Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Julio Cesar GARCIA-REYES, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2004-02-18
Citations: 87 F. App'x 988
Docket Number: No. 03-40688
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Julio Cesar GARCIA-REYES, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 87
Pages: 988–989

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Julio Cesar GARCIA-REYES, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 03-40688.
Conference Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Feb. 18, 2004.
Paula Camille Offenhauser, James Lee Turner, Assistant US Attorneys, US Attorney’s Office, Houston, TX, for PlaintiffAppellee.
Roland E. Dahlin, II, Federal Public Defender, H. Michael Sokolow, John S. Paul, Federal Public Defender’s Office, Houston, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before HIGGINBOTHAM, EMILIO M. GARZA, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Julio Cesar Garcia-Reyes appeals his guilty plea conviction for possession of more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. Gareia-Reyes argues that 21 U.S.C. § 841 was rendered facially unconstitutional by Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 490, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). Gareia-Reyes concedes that his argument is foreclosed by our opinion in United States v. Slaughter, 238 F.3d 580, 581-82 (5th Cir.2000), which rejected a broad Apprendi-based attack on the constitutionality of that statute. He raises the issue only to preserve it for Supreme Court review.
A panel of this court cannot overrule a prior panel's decision in the absence of an intervening contrary or superseding decision by this court sitting en banc or by the United States Supreme Court. Burge v. Parish of St. Tammany, 187 F.3d 452, 466 (5th Cir.1999). No such decision overruling Slaughter exists. Accordingly, Garcia-Reyes's argument is indeed foreclosed. The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
The Government has moved for a summary affirmance in lieu of filing an appellee's brief. In its motion, the Government asks that an appellee's brief not be required. The motion is GRANTED.
AFFIRMED; MOTION GRANTED.
Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.