Title: Maynard v. State

State: delaware

Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court

Document:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
MICHAEL MAYNARD,  
 
Defendant Below- 
Appellant, 
 
v. 
 
STATE OF DELAWARE,  
 
           Plaintiff Below- 
Appellee. 
§ 
§  No. 119, 2011 
§ 
§ 
§  Court Below─Superior Court 
§  of the State of Delaware 
§  in and for New Castle County 
§  Cr. ID No. 0912005887 
§ 
§ 
§ 
 
                                         Submitted: June 29, 2012 
Decided: July 12, 2012 
 
Before STEELE, Chief Justice, HOLLAND and RIDGELY, Justices 
 
 
 
 
 
 
O R D E R  
 
 
This 12th day of July 2012, it appears to the Court that: 
 
(1) 
The defendant-appellant, Michael Maynard, filed an appeal 
from his Superior Court conviction and sentence.  For the reasons that 
follow, the Court concludes that the appeal must be dismissed. 
 
(2) 
On June 21, 2012, the Clerk issued a notice pursuant to 
Supreme Court Rule 29(b) directing the appellant to show cause why his 
appeal should not be dismissed for his failure to diligently prosecute his 
appeal by not filing his opening brief and appendix.  The appellant filed a 
response to the notice to show cause on June 29, 2012.  In his response, the 
 
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appellant states that he has no meaningful access to the prison law library.  
He further requests that the Court appoint him counsel.   
 
(3) 
The Supreme Court docket in this matter reflects that this 
appeal has been pending since April 2011.  In May 2011, the appellant asked 
for an extension of the due date for his opening brief so that a transcript 
could be requested.  The Court granted the appellant’s request and the brief 
schedule was withdrawn.  In June 2011, the Superior Court granted the 
appellant’s request for transcript at State expense.  In September 2011, the 
transcript was filed in the Court and a new brief schedule was issued. 
 
(4) 
In October 2011, the appellant again asked that the brief 
schedule be withdrawn so that he could request another transcript from the 
Superior Court.  The brief schedule again was withdrawn pending the 
appellant’s request to the Superior Court for an additional transcript at State 
expense.  In December 2011, the additional transcript was filed in the Court 
and another brief schedule was issued.   
 
(5) 
In January 2012, the appellant filed a motion for counsel, which 
the Court denied later that month.  In February 2012, the appellant requested 
an extension of time in which to file his opening brief as well as another 
motion for the appointment of counsel.  The appellant received an extension 
until May 2012.  After receiving a brief delinquency letter, the appellant 
 
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requested, and received, yet another extension to file his opening brief---this 
time until June 6, 2012.  On June 12, 2012, the Clerk sent the appellant a 
brief delinquency letter.  On June 21, 2012, the notice to show cause issued. 
 
(6) 
The record reflects that the Court has afforded the appellant 
every conceivable opportunity to timely file his opening brief and appendix.  
Rather than filing the brief and appendix after receiving the notice to show 
cause, the appellant offers yet another excuse why he is unable to fulfill his 
commitment and again asks for the appointment of counsel.  Unfortunately, 
the appellant gives this Court no choice but to dismiss his appeal based upon 
his continuing dilatory conduct. 
 
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that this appeal is 
DISMISSED. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BY THE COURT: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Myron T. Steele 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chief Justice