Opinion
1:24-cr-00025-RP 1:19-cr-00052-RP
04-15-2024
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff v. Fernando Lopez-Leon, Defendant
ORDER ON MOTION TO WITHDRAW AND APPOINT NEW COUNSEL
SUSAN HIGHTOWER, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Now before the Court is Defendant Fernando Lopez-Leon's Motion to Withdraw as Counsel and for Appointment of New Counsel, filed April 8, 2024. Dkt. 24 in 1:24-cr-25; Dkt. 44 in 1:19-cr-00052. The District Court referred the Motion to this Magistrate Judge for resolution, and on April 15, 2024, the Court held a hearing on the Motion at which Defendant was present.
The Court finds that there is good cause to appoint new counsel, and that Defendant has received notice.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendant's Motion to Withdraw as Counsel and for Appointment of New Counsel is GRANTED. In both cases, Assistant Federal Public Defender Jose I. Gonzalez-Fallas is hereby WITHDRAWN and, consistent with the Court's Orders Regarding Financial Status and Appointing Public Defender, Jon Evans #00787445 is hereby APPOINTED as Defendant's counsel of record.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that these cases be removed from this Magistrate Judge's docket and returned to the docket of the Honorable Robert Pitman.