Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. James Vernon LAWHUN, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2011-09-29
Citations: 442 F. App'x 943
Docket Number: No. 10-51008
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. James Vernon LAWHUN, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS, and ELROD, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 442
Pages: 943–944

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. James Vernon LAWHUN, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 10-51008
Summary Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Sept. 29, 2011.
Joseph H. Gay, Jr., Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, San Antonio, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
William W. Torrey, Cameron, TX, Defendant-Appellant.
Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS, and ELROD, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
The attorney appointed to represent James Vernon Lawhun has moved for leave to withdraw and has filed briefs 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). Lawhun has filed a response. The record is insufficiently developed to allow consideration at this time of Lawhun'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 briefs and the relevant portions of the record reflected therein, as well as Lawhun'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. Lawhun's untimely request for appointment of substitute counsel is DENIED. See United States v. Wagner, 158 F.3d 901, 902-03 (5th Cir.1998).
Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.