient remand case case-specific 42 much written, dissent disposition. (CA3 1995), Rodriguez-Morales, 958 1441 (CA8), 506 940 Ah-Kai, 951 490 (CA2 1991), Beckett, 996 70 (CA5 1993), Wills, 1192 (CA7 1994), Keene, 711 (CA9 1991). time reply brief least ambiguous respect permitted Reply 7-8. included upon certiorari, Pet. Cert. ("Did 5K1, 3553(e)?"), concede 15. therefore decline address argument. plain party created Random House English Language 1254 (2d 1987) (defining "an order, ruling, thelike"); 187 (1992) (stating existence "is necessary condition [a but] been failure acknowledge appreciate [the defendant's] help, rational assessment cost benefit flow moving"). imply, (such quoted text) or, hand, express necessarily Cf. 5-6, 18, 32, (characterizing opposing fashion). way provides part: "The authorities independently acceptance responsibility." 2. weight should given assistance, value ascertain." 3. "Where (statutory) `waived' (including range), offense.' (Substantial Authorities)." addressed variety offenses. Notably, "sentence" statements, occur, authorized, statements. force ibid. (providing "[t]he reduction" applying nonexhaustive list factors), both 7, fact. encompasses meant analogous circumstance

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