Opinion ID: 2576427
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: manning's claim of being denied an appeal under the new manning exceptions

Text: ¶ 34 We now turn to Manning's claim that she was deprived of her constitutional right to appeal. In resolving this issue, we must first consider the nature of Manning's appeal rights and then analyze them under the framework just established. [12] ¶ 35 A defendant who knowingly and voluntarily waives his right to appeal has not been unconstitutionally denied that right. State v. Mortensen, 26 Utah 312, 73 P. 562, 566 (1903) (stating that provisions in article I, section 12 of the Utah Constitution are for the accused's benefit, and can be waived). While courts generally indulge every reasonable presumption against waiver of constitutional rights, Bruner v. Carver, 920 P.2d 1153, 1155 (Utah 1996), a defendant found to have expressly waived them, by, for example, entering a knowing and voluntary guilty plea where the plea agreement expressly indicates such a waiver, no longer enjoys the benefit of these constitutional protections. [13] ¶ 36 Manning cites Weaver v. Kimball, 59 Utah 72, 202 P. 9, 10 (1921), for the proposition that defendants who enter guilty pleas remain entitled to the article I, section 12 right to appeal. It is true that a defendant does not waive the right to appeal simply by entering a guilty plea. Id. However, it is well established that this right will be considered waived where the defendant enters a knowing and voluntary guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement that expressly waives the right to appeal and is entered in accordance with the procedural safeguards of rule 11 of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure. State v. Corwell, 2005 UT 28, ¶ 21, 114 P.3d 569. Any challenge to such a plea agreement, or to the waivers contained therein, may only be undertaken following a timely motion for withdrawal of the guilty plea. State v. Reyes, 2002 UT 13, ¶ 3, 40 P.3d 630. ¶ 37 Manning waived the right to appeal her conviction by entering a knowing and voluntary guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement that expressly indicated she would waive her right to appeal. Manning could only contest this waiver by first filing a timely motion to withdraw her guilty pleas and then establishing that her pleas were not knowing and voluntary. Id. She was correctly informed at her plea hearing that she had thirty days to file a motion to withdraw her guilty pleas. Despite our decision in State v. Ostler , which was issued after Manning's plea hearing and which clarified that the thirty-day time frame for withdrawal of guilty pleas begins on the date of final disposition, 2001 UT 68, ¶ 11, 31 P.3d 528, Manning has never sought to withdraw her guilty pleas and admits she was not prejudiced by this alleged failure to inform her at the time of sentencing that she could withdraw her guilty pleas thirty days from that date. Manning, 2004 UT App 87 ¶ 29 n. 9, 89 P.3d 196. Since she could not appeal her conviction or the knowing and voluntary nature of her guilty plea, any remaining rights to appeal were necessarily limited to appealing her sentence. ¶ 38 We analyze Manning's remaining right to appeal her sentence under the previously defined exceptions. The first exception applies when the defendant has asked her attorney to file an appeal and, after agreeing to do so, the attorney fails to file the appeal. The record clearly indicates that this exception does not apply here. Manning met with her attorney three to four times after sentencing was imposed, and at no time did she ask for him to pursue an appeal. Manning's attorney first learned about an appeal after it was filed fifty-seven days after sentencing. Prior to this, her attorney did not know of Manning's desire to pursue an appeal, never agreed to file an appeal, and thus did not fail to file Manning's appeal. ¶ 39 The second exception applies when the defendant has diligently but futilely attempted to appeal within the statutory time frame without fault on the defendant's part. This exception also does not apply here. Manning's untimely pro se attempt to appeal was filed fifty-seven days after sentencing. The record reveals no evidence that Manning made any attempt to pursue her appeal within the statutory thirty-day time frame or that any attempts were prevented or rendered futile without fault on her part. Nor has Manning suggested any facts that would indicate any interference that would have prevented her from filing her appeal in a timely manner. ¶ 40 The third exception applies where the court and the defendant's attorney have failed to provide the defendant with notice of the right to appeal. Manning had knowledge of her constitutional right to appeal. Before entering her guilty plea, Manning was advised by both the court and her attorney of her right to appeal in accordance with rule 11(e). As described above, Manning repeatedly acknowledged in her plea affidavit and during the plea colloquy that her attorney had informed her that her right to appeal was limited. We further conclude that Manning's attorney had no duty to further discuss with Manning her limited appeal rights after sentencing, considering her favorable sentence, the knowing and voluntary nature of her guilty plea, and Manning's express waiver in the plea agreement of some or all appeal rights. Roe v. Flores-Ortega, 528 U.S. 470, 480, 120 S.Ct. 1029, 145 L.Ed.2d 985 (2000) (rejecting a bright-line rule that counsel must always consult with the defendant regarding an appeal.). Manning has not suggested that she did not understand that she did in fact have a right to appeal her sentence, nor that she had any interest in challenging her sentence on appeal. Indeed, given the fact that Manning received a favorable sentence as a result of her guilty plea, it seems unlikely that she would have any such interest. We therefore conclude that Manning's attorney sufficiently informed Manning of her right to appeal. ¶ 41 Rule 22(c) of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure, however, requires the court to notify the defendant after sentencing of the right to appeal and the time limits for filing such an appeal. [14] Utah R.Crim. P. 22(c). There is no indication in the record that the court complied with rule 22(c) at the sentencing hearing. Again, however, the only appeal left to Manning at that time was in regard to her sentence, and, as just mentioned, Manning does not claim her right to appeal her sentence has been denied. While the court's failure to comply with rule 22(c) may well qualify for the third exception where a defendant has claimed that his right to appeal his sentence has been denied, Manning has made no such claim. We further note that rule 22(e) permits a motion to correct a sentence at any time. [15] Thus, should Manning wish to have her sentence reviewed, relief remains available to her under that provision. As the exceptions set forth above have been established in the interest of fundamental fairness, and we do not believe these interests are in any way furthered by granting a new appeal time frame here, we deny Manning's request to reinstate the time frame for bringing an appeal.