Opinion ID: 1897908
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: To sum up:

Text: (1) It is constitutionally permissible that a prior uncounseled DWI conviction may establish repeat-offender status for purposes of the enhanced penalty provisions of the DWI laws of the State of New Jersey. The only constitutional limit is that a defendant may not suffer an increased period of incarceration as a result of a Rodriguez violation that led to an uncounseled DWI conviction. (2) No other relief necessarily flows from a Rodriguez violation that led to a prior uncounseled DWI conviction. The judicial policies expressed in Rodriguez v. Rosenblatt , of giving notice to accused of a right to be represented by counsel, do not create a constitutional entitlement to such notice. Nor does the absence of such notice demonstrate a fundamental injustice unless there be some showing in post-conviction relief proceedings that it prejudiced the defendant in that the defendant (a) was unaware of such rights, and (b) if indigent, would have derived benefit from the notice by seeking the assistance of counsel. A non-indigent defendant would have to show in addition that the lack of notice otherwise affected the outcome. No such showing was made in this case. (3) Post-conviction relief from the effect of prior convictions should normally be sought in the court of original jurisdiction, which will be in the best position to evaluate whether there has been any denial of fundamental justice. Appeals from the disposition in that court shall be combined with any appeal from proceedings involving the repeat offense. The judgment of the Appellate Division is reversed and the matter remanded to the Law Division for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion. On this record, the only relief warranted is that defendant's imprisonment for this second violation not exceed thirty days. Nor may the forty-eight hours of custody required of second offenders by N.J.S.A. 39:4-50(a)(2) be regarded as mandatory. As to any other relief, defendant shall have the right, within thirty days of the remand, to apply to the court of original jurisdiction for post-conviction relief from the judgment entered there in accordance with the principles set forth in this opinion. For reversal and remandment  Chief Justice WILENTZ and Justices HANDLER, POLLOCK, O'HERN, GARIBALDI and STEIN  6. For affirmance  None.