United States v. Ramirez-Martinez

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED August 19, 2008 No. 06-50691 Summary Calendar Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Plaintiff-Appellee v. ARMANDO RAMIREZ-MARTINEZ Defendant-Appellant Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. 2:05-CR-872-ALL Before WIENER, STEWART, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* The attorney appointed to represent Defendant-Appellant Armando Ramirez-Martinez (Ramirez) has moved for leave to withdraw and has filed a brief in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967). Ramirez has not filed a response. Although counsel suggests that Ramirez may have a nonfrivolous claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the record is insufficiently developed to allow consideration of that claim at this juncture. Such a claim generally “cannot be resolved on direct appeal when the claim has not been * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 06-50691 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). Our independent review of the record and counsel’s brief discloses no nonfrivolous issue for appeal. Accordingly, counsel’s 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. 2