Case Title: Fitzsimmons v. State

Citation: 

Docket Number: 441, 2003

State: delaware

Court: Delaware Supreme Court

Date: 2004-02-09T00:00:00Z

Document:
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
EDWARD FITZSIMMONS, 
           
Defendant Below- 
Appellant,   
 
v. 
 
STATE OF DELAWARE, 
     
 
 
     
Plaintiff Below- 
Appellee. 
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   No. 441, 2003 
 
   Court Below---Superior Court 
   of the State of Delaware, 
   in and for New Castle County  
   Cr. A. Nos. IN02-12-0049 thru 
                                      0055 
                      
 
Submitted:  December 5, 2003  
   Decided:  February 9, 2004   
 
Before HOLLAND, BERGER and STEELE, Justices   
 
 
O R D E R 
 
 
This 9
th day of February 2004, upon consideration of the appellant’s brief 
filed pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 26(c), his attorney’s motion to withdraw, and 
the State’s response thereto, it appears to the Court that: 
 
(1) 
The defendant-appellant, Edward Fitzsimmons, was found guilty by a 
Superior Court jury of two counts of Aggravated Intimidation, one count of 
Terroristic Threatening, two counts of Breach of Bond Conditions and two counts 
of Harassment.  He was sentenced to a total of 10 years incarceration at Level V, to 
be suspended after 2 years for decreasing levels of probation.  This is 
Fitzsimmons’ direct appeal. 
 
 
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(2) 
Fitzsimmons’ trial counsel has filed a brief and a motion to withdraw 
pursuant to Rule 26(c).  The standard and scope of review applicable to the 
consideration of a motion to withdraw and an accompanying brief under Rule 
26(c) is twofold: (a) the Court must be satisfied that defense counsel has made a 
conscientious examination of the record and the law for claims that could arguably 
support the appeal; and (b) the Court must conduct its own review of the record 
and determine whether the appeal is so totally devoid of at least arguably 
appealable issues that it can be decided without an adversary presentation.1 
 
(3) 
Fitzsimmons’ counsel asserts that, based upon a careful and complete 
examination of the record, there are no arguably appealable issues.  By letter, 
Fitzsimmons’ counsel informed Fitzsimmons of the provisions of Rule 26(c) and 
provided him with a copy of the motion to withdraw, the accompanying brief and 
the complete trial transcript.  Fitzsimmons was also informed of his right to 
supplement his attorney’s presentation.  Fitzsimmons responded with a brief that 
raises one issue for this Court’s consideration.  The State has responded to the 
position taken by Fitzsimmons’ counsel as well as the issue raised by Fitzsimmons 
and has moved to affirm the Superior Court’s judgment. 
                                                 
1 Penson v.Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 83 (1988); McCoy v. Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, 486 
U.S. 429, 442 (1988); Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967). 
 
 
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(4) 
Fitzsimmons raises one issue for this Court’s consideration.  He 
claims that his counsel provided ineffective assistance.   
 
(5) 
Fitzsimmons did not raise this issue in the Superior Court.  It is settled 
law that this Court will not consider a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel 
that is raised for the first time on direct appeal.2  Accordingly, we will not review 
Fitzsimmons’ ineffective assistance of counsel claim in this appeal. 
 
(6) 
This Court has reviewed the record carefully and has concluded that 
Fitzsimmons’ appeal is wholly without merit and devoid of any arguably 
appealable issue.  We also are satisfied that Fitzsimmons’ counsel has made a 
conscientious effort to examine the record and has properly determined that 
Fitzsimmons could not raise a meritorious claim in this appeal. 
 
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the State’s motion to affirm is 
GRANTED.  The judgment of the Superior Court is AFFIRMED.  The motion to 
withdraw is moot. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BY THE COURT: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Carolyn Berger 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Justice 
 
 
 
                                                 
2 Desmond v. State, 654 A.2d 821, 829 (Del. 1994).