Opinion ID: 2624420
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Issues Raised Before District Court

Text: Next, Trotter argues the district court erred by summarily denying his K.S.A. 60-1507 motion. His motion alleged that the trial court erred in failing to give an eyewitness instruction and in failing to grant a new trial based upon newly discovered evidence. Trotter contends the court should have first appointed counsel and conducted an evidentiary hearing. [A] movant has the burden to prove his or her K.S.A. 60-1507 motion warrants an evidentiary hearing; the movant must make more than conclusory contentions and must state an evidentiary basis in support of the claims or an evidentiary basis must appear in the record. Swenson v. State, 284 Kan. 931, 938, 169 P.3d 298 (2007). In assessing whether this burden has been met, a district court has three options which were explained in Lujan, 270 Kan. at 170-71, 14 P.3d 424. First, the court may determine that the motion, files, and records of the case conclusively show that the movant is entitled to no relief and summarily deny the movant's motion. Second, the court may determine from the motion, files, and record that a substantial issue or issues are presented, requiring a full evidentiary hearing with the presence of the movant. Finally, the court may determine that a potentially substantial issue or issues of fact are raised in the motion, supported by the files and record, and hold a preliminary hearing after appointment of counsel to determine whether in fact the issues in the motion are substantial. In the event the court determines that the issue or issues are not substantial, the court may move to a final decision without the presence of the movant. If the issue or issues are substantial, involving events in which the movant participated, the court must proceed with a hearing in the presence of the movant. In this case, the district court followed the first avenue of approach by summarily dismissing Trotter's K.S.A. 60-1507 motion without conducting a hearing. The standard of review for the summary dismissal of K.S.A. 60-1507 motions is de novo, requiring an appellate court to determine whether the motion, files, and records of the case conclusively show that the movant is entitled to no relief. Bellamy v. State, 285 Kan. 346, 354, 172 P.3d 10 (2007).