United States v. Girtley

* 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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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.
United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
June 14, 2007
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 05-30345
Summary Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
LAWRENCE GIRTLEY, also known as Pee Wee,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeals from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Louisiana
USDC No. 2:03-CR-257-21
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Before JOLLY, DENNIS, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Court-appointed counsel for Lawrence Girtley has filed a
motion seeking leave to withdraw and has filed a brief as
required by Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967). Girtley
was convicted following a guilty plea of conspiracy to possess
with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine
hydrochloride and 50 grams or more of cocaine base and was
sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment.

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No. 05-30345
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Girtley had 10 days from the entry of the December 16, 2004,
judgment to file a timely notice of appeal. See FED. R. APP. P.
4(b)(1)(A). Girtley’s pro se notice of appeal was untimely.
See id. A district court may grant a defendant an additional
30 days in which to file a notice of appeal upon a showing of
excusable neglect or good cause. See FED. R. APP. P. 4(b)(4).
Girtley’s notice of appeal, which was filed within this 30-day
period, sufficed as a motion for a finding on excusable neglect
or good cause. See United States v. Golding, 739 F.2d 183, 184
(5th Cir. 1984).
Accordingly, counsel’s motion is held in abeyance and the
case is remanded to the district court for the limited purpose of
a finding under FED. R. APP. P. 4(b)(4). Id. Upon making the
finding, the district court shall promptly return the case to
this court for dismissal or further proceedings, as may be
appropriate. We retain jurisdiction over the appeal except for
the purposes of the limited remand.
LIMITED REMAND; MOTION HELD IN ABEYANCE PENDING REMAND.

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