Court Opinion

ID: 9480220
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 07:41:28.765695+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:47:33.020454
License: Public Domain

*1304JOHN R. GIBSON, Circuit Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur in the result the court reaches today and in its opinion, with the exception of Part 1A.
I am convinced that Judge Alsop did not err or abuse his discretion in following a policy of refusing to allow defendants released on bond to engage in undercover drug trafficking. I do not believe that this policy conflicts with Rule 35(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure or the Sentencing Guidelines. Brown was released pending sentencing and the Order Setting Conditions of Release specified that Brown refrain from using or possessing narcotic drugs or other controlled substances unless prescribed by a physician. This condition parallels the language in 18 U.S.C. § 3142(c)(l)(B)(ix). Supervising persons released on bond is one of the responsibilities which weigh most heavily in the hands of the district judge. We should not create additional obstacles for the district judge to overcome in exercising his discretion to fulfill that responsibility. The district judge, who has faced the defendant in open court, is in the best position to make decisions concerning the defendant’s release and the conditions for such release.
I differentiate between persons who have been charged and released on bond, and persons who have not been charged or otherwise are in the hands of law enforcement authorities. In the latter case, there are no impediments which prevent law enforcement authorities from offering the opportunity to participate in controlled drug transactions for the purpose of effectuating further arrests. That, however, is not the issue in this case. The distinction turns on whether judicial proceedings have actually commenced or whether they are under consideration. This distinction is significant; prior to commencement of judicial proceedings, law enforcement authorities are responsible for such individuals, and not the judiciary. At that stage, law enforcement authorities are well-equipped to place the necessary conditions on the potential accused to protect his or her interests, as well as the interests of the law enforcement agency. I suspect that most controlled transactions utilize persons who have been placed under arrest or are otherwise in the hands of law enforcement authorities; I see no problem in leaving decisions concerning cooperation between law enforcement authorities and defendants or potential defendants to the discretion of such authorities.
A completely different question is presented, however, when the individual has been charged and released pending trial, sentencing, or appeal, under the condition that he or she refrain from using or possessing drugs. In such cases, where the condition has been imposed by the court, I believe that the district judge has broad discretion to see that the condition is followed. The court has discretion to condition release not only upon the standard conditions but also upon such other conditions as judicial discretion may dictate. If the accused breaches one of those conditions, his release may be terminated and his incarceration ordered. This decision lies solely with the district judge. Here, both the government and Brown contend that Judge Alsop committed error. No one has spoken on behalf of Judge Alsop; yet it was his exercise of discretion which led to the issue before us. I do not agree with the court today in concluding that Judge Alsop acted contrary to law or that he somehow abused his discretion. We have recognized, in the related areas of imposing and enforcing conditions of probation, that district judges possess broad discretion. United States v. Schoenrock, 868 F.2d 289 (8th Cir.1989).
My dissent from Part 1A is not intended to restrict in any manner Brown’s right to fully cooperate with law enforcement authorities through activities other than participating in controlled transactions, and I do not read Judge Alsop’s explanatory letter to place any such limitation on an individual in this situation. Rule 35(B) and Guideline § 5K1.1 control such activities. This court takes a step too far, however, in *1305limiting the district judge’s discretion in fulfilling his responsibility to supervise the release of the accused.