Court Opinion

ID: 9490696
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 13:52:06.321336+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:54:16.064530
License: Public Domain

JOLLY, Circuit Judge,
concurring specially:
I write separately only to emphasize that the government conceded that all but one of the issues raised in this appeal fell within an express exception to the waiver provision in Somner’s plea agreement. It is not clear what the government hoped to accomplish with this somewhat ambiguous waiver. When considered as a whole, the waiver is capable of more than one interpretation. It would be a mistake, however, to read the court’s opinion to suggest that a defendant may not expressly waive his right to appeal any and all issues. The established law of this circuit provides that a defendant may, by knowingly and voluntarily entering into a valid plea agreement, waive the statutory *409right to appeal his sentence — period. See United States v. Melancon, 972 F.2d 566, 568 (5th Cir.1992).