March 13, 2026·25-10814·Per Curiam·By James Taylor
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a motion to withdraw appointed counsel and dismissed an appeal filed by Phillip Sean Anthony. The court found the appeal presented no non-frivolous issue for appellate review after examining the Anders brief and the record.
Phillip Sean Anthony was represented by appointed counsel in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The appointed attorney moved to withdraw and filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California and United States v. Flores, asserting the appeal was frivolous. Anthony did not file a response to the motion.
The court’s reasoning
The court reviewed the attorney’s brief and relevant portions of the record. The judges concurred with the assessment that the appeal presented no non-frivolous issue for appellate review.
What it means going forward
Counsel is excused from further responsibilities, and the appeal is dismissed without reaching the merits of the underlying conviction.
