Can Prop 47 Change a Federal Sentence of Life in Prison?

Mr. Vasquez then appealed his federal enhancement, arguing it should be invalidated because he no longer stood convicted of one of the two prior state court felonies, which was for a violation of Health and Safety § 11350(a).

As Mr. Vasquez’s criminal history is common, i.e. someone sentenced to life in federal prison based on two or more California state court felonies subject to Prop 47 reclassification, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit took a look at the argument. Moreover, it noted that there were nine other appeals seeking the same relief as Jesse Vasquez and consolidated them all into one case with Mr. Vasquez as the designated lead appellant.

Therefore, its written opinion is worth noting. It held that Prop 47 does not change the “historical fact” that Vasquez violated § 841 “after two or more prior convictions for a felony drug offense had become final.” 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A).

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit acknowledged Mr. Vasquez’s argument that because Prop 47 provides “any felony conviction that is recalled and resentenced… or designated as a misdemeanor, shall be considered a misdemeanor for all purposes.” California Penal Code § 1170.18(K).

However, the court of appeals also noted that Penal Code § 1170.18(n) states, “[n]othing in this and related sections is intended to diminish or abrogate the finality of judgments in any case not falling within the purviews of this act.” A federal court and its sentencing authority is controlled by the U.S. Code, not the California Penal Code. United States v. Norbury (9th Cir., 2007) 492 F.3d 1012, 1014.

Moreover, Proposition 47 does not “undo the finality of judgments under California law.” To hold otherwise would essentially allow a California state court judge to veto federal sentences, which would divest the federal judge of such power. In other words, the state court judge could “rewrite history” for purposes of interpreting federal criminal statutes, which should not be allowed. United States v. Bergeman (9th Cir., 1979) 59 2 F.2d 533, 536. More pointedly, but by the Fifth Circuit, a federal judge wrote “[w]e are not bound by a [state laws] treatment of a felony conviction when we apply federal sentence enhancement provisions.” United States v. Morales (5th Cir., 1988) 854 F. 2d 65, 68.

Therefore, Mr. Vasquez’s appeal was denied. The lower court’s life sentence was affirmed.
For more information about Prop 47 consequences, please click on the following articles:

1. Does Proposition 47 (Prop 47) Apply Automatically or Must One Affirmatively Request Reduction of an Offense?
2. Prop 47 Resentencing – Who Has Burden of Proof to Show Eligibility?
3. Does Prop 47 Reduce a Federal Sentence of Life in Prison?
   

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