United States v. Watson

Opinion

Case: 24-40439 Document: 67-1 Page: 1 Date Filed: 07/07/2025

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals ____________ Fifth Circuit

FILED No. 24-40439 July 7, 2025 Summary Calendar Lyle W. Cayce ____________ Clerk

United States of America,

Plaintiff—Appellee,

versus

James Walker Watson, Jr.,

Defendant—Appellant. ______________________________

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas USDC No. 4:22-CR-125-1 ______________________________

Before Richman, Douglas, and Ramirez, Circuit Judges. Per Curiam:* The attorney appointed to represent James Walker Watson, Jr., has moved for leave to withdraw and has filed a brief in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and United States v. Flores, 632 F.3d 229 (5th Cir. 2011). Watson has filed a response. The record is not sufficiently developed to allow us to make a fair evaluation of Watson’s claims of

_____________________ * This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5. Case: 24-40439 Document: 67-1 Page: 2 Date Filed: 07/07/2025

No. 24-40439

ineffective assistance of counsel; we therefore decline to consider the claims without prejudice to collateral review. See United States v. Isgar, 739 F.3d 829, 841 (5th Cir. 2014). We have reviewed counsel’s brief and the relevant portions of the record reflected therein, as well as Watson’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, and the appeal is DISMISSED. See 5th Cir. R. 42.2.