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United States v. Davis

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF IOWA EASTERN DIVISION
Dec 19, 2019
No. CR19-2045-LTS (N.D. Iowa Dec. 19, 2019)

Opinion

No. CR19-2045-LTS

12-19-2019

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. GRIFFIN RILEY DAVIS, Defendant.


ORDER ACCEPTING MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION REGARDING DEFENDANT'S GUILTY PLEA

I. BACKGROUND

On July 24, 2019, a one-count indictment was filed against defendant. On December 2, 2019, defendant appeared before the Honorable Mark A. Roberts, United States Magistrate Judge, and entered a plea of guilty to Count 1 of the indictment. On December 3, 2019, Judge Roberts filed a Report and Recommendation (R&R) in which he recommended that defendant's guilty plea be accepted. Doc. No. 21. No objections to the R&R were filed. I therefore undertake the necessary review of Judge Roberts' recommendation to accept defendant's plea in this case.

II. APPLICABLE STANDARDS

A district judge must review a magistrate judge's R&R in a criminal case under the following standards:

Within fourteen days after being served with a copy, any party may serve and file written objections to such proposed findings and recommendations as provided by rules of court. A judge of the court shall make a de novo determination of those portions of the report or specified proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made. A judge of the court may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate judge. The judge may also receive further evidence or recommit the matter to the magistrate judge with instructions.
28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); see also Fed. R. Crim. P. 59(b). Thus, when a party objects to any portion of an R&R, the district judge must undertake a de novo review of that portion.

Any portions of an R&R to which no objections have been made must be reviewed under at least a "clearly erroneous" standard. See, e.g., Grinder v. Gammon, 73 F.3d 793, 795 (8th Cir. 1996) (noting that when no objections are filed "[the district court judge] would only have to review the findings of the magistrate judge for clear error"). As the Supreme Court has explained, "[a] finding is 'clearly erroneous' when although there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed." Anderson v. City of Bessemer City, 470 U.S. 564, 573-74 (1985) (quoting United States v. U.S. Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. 364, 395 (1948)). However, a district judge may elect to review an R&R under a more-exacting standard even if no objections are filed:

Any party that desires plenary consideration by the Article III judge of any issue need only ask. Moreover, while the statute does not require the judge to review an issue de novo if no objections are filed, it does not preclude further review by the district judge, sua sponte or at the request of a party, under a de novo or any other standard.
Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 150 (1985).

III. DISCUSSION

Because neither party objects to the R&R, I have reviewed it for clear error. Based on that review, I am not "left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed." Anderson, 470 U.S. at 573-74. As such, I hereby accept the R&R without modification and accept defendant's plea of guilty in this case as to Count 1 of the indictment.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED this 19th day of December, 2019.

/s/_________

Leonard T. Strand, Chief Judge

United States v. Cortez-Hernandez, 673 F. App'x 587 (8th Cir. 2016) (per curiam), suggests that a defendant may have the right to de novo review of a magistrate judge's recommendation to accept a plea of guilty even if no objection is filed. But see 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Crim. P. 59(b). I will undertake a de novo review of the R&R if a written request for such review is filed within seven (7) days after this order is filed.


Summaries of

United States v. Davis

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF IOWA EASTERN DIVISION
Dec 19, 2019
No. CR19-2045-LTS (N.D. Iowa Dec. 19, 2019)
Case details for

United States v. Davis

Case Details

Full title:UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. GRIFFIN RILEY DAVIS, Defendant.

Court:UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF IOWA EASTERN DIVISION

Date published: Dec 19, 2019

Citations

No. CR19-2045-LTS (N.D. Iowa Dec. 19, 2019)