United States v. James Sherman Blackwell, A/K/A Jim Blackwell, A/K/A Snake

ORDER:

This order addresses what is perhaps the most unsettling circumstance which may confront an advocate under our adversary system of justice, counsel’s motion to withdraw from representation of his client on appeal based upon his conscientious belief that the appeal is frivolous. Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 1400, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967).

Our courts have from the beginning recognized that able advocates are the sine qua non of sound adjudication. See The Antelope, 23 U.S. (10 Wheat.) 66, 114, 6 L.Ed. 268 (1825) (Marshall, C.J.). And yet, in our contemporary era of…