United States v. Jose Lopez

Ninth Circuit

United States v. Jose Lopez

520 F. App'x 585

CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

DecidedMay 28, 2013

Docket12-10134

StatusUnpublished

This text of 520 F. App'x 585 (United States v. Jose Lopez) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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United States v. Jose Lopez, 520 F. App'x 585 (9th Cir. 2013).

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Opinion

*586 MEMORANDUM **

Although the Government made a favorable plea offer, defendant Jose Manuel Lopez pleaded guilty without entering into any agreement with the Government, and received a sentence 18 months higher than the one proposed by the Government. As a result of a recording equipment malfunction, no transcript of the change of plea hearing is available. These unusual facts form the basis for defendant’s appeal.

The absence of a transcript or suitable recording of the plea proceedings constitutes a violation of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(g). Contrary to the Government’s assertion, this Rule 11(g) violation is not analyzed under the Court Reporter Act, specifically 28 U.S.C. § 753(b), but rather is subject to harmless error review. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 11(h). Under a harmless error analysis, the Government bears the burden of establishing that the Rule 11 transgression had no effect on defendant’s substantial rights. E.g., United States v. Jimenez-Dominguez, 296 F.3d 863, 866 (9th Cir.2002). The Government has not satisfied this burden.

Absent a verbatim recording of the plea proceedings, it is not possible to assess whether the requirements of Rule 11 were met. Contrary to the Government’s contention, the Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendation are not an adequate substitute for a transcript of the change of plea hearing. The Findings and Recommendation recite some, but not all, of the matters outlined in Rule 11(b), provide no specifics concerning any applicable mandatory minimum or maximum penalties, and indicate that the sentencing guidelines “apply” when, in fact, they are only advisory, see United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 245, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). Given the Government’s inability to demonstrate that the Rule 11(g) violation was harmless, defendant is “entitled to plead anew.” McCarthy v. United States, 394 U.S. 459, 463, 89 S.Ct. 1166, 22 L.Ed.2d 418 (1969). We therefore vacate both the judgment and the guilty plea, and remand this matter to the district court for further proceedings.

VACATED and REMANDED.

**

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

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*586 MEMORANDUM **

Although the Government made a favorable plea offer, defendant Jose Manuel Lopez pleaded guilty without entering into any agreement with the Government, and received a sentence 18 months higher than the one proposed by the Government. As a result of a recording equipment malfunction, no transcript of the change of plea hearing is available. These unusual facts form the basis for defendant’s appeal.

The absence of a transcript or suitable recording of the plea proceedings constitutes a violation of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(g). Contrary to the Government’s assertion, this Rule 11(g) violation is not analyzed under the Court Reporter Act, specifically 28 U.S.C. § 753(b), but rather is subject to harmless error review. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 11(h). Under a harmless error analysis, the Government bears the burden of establishing that the Rule 11 transgression had no effect on defendant’s substantial rights. E.g., United States v. Jimenez-Dominguez, 296 F.3d 863, 866 (9th Cir.2002). The Government has not satisfied this burden.

Absent a verbatim recording of the plea proceedings, it is not possible to assess whether the requirements of Rule 11 were met. Contrary to the Government’s contention, the Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendation are not an adequate substitute for a transcript of the change of plea hearing. The Findings and Recommendation recite some, but not all, of the matters outlined in Rule 11(b), provide no specifics concerning any applicable mandatory minimum or maximum penalties, and indicate that the sentencing guidelines “apply” when, in fact, they are only advisory, see United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 245, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). Given the Government’s inability to demonstrate that the Rule 11(g) violation was harmless, defendant is “entitled to plead anew.” McCarthy v. United States, 394 U.S. 459, 463, 89 S.Ct. 1166, 22 L.Ed.2d 418 (1969). We therefore vacate both the judgment and the guilty plea, and remand this matter to the district court for further proceedings.

VACATED and REMANDED.

**

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

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