United States v. Lopez

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 97-30725 Summary Calendar UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus FRANCISCO LOPEZ, Defendant-Appellant. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana USDC No. 97-CV-549 USDC No. 93-CR-20046-02 -------------------- September 27, 1999 Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DeMOSS, and STEWART, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Francisco Lopez, federal prisoner # 56053-079, appeals the district court’s denial of his motion to vacate sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Lopez contends that the district court erred in refusing to grant relief from a sentence imposed in excess of the statutory maximum and in failing to consider his assertions of double jeopardy and ineffective assistance of counsel. The district court denied relief on Lopez’s excessive- * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. No. 97-30725 -2- sentence claim because the issue could have been raised on direct appeal and Lopez had not shown cause and prejudice for his failure to do so. United States v. Shaid, 937 F.2d 228, 232 (5th Cir. 1991)(en banc). In his supplemental pleading following the Government’s raising of procedural bar, Lopez did not attempt to show cause and prejudice for his default in not raising the issue of excessive sentence on direct appeal. As a result, this portion of the district court’s opinion is AFFIRMED. However, Lopez is correct in asserting that the district court failed to consider his claims that he was subjected to double jeopardy and that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to raise the double-jeopardy issue earlier. This court lacks jurisdiction to consider claims not considered by the district court in determining whether to grant a certificate of appealability. Whitehead v. Johnson, 157 F.3d 384, 387-88 (5th Cir. 1998). The district court’s denial of relief under § 2255 is therefore VACATED IN PART and the case REMANDED so that the district court can consider the merits of these issues and whether Lopez can show cause for and prejudice from his failure to raise the issue of double jeopardy on direct appeal. AFFIRM IN PART; VACATE AND REMAND FOR CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES ON THE MERITS.