Opinion ID: 2177303
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Wellman's Cross-appeal

Text: In his cross-appeal, Wellman contends that we should not reach the substantive merits of the State's appeal because the court failed to default the State and erroneously granted its motion to extend the time within which to answer his petition. We disagree. Post-conviction proceedings frequently are filed pro se. Often the petitions have to be amended for cognizable grounds for relief to be properly alleged and to insure that all legitimate grounds for relief are stated. Any grounds for relief that can be raised but are not raised in the petition are deemed waived and cannot be raised in subsequent petitions. 15 M.R.S.A. § 2128(3); McEachern v. State, 456 A.2d 886, 889 (Me.1983). Responses from the State are required so that the issues in dispute may be identified. The response may be in the form of an answer, a motion to dismiss, or a notice that the State does not contest the petition, see M.R.Crim.P. 71, and need not be filed until ordered by the court, or until the petition is amended or there is a notification that no amended petition is to be filed. M.R.Crim.P. 70(c)(1) & (2). Rule 70(c) provides that the State must respond to the petition within twenty days of receipt of a copy of the order, the amended petition, or the notification that no amended petition is to be filed. Pursuant to M.R.Crim.P. 45(b) and 71, the time to respond to the petition may be enlarged after the expiration of the twenty-day response period, upon a showing of excusable neglect. [7] Unlike other rules governing timeliness in civil cases, see, e.g., M.R.Civ.P. 8(d), 12(h), 55, there are no express provisions for defaulting the State in a post-conviction proceeding. Indeed, it is in the interest of the public and helpful to the court for the State to be an active participant in post-conviction proceedings. Although the State may be subject to default and precluded from contesting the allegations in a post-conviction petition on the basis of timeliness, such defaults are not automatic, but rather are subject to the sound discretion of the court. In this case, the court granted the State's motion for an extension of time to file its response after a full hearing at which the reason for the State's delay was disclosed. [8] We discern no abuse of the court's discretion in allowing the State to file a response.