Court Opinion

ID: 9474346
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 04:55:14.705274+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:44:02.441541
License: Public Domain

FAY, Circuit Judge,
concurring in part, dissenting in part:
While concurring in most of Judge Johnson’s Memorandum and Order, I add one word of caution about the labels we use. Saying something is a “mixed question of law and fact” can be deceptive because those words are usually followed by the expression, “allowing plenary review on appeal.”
Personally, I prefer the language used by the Second, Fourth, and Fifth Circuits. However, I agree that, “While the characterization of the standard is somewhat different, ... in practice the scope of review is the same ...”
Whenever the issues presented to courts are intertwined with the credibility of witnesses and the evaluation of the weight to be given testimony, appellate courts should give great deference to those judicial officers “on the scene.” The standard we articulate to do that is “clearly erroneous.” Classifying issues as presenting mixed questions of law and fact should not be used by appellate judges to substitute their impressions and opinions for those who heard and saw the witnesses. This concerns me.
Judge Johnson makes it clear that “we will be chary of disturbing the purely factual findings of the trial court and will do so only if such findings are clearly erroneous.” This approach should be the keystone to our review.
Having said that, I concur in Sections I, II, IIIA, IIIB and IIIC. I respectfully dissent from Section HID and Section IV.
The magistrate held a hearing on September 5, 1985. The defendants were present and represented by counsel. The magistrate reviewed reports prepared by the United States Probation Office. Apparently the defendants offered no testimony and no evidence. The magistrate entered his written order on September 6, 1985. The indictment had been returned on September 4, 1985.
The United States District Judge conducted a hearing on October 3, 1985. Counsel for all parties presented their arguments but no one offered any additional evidence. In its Order denying relief from the magistrate’s detention order, the District Court sets forth that it has carefully reviewed the defendants’ motions and the detention order, has carefully reviewed the bail reports submitted by the United States Probation Office, and has carefully reviewed the transcript of the detention hearing before the magistrate. Thus, it affirmatively appears in this record that the United States District Judge personally reviewed everything there was to consider. Having done so, he concluded and found that no condition of release or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the appearance of the defendants. There is no indication that the District Judge deferred to the magistrate and his order does not merely ratify that of the magistrate. I simply do not understand what the District Judge is to do on remand.
I would affirm the order of pretrial detention.