United States v. Larita Duncan
Concurring Opinion
concurring in the judgment.
Because I am bound by Circuit precedent, see United States v. Brewer, 624
In Brewer, this Court held “the Fair Sentencing Act contains no express statement that is retroactive, and thus the ‘general savings statute,’ 1 U.S.C. § 109, requires us to apply the penalties in place at the time the crime was committed.” 624 F.3d at 909 n. 7. But the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the savings statute is not as narrow as Brewer makes it to be. The Supreme Court has held the savings statute “cannot justify a disregard of the will of Congress as manifested, either expressly or by necessary implication, in a subsequent enactment.” Great N. Ry. Co. v. United States, 208 U.S. 452, 465, 28 S.Ct. 313, 52 L.Ed. 567 (1908) (emphasis added). Thus, the savings statute “must be enforced unless, either by express declaration or necessary implication, arising from the terms of the law as a whole, it results that the legislative mind will be set at naught by giving effect to the provisions of [the statute].” Id.; see also Warden, Lewisburg Penitentiary v. Marrero, 417 U.S. 653, 659 n. 10, 94 S.Ct. 2532, 41 L.Ed.2d 383 (1974) (stating “only if [the statute at issue] can be said by fair implication or expressly to conflict with [the savings statute] would there be reason to hold [the statute at issue] superseded [the savings statute]”) (emphasis added). I join in the reasoning of those circuit courts which have concluded, notwithstanding the absence of an express statement of retroac-tivity, the necessary, fair, and only implication of the FSA is Congress intended for the new mandatory minimums to apply to all defendants sentenced after the enactment of the Act. See, e.g., Dixon, 648 F.3d at 200-03; Douglas, 644 F.3d at 43-46; see also United States v. Holcomb, 657 F.3d 445, 454-62 (7th Cir. 2011) (Williams, J., dissenting from denial of rehearing en banc).
Opinion of the Court
Larita Duncan pleaded guilty to possessing five or more grams of crack cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 844(a). On November 22, 2010, the district court
Our precedent forecloses Duncan’s argument the FSA applies retroactively.
Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s judgment.
. The Honorable Laurie Smith Camp, United States District Judge for the District of Nebraska.
. We note the Supreme Court recently granted certiorari on the issue of the retroactive application of the FSA in two cases, consolidated for one hour of oral argument: United States v. Hill, 417 Fed.Appx. 560 (7th Cir. 2011), cert. granted, — U.S. -, 132 S.Ct. 759, - L.Ed.2d - (2011), and United States v. Fisher, 635 F.3d 336 (7th Cir. 2011), cert. granted sub nom Dorsey v. United States, — U.S.-, 132 S.Ct. 759, L.Ed.2d-(2011).
.President Barack Obama signed the FSA into law on August 3, 2010, surrounded by bipartisan Congressional leaders and the Attorney General. Pub.L. No. 111-220, 124 Stat. 2372 (Aug. 3, 2010).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Larita DUNCAN, Appellant
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Unpublished