United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Jesse Marshall Walker, Jr., Defendant-appellant, 94 F.3d 654 (9th Cir. 1996)

Before: REINHARDT, HALL, and LEAVY Circuit Judges.

MEMORANDUM^* 

This is the defendant's second appeal of his sentence on the basis that the district court failed properly to explain the extent of the upward departure imposed. The first time, we vacated and remanded because the district court had not articulated reasons for the extent of the departure. United States v. Walker, 62 F.3d 1427 (9th Cir. 1995) (Table) (citing United States v. Hernandez-Rodriguez, 975 F.2d 622, 629 (9th Cir. 1992)).

On remand, the district judge imposed the same 46-month sentence and again failed to explain the reasoning behind the extent of the departure. For this reason, we vacate the sentence and remand to a different judge. See United States v. Huckins, 53 F.3d 276, 280 (9th Cir. 1995). Because we vacate the sentence, we need not consider defendant's other contention--that the district court erred by failing to adopt the government's recommendation of a downward departure on the basis of his substantial assistance pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1.

SENTENCE VACATED and REMANDED.