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A COUPLE OF NOTES ABOUT COMPASSIONATE RELEASE…

Two decisions last week delivered some handy reminders to people seeking “compassionate release” sentence reductions under 18 USC § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i) that (1) a defendant’s being sick or prone to get sick is not the only concern of the judge; and (2) there are procedural pitfalls for the unwary.

By now, everyone knows that you have to show “extraordinary and compelling” reasons warranting a sentence reduction. These days, such reasons are usually (but not always) that you have medical conditions that puts you at risk for catching COVID (although a variety of reasons from medical to questions of fairness have supported compassionate release in the two years since defendants first got the right to bring the motions themselves in the First Step Act).

But “extraordinary and compelling” is just part of the showing you have to make. The statute also requires that the court consider the “sentencing factors” of 18 USC § 3553(a). And whether the factors favor grant of your motion is almost solely the judge’s call.

The factors are framed in such terms as consideration of “the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant” and “the need for the sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment for the offense; to provide adequate deterrence to criminal conduct; to protect the public from further crimes of the defendant; and to provide the defendant with education, training, medical care, or other treatment.” But what it all comes down to whether the judge thinks the defendant has been locked up long enough.

Keith Ruffin filed a motion with his sentencing court for compassionate release, arguing that his heart problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and blood clots, put him more at risk for COVID. These are all pretty good reasons, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But his sentencing judge disagreed that his health concerns were “extraordinary and compelling reasons” for relief, and held that even if they were,  the § 3553(a) sentencing factors argued against a sentence reduction.

Last week, the 6th Circuit upheld denial of Keith’s compassionate release motion. It ignored Keith’s solid argument that the district court had erred in holding that because Keith could currently manage his health conditions, his risk factors were not extraordinary and compelling reasons for compassionate release. Instead, the court said, the district court is pretty much all there is in deciding that cutting Keith loose was inconsistent with the 3553(a) factors.

“These ubiquitous factors,” the Circuit said, “consider such things as the characteristics of the defendant, the nature of the offense, and various penological goals, such as the need to promote respect for law and to protect the public. This last requirement confirms an overarching point: The district court has substantial discretion. The statute says that the district court “may” reduce a sentence if it finds the first two requirements met; it does not say that the district court must do so. Even if those conditions are met, therefore, a district court may still deny relief if it finds that the “applicable” 3553(a) factors do not justify it. And in a reduction-of-sentence proceeding, as at sentencing, the district court is best situated to balance the § 3553(a) factors.”

A district court might abuse its discretion, the 6th said, if its denial was based on a purely legal mistake (such as a misreading the extraordinary-and-compelling-reasons requirement) or if it engaged in a substantively unreasonable balancing of the § 3553(a) factors. Here, the district court considered the amount of time served, his somewhat uneven prison record as evidence of the extent of rehabilitation, and the fact Keith had committed his crimes while suffering from the same health concerns he now relied on to justify compassionate release.

In another case, Art Payton’s compassionate release motion was denied by his sentencing court last July 24th. He filed a notice of appeal on August 10th, 17 days later. Last week, the 6th Circuit dismissed his appeal.

The deadline for an appeal in a civil case is at least 30 days after the final order is issued (and can be more in some cases). But a motion under 18 USC § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i) is a continuation of a criminal case, and thus is subject to the 14-day deadline set out in Fed.R.App.P. 4(b)(1).

Rule 4(b)(4) authorizes the district court to extend the time in which a party may appeal for up to 30 days from the end of the fourteen-day appeal period provided in F.R.App.P 4(b)(1)(A). However, the court must find “good cause” or “excusable neglect” for the failure to timely file a notice of appeal.

The Court sent the case back to the district court to determine whether Art’s excuse – that the prison has been “on an institution-wide lockdown and getting copies in this environment is problematic” – should allow him to file a belated appeal.

United States v. Ruffin, Case No. 20-5748, 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 33689 (6th Cir Oct 26, 2020)

United States v. Payton, Case No 20-1811, 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 33965 (6th Cir Oct 28, 2020)

– Thomas L. Root