Opinion ID: 2633526
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: manning relief must be sought in the trial court

Text: ¶ 11 We hold that motions seeking reinstatement of a defendant's time to appeal must be filed in the trial court. And in the interests of uniformity and consistency, we decline to recognize appellate court authority to direct that a trial court reinstate the time for appeal. ¶ 12 Our opinion in Manning clearly contemplates this result. Manning states that upon a defendant's motion, the trial or sentencing court may reinstate the time frame for filing a direct appeal. [12] In other words, a defendant must file a motion in the trial court before the court can reinstate his time for appeal. ¶ 13 This result is consistent with the practical realities of a motion seeking to reinstate the time for appeal. A defendant seeking reinstatement of his right to appeal has the burden of proof and must establish by a preponderance of the evidence that he has been unconstitutionally denied his right to appeal. [13] The appropriate setting for presenting such evidence is in the trial court. Trial courts are uniquely equipped to take evidence and resolve any factual disputes. Conversely, appellate courts lack a mechanism for the presentation of evidence and the resolution of factual disputes. ¶ 14 In urging this court to order a reinstatement of his right to appeal on remand, Cox points out that our Manning opinion considered a reinstatement of Manning's right to appeal without requiring that Manning file a new motion in the trial court and without remanding for an evidentiary hearing. [14] But Manning is distinguishable because Manning had already filed a petition for an extraordinary writ seeking nunc pro tunc resentencing in the district court. [15] And it was the denial of this petition that was the subject of Manning's appeal. [16] In contrast here, Cox first sought relief from the alleged denial of his right to appeal in the court of appeals after his appeal had been dismissed. And unlike Manning, Cox has yet to ask the district court for relief or to present any evidence to the district court supporting his claim that he has been unconstitutionally denied his right to appeal.