Hall v. United States of America

Amy Leann Hall pleaded guilty pursuant to a Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(1)(C) plea agreement to two counts of murder in Indian country and one count of assault with intent to commit murder in Indian country. The district court sentenced her to life in prison on the murder counts and 240 months on the assault count, to run concurrently. Despite an appeal waiver in her plea agreement, Hall appealed. The government moved to enforce the appeal waiver. Hall did not contest the motion. On December 19, 2024, the Tenth Circuit granted the government's motion and dismissed the appeal.

The Tenth Circuit granted the government's motion to enforce the appeal waiver and dismissed the appeal.

Whether the defendant's appeal should be barred by the appellate waiver in her Rule 11(c)(1)(C) plea agreement.

This case highlights the enforceability of appeal waivers in federal plea agreements, particularly in serious crimes like murder. It reaffirms that defendants who knowingly and voluntarily waive their appellate rights as part of a plea bargain are generally bound by that waiver. The decision underscores the finality of plea agreements and the limited scope for appellate review when a valid waiver exists.