United States v. Blaser

390 F. Supp. 3d 1306
CourtDistrict Court, D. Kansas
DecidedJune 25, 2019
DocketCase No. 19-10075-01-EFM
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 390 F. Supp. 3d 1306 (United States v. Blaser) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Blaser, 390 F. Supp. 3d 1306 (D. Kan. 2019).

Opinion

GWYNNE E. BIRZER, United States Magistrate Judge

This matter is before the Court on United States' Motion for Clarification and Reconsideration *1309of Magistrate Judge's Order Setting Conditions of Release (ECF No. 11 ) and Defendant's Response (ECF No. 18). After careful consideration, the Court GRANTS the United States' request for clarification, but DENIES the request for reconsideration.

I. Background

On April 23, 2019, the Defendant was indicted on three counts of transportation of child pornography, using Microsoft's Bing Image search engine, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(1) and one count of possession of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B) and (b)(2).1 These offenses are alleged to have occurred in May, October, and November of 2018 and January of 2019.2

On May 1, 2019, Defendant made his initial appearance before the undersigned Magistrate Judge.3 After the initial appearance, the undersigned conducted a detention hearing pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3142 (referred to herein as " § 3142"), and ordered the Defendant released on bond.4 As will be relevant here, the undersigned also ordered Defendant to abide by the following additional conditions of release: (1) no travel outside the District of Kansas or Western District of Oklahoma without permission of the Court or U.S. Probation Office; (2) no contact with any minors without direct supervision of a responsible adult; (3) no possession of any form of pornographic material; and (4) submit to computer monitoring by the Probation Office and follow the Probation Office's policies restricting/prohibiting computer, cell phone and internet usage.5

The undersigned declined to order conditions of electronic monitoring and curfew as requested by the United States.6 These conditions became mandatory under § 3142(c)(1)(B) for individuals charged with certain child pornography offenses7 when the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act ("Adam Walsh Act")8 was enacted in 2006. But, based on previous caselaw from this District and the factual situation presented to the Court, the undersigned found mandatory imposition of these conditions unconstitutional and unnecessary as applied to Defendant.9 The United States takes issue with the Court's authority to make this finding.

II. Adam Walsh Act Amendments to 18 U.S.C. § 3142

The release or detention of a defendant pending trial is governed by § 3142. If a defendant is not detained pending trial, he must be released on personal recognizance or on an unsecured bond unless the court determines these conditions are insufficient.10 In that event, the court is obligated to fashion a bail package consisting of the "least restrictive further condition, or combination of conditions, that such judicial officer determines will reasonably assure the appearance of the person as required and the safety of any other person and the *1310community."11 The statute then provides a list of optional conditions at § 3142(c)(1)(B).12

As stated above, Congress enacted the Adam Walsh Act in 2006. That Act, among other things, amended § 3142(c)(1)(B) to mandate specific conditions for the release of persons charged with certain crimes involving minors, such as the child pornography offenses at issue here (referred to herein as the "Adam Walsh Amendments").13 Thus, under the Adam Walsh Amendments, "[i]n any case that involves a minor victim under section...of this title, any release order shall contain, at a minimum , a condition of electronic monitoring" and, as is relevant here, the condition that the defendant "comply with a specified curfew."14 Here, as explained above, the United States takes issue with the Court's declination to impose these mandatory electronic monitoring and curfew conditions, and in particular, its authority to determine whether a statute, or certain provisions of a statute, is unconstitutional.

III. United States' Motion for Clarification and Reconsideration of Magistrate Judge's Order Setting Conditions of Release (ECF No. 11).

A. Requests for Clarification

In its Motion, the United States seeks clarification regarding (1) the "Court's authority to declare a statute, or provisions of a statute, unconstitutional;"15 and (2) the identity of "what constitutional provisions are violated by the statute, and [the Court's] authority for so holding."16 Each will be addressed in turn below.

1. Court's Authority

The United States questions the undersigned's authority to opine the Adam Walsh Amendments to § 3142, which, as explained above, mandates specific release conditions for persons charged with certain crimes involving minors, is unconstitutional. As the United States correctly points out, federal magistrate judges, unlike federal district judges, are creatures of statute.17 Thus, magistrate judges only have the jurisdiction and authority granted to them by Congress, which is set out in 28 U.S.C. § 636.18

Section (a)(2) of 28 U.S.C. § 636 specifically gives magistrate judges jurisdiction and authority to "issue orders pursuant to section 3142 of title 18 concerning release or detention of persons pending trial." Thus, the undersigned's jurisdiction and authority to opine certain provisions of § 3142 are unconstitutional in issuing her order concerning release of Defendant pending trial comes directly from 28 U.S.C. § 636(a)(2). This is borne out by

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Bluebook (online)
390 F. Supp. 3d 1306, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-blaser-ksd-2019.