Austin v. United States

Anthony Austin pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute and was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment. On appeal to the Fourth Circuit, Thomas Cochran, who had been appointed as Austin’s counsel pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act of 1964, 18 U. S. C. § 3006A, submitted a brief in accordance with Anders v. California, 386 U. S. 738 (1967). That brief raised the issue of sentence computation, but concluded that no meritorious issues existed for appeal. The Fourth Circuit affirmed Austin’s conviction and sentence. Cochran then informed Austin of the right to…