Court Opinion

ID: 9468937
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 02:27:13.932717+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:41:07.449339
License: Public Domain

R. LANIER ANDERSON, III, Circuit Judge,
specially concurring:
I concur in the opinion of the majority, but write separately to express reservations in one regard. I agree that a literal reading of Rule 35 strongly points, and perhaps requires, the interpretation adopted by the majority. However, it is my opinion that Rule 35, as thus interpreted, makes a distinction between the two situations described below, for which distinction I can find no strong policy reasons. The two situations to which I refer are as follows: First, if sentence is not “imposed” at trial, but rather is suspended, then of course sentence would be initially “imposed” at the time of the _ revocation of probation, and in such situation it is clear that a defendant would be entitled to the Rule 35 “second look” within 120 days after the revocation. Second, on the other hand, if sentence is originally “imposed” at trial, but execution of the sentence is suspended, then the Rule 35 “second look” is not available after the hearing revoking probation. I see no policy reasons for permitting the Rule 35 “second look” in one situation and denying it in the other. Although I agree with the majority that the language of Rule 35 seems to require this difference in treatment, I agree with the Third Circuit in United States v. Johnson, 634 F.2d 94 (3d Cir. 1980), that policy reasons do not justify the difference. Accordingly, I would urge that Congress take action to extend the Rule 35 “second look” to the instant situation, and thus to eliminate the unjustified difference between the two situations.