March 9, 2026·7:22-cr-00055-WLS-ALS-1·Per Curiam·By James Taylor
The Eleventh Circuit granted appointed counsel's motion to withdraw from representing LaRonce Howell in a direct criminal appeal. The court affirmed the defendant's conviction and sentence after an independent review found no arguable issues of merit.
Jonathan R. Dodson, appointed counsel for LaRonce Howell, filed a motion to withdraw from further representation in this direct criminal appeal. The motion was accompanied by a brief pursuant to the requirements established in Anders v. California.
The court’s reasoning
The court conducted an independent review of the record to assess the relative merit of the appeal. The examination revealed no arguable issues of merit, confirming counsel’s assessment that the appeal lacked merit.
What it means going forward
The ruling allows appointed counsel to withdraw from the case while upholding the underlying conviction and sentence without further appellate argument.
