Title: Kling v. State

State: delaware

Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court

Document:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
MICHAEL KLING, 
 
Defendant Below- 
Appellant, 
 
v. 
 
STATE OF DELAWARE, 
 
Plaintiff Below- 
Appellee. 
§ 
§ 
§  No. 231, 2007 
§ 
§ 
§  Court Below—Superior Court 
§  of the State of Delaware, 
§  in and for New Castle County 
§  Cr. ID 0609016946 
§ 
§ 
 
Submitted: November 19, 2007 
  Decided: November 27, 2007 
 
Before STEELE, Chief Justice, JACOBS, and RIDGELY, Justices. 
 
 
O R D E R 
 
This 27th day of November 2007, upon consideration of the appellant's 
Supreme Court Rule 26(c) brief, his attorney's motion to withdraw, and the 
State's response thereto, it appears to the Court that: 
(1) 
A Superior Court jury convicted the defendant-appellant, 
Michael Kling (Kling), of two counts of third degree assault, disorderly 
conduct and criminal mischief.  The Superior Court sentenced Kling to one 
year of incarceration followed by residential drug treatment and probation.  
This is Kling’s direct appeal. 
(2) 
Kling's counsel on appeal has filed a brief and a motion to 
withdraw pursuant to Rule 26(c).  Kling's counsel asserts that, based upon a 
complete and careful examination of the record, there are no arguably 
appealable issues.  By letter, Kling's attorney informed him of the provisions 
of Rule 26(c) and provided Kling with a copy of the motion to withdraw and 
the accompanying brief.  Kling also was informed of his right to supplement 
his attorney's presentation.  Kling has not raised any issues for this Court's 
consideration.  The State has responded to the position taken by Kling's 
counsel and has moved to affirm the Superior Court's judgment. 
(3) 
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) this Court must be satisfied that defense counsel 
has made a conscientious examination of the record and the law for arguable 
claims; and (b) this 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.* 
(4) 
This Court has reviewed the record carefully and has concluded 
that Kling’s appeal is wholly without merit and devoid of any arguably 
appealable issue.  We also are satisfied that Kling's counsel has made a 
                                                 
*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). 
conscientious effort to examine the record and the law and has properly 
determined that Kling 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/ Henry duPont Ridgely 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Justice