Title: Pierce v. State

State: delaware

Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court

Document:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
GARY PIERCE, 
 
Defendant Below- 
Appellant, 
 
v. 
 
STATE OF DELAWARE, 
 
Plaintiff Below- 
Appellee. 
§ 
§  No. 441, 2015 
§ 
§ 
§ 
§  Court Below—Superior Court 
§  of the State of Delaware, 
§  in and for New Castle County 
§  Cr. ID 0407019516 
§ 
§ 
 
 
 
 
 
Submitted: October 8, 20151 
 
 
 
 
  Decided: November 23, 2015 
 
Before HOLLAND, VALIHURA, and VAUGHN, Justices 
 
O R D E R 
 
 
This 23rd day of November 2015, the Court has carefully considered the 
appellant Gary Pierce’s opening brief, the State’s motion to affirm, and the record 
on appeal.  We find it manifest that the judgment below should be affirmed on the 
basis of the Superior Court=s well-reasoned decision dated August 5, 2015.  The 
Superior Court did not err in denying Pierce’s motion to amend his fourth motion 
for postconviction relief, which the Superior Court previously had dismissed on 
May 12, 2015.  Pierce’s fourth postconviction motion was procedurally barred by 
Superior Court Criminal Rule 61(i)(1), (i)(2), and (i)(3).  Pierce failed to overcome 
                                                 
1 On November 19, 2015, the appellant filed a motion to amend his opening brief and a motion 
for appointment of counsel.  Both of these belated motions are denied for lack of good cause 
shown. 
 
2 
those procedural hurdles by pleading with particularity either that: (i) new evidence 
exists creating a strong inference that he is actually innocent; or (ii) a new, 
retroactively applicable rule of constitutional law renders his conviction invalid. 
 
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the Superior 
Court is AFFIRMED. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BY THE COURT: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Karen L. Valihura 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Justice