Opinion ID: 891645
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Defendant's Pro Se Appeal and Motion to Withdraw His Plea

Text: {22} Acting pro se, Defendant appealed his conviction and life sentence to the Court of Appeals, arguing that his plea should be set aside because it was not knowing and voluntary due to ineffective assistance of counsel. In a memorandum opinion, the Court dismissed his appeal for lack of jurisdiction pursuant to State v. Smallwood, 2007-NMSC-005, ¶ 6, 141 N.M. 178, 152 P.3d 821 (explaining that the Court of Appeals has no jurisdiction over cases in which the district court imposes a sentence of life imprisonment or death). The Court further noted that even if jurisdiction were proper, it would not be able to afford him relief because Defendant had appealed his case without creating a record on his ineffective assistance of counsel claim. {23} On the same day that Defendant filed his notice of appeal, he submitted to the trial court a motion to withdraw his plea for the same reasons raised in his appeal. The trial court notified Defendant that it could not consider his motion because his appeal had divested the court of jurisdiction. After the Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal, the trial court held an evidentiary hearing to consider Defendant's motion to withdraw his plea. Again, acting pro se, Defendant put on evidence that his plea was not knowing and voluntary. The trial court denied the motion, and Defendant timely petitioned this Court for a writ of certiorari. We granted certiorari pursuant to Rule 12-501 NMRA and appointed appellate counsel to assist Defendant.