Case ID: cal_113/html/0181-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "The Court.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

[Crim. No. 148.
    In Bank.
    June 5, 1896.]
    THE PEOPLE, Respondent, v. W. J. BUSBY, Appellant.
    Criminal Law—Homicide—Appeal—Affirmance for Want of Brief— Sickness of Counsel—Appeal Without Merit.—Where, upon an appeal by a defendant convicted of murder, the judgment was affirmed for want of appearance or brief in behalf of the defendant, without an examination of the record, the appeal would" be reinstated upon a petition showing that the absence of a brief was owing to the sickness of counsel, provided such petition shows any plausible claim of error in the record; but where no such claim is advanced, and an examination of the record shows that the appeal is devoid of merit, the petition will be denied.
    Petition to the Supreme Court to reinstate an appeal after judgment of affirmance.
    The facts are stated in the opinion of the court.
    
      J. N. Davidson, L. F. Fisher, and P. E. King, for Appellant.
    
      W. F. Fitzgerald, Attorney General, for Respondent.
   The Court.

The defendant was convicted of murder and sentenced to be imprisoned for life. His appeal was placed upon the calendar for the May term, but when the case was called there was no appearance in his behalf and there was no brief on file. The judgment and order appealed from were therefore affirmed without an examination of the record. His counsel now petitions the court to reinstate the appeal upon the ground that he was prevented by sickness from preparing a brief or appearing in court on the day set for the hearing.

We should feel compelled to accept this excuse as a sufficient ground for reinstating the appeal if counsel had pointed out in his petition any error in the record or any plausible claim of error. But no such claim is advanced, and upon an examination of the record the appeal appears to be devoid of merit.

Petition denied.