March 30, 2026·3:24-cr-00069-TKW-1·Per Curiam·By James Taylor
The Eleventh Circuit granted appointed counsel's motion to withdraw from representing the defendant in a direct criminal appeal. The court affirmed the defendant's convictions and sentences after an independent review found no arguable issues of merit.
Background
John Wilkins, appointed counsel for Derrell Roman, moved to withdraw from further representation in this direct criminal appeal. Counsel filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, asserting that the appeal lacked arguable issues of merit.
The court’s reasoning
The court conducted an independent review of the entire record. The examination revealed that counsel’s assessment of the appeal’s merit was correct. The court found no arguable issues of merit in the record.
Our independent review of the entire record reveals that counsel’s assessment of the relative merit of the appeal is correct.
USCA11 Case: 25-11911 Document: 28-1
What it means going forward
The decision allows appointed counsel to withdraw from the case while upholding the defendant’s convictions and sentences without further appellate review.
