Court Opinion

ID: 9460525
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 21:53:18.665662+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:36:39.848292
License: Public Domain

ROSENN, Circuit Judge
(concurring) .
We must remand this case to the district court to vacate its judgment and permit the petitioner to plead anew to the indictment under our decision in Roberts v. United States, 491 F.2d 1236 (3d Cir. 1974). I therefore do not believe that the evidentiary hearing directed by the majority is necessary.
In Roberts v. United States, supra, petitioner contended that at the time he pleaded guilty to the offense of distribution of heroin, 21 U.S.C. § 841(b), he was not advised that a mandatory special parol term would attach to any sentence of imprisonment imposed. We held that knowledge of such fact was essential to an understanding of the consequences of a guilty plea and remanded the proceedings to the district court “with directions to vacate the judgment of conviction and sentence, to vacate the plea of guilty, and to afford appellant an opportunity to plead anew to the indictment.” Roberts v. United States, supra.
In the instant case, Valenciano contends that he was never made aware, prior to the time he received a time sheet from the Record Office of the United States Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, that a special parole term of three years was to attach to his sentence. The Government does not argue in its brief that Valenciano was told of the mandatory special parole term at the time of his plea, nor does the transcript of the Rule 11 proceedings, held on *589April 12, 1972, reveal that Valenciano was so informed by the district court. Under these circumstances, Roberts dictates that we remand this case to the district court “with directions to vacate the judgment of conviction and sentence, to vacate the plea of guilty, and to afford appellant an opportunity to plead anew to the indictment.”
Should Valenciano again decide to plea guilty on remand, or should the district court in the future receive pleas of guilty in other cases, I believe that recurring attacks on the plea or sentence of the type addressed by the majority can be effectively avoided if an inquiry is first directed to counsel for the parties to ascertain if there has been plea bargaining. Judicial acceptance of the plea of guilty should be preceded by a statement of the court and inquiry as was suggested by this court in Paradiso v. United States, 482 F.2d 409 (3d Cir. 1973).
In connection with their rule 11 inquiry on a plea of guilty, district judges should in essence inform the defendant that plea bargaining is specifically approved by the court and that he may truthfully inform the court of any plea negotiations “without the slightest fear of incurring disapproval of the court.” Inquiry should also be made of counsel for the parties as to any plea negotiations. Should inquiry reveal the presence of plea negotiations, counsel for the parties should be required to state of record whether he understands them and concurs. The court, of course, is not obligated to accept any recommendation or bargain reached by the parties, and it should so inform the defendant when any bargain is disclosed.
482 F.2d at 413. See also, Proposed Amendments to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, 52 F.R.D. 409, 416-417 (1971); Hilliard v. Beto, 465 F.2d 829, 832 n. 11 (5th Cir. 1972).
I believe that the procedure announced by this court in Paradiso adequately meets the problem of “the escalating numbers of eases complaining of aborted plea bargains, involuntary pleas or frustrated plea expectations.” 482 F.2d at 413. I am not convinced, moreover, that the additional instructions proposed by the majority will significantly aid the courts in avoiding attacks on pleas of guilty allegedly improperly induced.