Case Title: State v. Luna

Citation: 1995-Ohio-9

Docket Number: 19942337

State: ohio

Court: Ohio Supreme Court

Date: 1995-08-09T00:00:00Z

Document:
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Thomas J. Moyer.                                                                 
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The State of Ohio, Appellee, v. Luna, Appellant.                                 
[State v. Luna (1995),        Ohio St.3d            .]                           
     (No. 94-2337 -- Submitted April 24, 1995 -- Decided August                  
9, 1995.)                                                                        
Appellate procedure -- Application for reopening appeal from                     
     judgment and conviction based on claim of ineffective                       
     assistance of appellate counsel -- Application denied when                  
     applicant fails to assert a colorable claim of ineffective                  
     assistance of appellate counsel.                                            
     Appeal from the Court of Appeals for Huron County, No.                      
H-93-24.                                                                         
     Appellant, Michael K. Luna, was convicted of marijuana                      
possession with a specification of a prior drug abuse felony                     
and sentenced to from four to fifteen years in prison.                           
     The court assigned appellant a series of three appellate                    
attorneys, each withdrawing after appellant moved to dismiss                     
them.  Throughout this time appellant represented himself by                     
filing various pro se motions and his own assignments of                         
error.  State v. Luna (May 16, 1994), Huron App. No. H-93-24,                    
unreported.  After appellant's third motion to dismiss and                       
request for a fourth counsel, the court of appeals construed                     
appellant's conduct to be an effective waiver of his right to                    
appointed counsel.                                                               
     Appellant filed a pro se application to reopen on                           
September 9, 1994. He argued that he was ineffective as his own                  
appellate counsel after being forced to represent himself by                     
the incompetency of appointed counsel. Appellant stated he                       
failed to include two assignments of error in his appeal and                     
was therefore ineffective.  Appellant also contended the courts                  
had conspired to alter his transcript, thereby undermining                       
effective assistance of any counsel.                                             
     The court of appeals denied his application for reopening                   
and motion to supplement same, stating appellant had "failed to                  
assert a colorable claim of ineffective assistance of appellate                  
counsel * * *."  Appellant now appeals to this court.                            
                                                                                 
     Michael K. Luna, pro se.                                                    
                                                                                 
     Per Curiam.  We affirm the decision of the court of                         
appeals for the reasons stated in its judgment entry.                            
                                 Judgment affirmed.                              
     Moyer, C.J., Douglas, Wright, Resnick, F.E. Sweeney,                        
Pfeifer and Cook, JJ., concur.