Case Title: Cochran v. State

Citation: 

Docket Number: 356, 2003

State: delaware

Court: Delaware Supreme Court

Date: 2003-11-12T00:00:00Z

Document:
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
DONALD R. COCHRAN,
Defendant Below-
Appellant,
v.
STATE OF DELAWARE,
Plaintiff Below-
Appellee.
§
§
§  No. 356, 2003
§
§
§  Court Below—Superior Court
§  of the State of Delaware,
§  in and for Kent County
§  Cr. A. Nos. IK02-01-0397 thru 
§                               0399
§
Submitted: October 2, 2003
Decided:   November 12, 2003
Before VEASEY, Chief Justice, HOLLAND and JACOBS, Justices
O R D E R
This 12th day of November 2003, it appears to the Court that:
(1)
On July 18, 2003, the Court received the appellant’s notice of
appeal from the Superior Court’s June 16, 2003 sentencing order.  Pursuant to
Supreme Court Rule 6, a timely notice of appeal should have been filed on or
before July 16, 2003.  
(2)
On July 18, 2003, the Clerk issued a notice pursuant to Supreme
Court Rule 29(b) directing the appellant to show cause why the appeal should
not be dismissed as untimely filed.  The appellant filed his response to the
notice to show cause on July 28, 2003.  The Clerk then directed the State to file
1SUPR. CT. R. 6(a) (A notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days after entry upon
the docket of the judgment or order being appealed.)
2Carr v. State, 554 A.2d 778, 779 (Del. 1989).
3SUPR. CT. R. 10(a).
4Bey v. State, 402 A.2d 362, 363 (Del. 1979).
-2-
an answer to which the appellant subsequently filed a reply.  The appellant
states that the Department of Correction failed to supply him with paper and
pen quickly enough for him to file a timely notice of appeal.  While the
appellant states that his notice of appeal was delayed for 10 days because he did
not have pen and paper, he does not explain why he was not able to file his
notice of appeal within the 30-day appeal period.1   
(3)
Time is a jurisdictional requirement.2  A notice of appeal must be
received by the Office of the Clerk of this Court within the applicable time
period in order to be effective.3  Unless the appellant can demonstrate that the
failure to file a timely notice of appeal is attributable to court-related personnel,
his appeal can not be considered.4 
(4)
There is nothing in the record that reflects that the appellant’s
failure to file a timely notice of appeal in this case is attributable to court-
related personnel.  Consequently, this case does not fall within the exception
-3-
to the general rule that mandates the timely filing of a notice of appeal.  Thus,
the Court concludes that the within appeal must be dismissed.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Supreme Court
Rules 6(a) and 29(b), that the within appeal is DISMISSED.  
BY THE COURT:
________________________
/s/ E. Norman Veasey
      Chief Justice