Opinion ID: 767484
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: 2 On October 17, 1994, in the United States District Court for the District of Vermont, Hernandez pleaded guilty to one count of possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841. On October 23, 1995, the court sentenced Hernandez to 120 months in prison. 3 On November 6, 1995, Hernandez's retained attorney, John M. Ciciline, filed a notice of appeal to this court. The notice was not timely filed, although none of the parties appear to have noticed this fact at the time. According to Hernandez's allegations, the following day, Ciciline contacted Hernandez by letter, notifying him of the filing of the notice and discussing the merits of various potential claims for appeal. Thereafter, Ciciline made no further filings. Hernandez, who was incarcerated during this period, asserts that he had no knowledge of Ciciline's inaction and assumed the appeal was being prosecuted. 4 On March 24, 1997, Hernandez, acting pro se, filed a habeas corpus petition, raising several issues, including ineffective assistance of counsel. The petition was somewhat ambiguous, but, interpreted liberally, can be read to allege Hernandez's rights were violated by Ciciline's failure to prosecute the appeal. On July 18, 1997, the Magistrate Judge recommended denying the petition. Hernandez objected to the Magistrate Judge's report, more explicitly developing his claim of Ciciline's failure to prosecute the appeal. On August 11, 1997, the District Court adopted the Magistrate Judge's report, denied the petition, declined to issue a certificate of appealability, and denied Hernandez's request to proceed in forma pauperis. 5 Still acting pro se, Hernandez filed a notice of appeal. On June 26, 1998, we issued a certificate of appealability and appointed counsel to brief the issue whether appellant was accorded ineffective assistance of counsel when counsel failed to perfect appellant's direct criminal appeal.