United States v. Crockett

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: May 12, 1999
• Docket: 99-10137
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 99-10137 Summary Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

CHRISTOPHER CROCKETT, also known as Charles Wright,

Defendant-Appellant.

- - - - - - - - - - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas (CR-195-2) - - - - - - - - - -

May 10, 1999

Before JOLLY, SMITH, and WIENER, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Defendant-Appellant Christopher Crockett’s mother, Patricia

Bonner, seeks to appeal his convictions for robbery and using and

carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. Crockett’s

appointed counsel, Robert R. Smith, seeks to withdraw as Crockett’s

counsel.

We are required to determine, sua sponte, whether we have

appellate jurisdiction. Mosley v. Cozby, 813 F.2d 659, 660 (5th

Cir. 1987). The notice of appeal filed and signed by Crockett’s

* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. mother is not an effective notice of appeal. The notice of appeal

must be signed by the party or his attorney, and nonlawyers who

have not obtained next friend status are not authorized to

represent others or sign their pleadings. See Gonzales v. Wyatt,

157 F.3d 1016, 1020-22 (5th Cir. 1998); Carter v. Stalder, 60 F.3d

238, 239 (5th Cir. 1995).

Crockett’s appeal is dismissed for lack of appellate

jurisdiction. As such counsel’s responsibilities to Crockett are

over, so counsel’s motion to withdraw is

DENIED AS MOOT.