Court Opinion

ID: 19534
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 07:25:15+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:04:43.199743
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                            No. 99-50448
                        Conference Calendar

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

ULYSSES MARTINEZ-MARTINEZ,

                                          Defendant-Appellant.

                       --------------------
          Appeal from the United States District Court
                for the Western District of Texas
                     USDC No. DR-98-CR-273-1
                       --------------------

                         December 15, 1999

Before JOLLY, HIGGINBOTHAM, and BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Rogelio Muñoz (“Muñoz”), court-appointed counsel for

appellant, Ulysses Martinez-Martinez, seeks leave to withdraw

pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967).     However,

because we lack jurisdiction, we dismiss this appeal and deny

counsel’s motion.

     We are obliged to examine our jurisdiction, sua sponte if

necessary, if jurisdiction is in doubt.      See Castaneda v. Falcon,

166 F.3d 799, 801 (5th Cir. 1999).   Our review of the record

     *
        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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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. 99-50448
                                 -2-

reveals that although judgment was entered on November 5, 1998,

the notice of appeal in this matter was not filed until April 9,

1999, some five months later.    Accordingly, we are without

jurisdiction to entertain the appeal.      See FED. R. APP. P. 4(b);

United States v. Adams, 106 F.3d 646, 647 (5th Cir. 1997)

(appellate court has no jurisdiction absent timely notice of

appeal).    Therefore, we dismiss the appeal for lack of

jurisdiction, we deny Muñoz’ motion to withdraw as moot, and we

deny Martinez’ request for appointment of counsel on appeal as

moot.

     We now turn to Muñoz’ conduct in this case.      Although the

notice of appeal was clearly filed on April 9, 1999, Muñoz states

in his Anders brief that the notice was filed on November 2,

1998.   Further, Martinez attached to his notice of appeal a

letter, purportedly from Muñoz, which states that a notice of

appeal was not filed and that the time to do so had passed.

R. 1, 30.

     Pursuant to FED. R. APP. P. 46(c), we hereby order Muñoz to

show cause why this court should not impose sanctions or

otherwise discipline him for misrepresenting to the court a

critical fact relating to jurisdiction.      See, e.g., United States

v. Gaitan, 171 F.3d 222 (5th Cir. 1999).      Muñoz shall have

fifteen days from the date of this opinion to file a response.

     APPEAL DISMISSED FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION; MOTION TO

WITHDRAW DENIED AS MOOT; REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

DENIED AS MOOT; COUNSEL ORDERED TO SHOW CAUSE WHY SANCTIONS

SHOULD NOT BE IMPOSED.