April 20, 2026·7:24-cr-00376-RDP-SGC-1·Per Curiam·By James Taylor
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit granted the Government's motion to dismiss an appeal filed by Addison Lee Cook. The court enforced an appeal waiver contained within the defendant's plea agreement.
Addison Lee Cook appealed a conviction from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. The Government moved to dismiss the appeal based on an appeal waiver in Cook’s plea agreement.
The court’s reasoning
The court held that the sentence appeal waiver will be enforced if it was made knowingly and voluntarily. The waiver of the right to appeal includes the waiver of the right to appeal difficult or debatable legal issues or even blatant error.
The Government’s motion to dismiss this appeal pursuant to the appeal waiver in Appellant’s plea agreement is GRANTED.
USCA11 Case: 25-13853 Document: 21-1
What it means going forward
The appeal is dismissed, leaving the district court’s judgment in place.
