United States v. Ruiz-Lopez

467 F. App'x 316

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: April 25, 2012
• Docket: No. 10-40524
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

*

The attorney appointed to represent Miguel Antonio Ruiz-Lopez (Ruiz) has moved for leave to withdraw and has filed a brief in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396,18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), and United States v. Flores, 632 F.3d 229 (5th Cir.2011). Ruiz has filed a response. The record is insufficiently developed to allow consideration at this time of Ruiz’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel; such a claim generally “cannot be resolved on direct appeal when the claim has not been raised before the district court since no opportunity existed to develop the record on the merits of the allegations.” United States v. Cantwell, 470 F.3d 1087, 1091 (5th Cir.2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). We have reviewed counsel’s brief and the relevant portions of the record reflected therein, as well as Ruiz’s response. We concur with counsel’s assessment that the appeal presents no nonfrivolous issue for appellate review. Accordingly, the motion for leave to withdraw is GRANTED, counsel is excused from further responsibilities herein, Ruiz’s pro se motion for the appointment of counsel is DENIED, and the APPEAL IS DISMISSED. See 5th Cir. R. 42.2.

Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.