Court Opinion

ID: 9493827
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 15:20:35.128348+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:56:03.339714
License: Public Domain

BEAM, Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
I agree with most of the court's analysis of existing precedent. However, I believe that applying this precedent to the circumstances of this case requires a different result.
It is true that because of the separation of powers doctrine we apply an attenuated standard when we gauge any abuse of discretion in the denial of a Rule 48(a) motion. Whether a dismissal is contrary to the public interest, or not, must be balanced under this more limited measure. It seems to me, however, that the thrust of the established rule flows in a direction opposite from that which is followed by the court in its opinion.
There are no disputed matters in this case that traditionally fall under the control of the executive branch. Specifically, *1015there are no real issues concerning the strength of the evidence, alternative theories of the law, or other factors that influence questions of guilt or innocence or whether prosecutorial resources should or should not be expended. Indeed, the powers trenched upon by the federal prosecutor’s proposed motion are powers assigned to the judicial branch. As noted in Mistretta v. United States, sentencing in a criminal case is “primarily a judicial function.” 488 U.S. 361, 390, 109 S.Ct. 647, 102 L.Ed.2d 714 (1989). Thus, in this case, the public interest will best be served by giving deference to the judicial officer rather than to the prosecutor.
The trial judge is also correct when he notes that prosecutors, like judges, are charged with upholding the law. The prosecutor’s behavior in this case was the very antithesis of such a course of conduct. As I understand the facts, the prosecutor’s reason for filing the dismissal motion was that she simply disagreed with federal sentencing law as it is applicable to the crimes in question. To thwart the impact of this existing law, she proposed a course of conduct that made less onerous state sentencing statutes applicable. Not only did this proposed action impinge upon federal judicial prerogatives, it also was intended to circumvent congressional policy directed toward these particular criminal defendants.
In my view, these prosecutorial maneuvers were clearly contrary to manifest public interest, see United States v. Gonzalez, 58 F.3d 459, 461 (9th Cir.1995), and denial of the motion to dismiss was well within the discretion of the district court. The district court should be affirmed.
Accordingly, I dissent.