Opinion ID: 299288
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Alleged Absence of Speedy Appeal

Text: 20 Defendant claims that the trial court failed to follow the constitutional mandates for the withdrawal of counsel as set forth in Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967), and that as a consequence his appeal took longer than the appeal of a litigant who employs and pays counsel of his choice. An order appointing counsel on appeal was filed on July 1, 1969. Counsel moved to withdraw on July 6, 1970. On September 23, 1970, the motion was granted and new counsel appointed. 21 In Anders, appointed counsel on appeal concluded that there was no merit to the appeal and so advised the state court by letter. Petitioner's request for the appointment of another attorney was denied and the conviction was affirmed after briefs were filed by the state and by the petitioner pro se. The Supreme Court held that the court's action does not comport with fair procedure and lacks that equality that is required by the Fourteenth Amendment. Id. at 741, 87 S.Ct. at 1398. The court went on to say that where counsel finds a case to be wholly frivolous, he should so advise the court and request permission to withdraw from the case, accompanied by a brief referring to anything in the record that might arguably support the appeal. A copy of counsel's brief should be furnished the indigent and time allowed him to raise any points that he chooses; the court-not counsel-then proceeds, after a full examination of all the proceedings, to decide whether the case is wholly frivolous    if it finds any of the legal points arguable on their merits (and therefore not frivolous) it must, prior to decision, afford the indigent the assistance of counsel to argue the appeal. Id. at 744, 87 S.Ct. at 1400. 22 The present case is distinguishable from Anders because after the first counsel withdrew, another counsel was appointed. It is charged that the original counsel did not file the brief on all arguable points    and then conclude that the case on appeal is 'wholly frivolous.' Appellant's brief at 14. However, another counsel was appointed and has vigorously pursued the appeal. Certainly the quality of representation has not been affected by the procedure followed in this case, which presented a significantly different situation than that before the court in Anders. Moreover, we cannot see, and defendant has not specified, how he has been prejudiced by any delay which occurred. 23 For the same reason, we reject defendant's additional claim that the procedures for appeals by indigent criminal defendants in this court do not provide the indigent defendant with as speedy an appeal as a litigant who pays his counsel and that, as a consequence, defendant has been prejudiced. 9 III. Alleged Invalid Resentencing 24 Defendant argues that resentencing is required in this case by Prince v. United States, 352 U.S. 322, 77 S.Ct. 403, 1 L.Ed.2d 370 (1957), and its progeny, due to the imposition on February 27, 1969, of concurrent sentences of 18 years on both counts one and two (27a). 10 Since the very recent en banc decision of this court in United States v. Corson, 449 F.2d 544 (Opinion of Judge Rosenn filed 8/31/71), requires in this situation the imposition of a general sentence on both counts which is the same or less than that originally imposed (see p. 12), the case will be remanded to the district court, with directions (1) to vacate the sentence of February 27, 1969. 11 (2) to vacate the order of December 7, 1970, which is inconsistent with Corson, supra, and, it is noted, was entered without jurisdiction for the reasons stated in note 11, and (3) in conformity with Corson, supra (at p. 14), to impose at a new sentencing proceeding a general sentence not to exceed the 18-year sentence originally imposed. 25 All other contentions of defendant have been considered and rejected.