82 F. App'x 927

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Robby Lajuan WILLIAMS, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 03-40861.

Conference Calendar

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

Dec. 10, 2003.

*928James Lee Turner, John Richard Berry, Assistant US Attorney, US Attorney’s Office, Houston, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.

Roland E Dahlin, II, Federal Public Defender, Jason Bradford Libby, Molly E. Odom, Federal Public Defender’s Office, Houston, TX, for Defendant-Appellant.

Before DAVIS, EMILIO M. GARZA, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM.*

Robby LaJuan Williams appeals his guilty plea conviction for possession with intent to distribute less than five grams of cocaine base. Williams argues that 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a) and (b) were rendered facially unconstitutional by Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 490, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). Williams concedes that his argument is foreclosed by our opinion in United States v. Slaughter, 238 F.3d 580, 581-82 (5th Cir.2000), which rejected a broad Apprendi-based attack on the constitutionality of that statute. He raises the issue only to preserve it for Supreme Court review. A panel of this court cannot overrule a prior panel’s decision in the absence of an intervening contrary or superseding decision by this court sitting en banc or by the United States Supreme Court. Burge v. Parish of St. Tammany, 187 F.3d 452, 466 (5th Cir. 1999). No such decision overruling Slaughter exists. Accordingly, his argument is foreclosed, and the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

The Government has moved for a summary affirmance in lieu of filing an appellee’s brief. In its motion, the Government asks that an appellee’s brief not be required. The motion is GRANTED.

AFFIRMED; MOTION GRANTED.

United States v. Williams
82 F. App'x 927

Case Details

Name
United States v. Williams
Decision Date
Dec 10, 2003
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82 F. App'x 927

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United States

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