Opinion ID: 1769196
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: Oscar Glover was convicted of two counts of possessing drugs with intent to distribute in violation of section 195.211. [2] The convictions were affirmed on appeal. State v. Glover, 98 S.W.3d 917 (Mo.App. 2003). Glover then filed this motion pursuant to Rule 29.15. He failed to sign the motion or the amended motion. His amended motion alleged ineffective assistance of counsel: (1) in trial counsel's failure to object to the prosecutor's closing argument that vouched for a witness' testimony and (2) in appellate counsel's failure to raise on appeal the trial court's failure to sustain his objection to testimony concerning a videotape described as showing Glover engaging in sexual intercourse. The motion court denied relief. Glover appeals. On appeal, the state raised the issue of Glover's lack of signature. Glover promptly filed a signed motion in the motion court. Glover's lack of signature did not affect the motion court's jurisdiction. The motion court's judgment is affirmed. THE LACK OF A SIGNATURE ON A POST-CONVICTION MOTION IS NOT A JURISDICTIONAL DEFECT Glover's motion and amended motion were not signed by him. The defect was not brought to his attention until the initial respondent's brief was filed on appeal. When so informed, Glover promptly filed a properly signed motion with the motion court, and a certified copy was sent to the court of appeals. When originally adopted, Rule 29.15 required the movant to verify the motion and any amended motion. Rule 29.15(b), (d) and (f) (1988). The verification requirement was an essential element of the post-conviction motion. Any unsigned, unverified motion failed to invoke the motion court's jurisdiction to grant relief. Kilgore v. State, 791 S.W.2d 393, 395 (Mo. banc 1990). Gradually, through court rulings and amendments to the rule, the consequences of failing to sign a post-conviction motion have become less severe. State v. White, 873 S.W.2d 590, 594 (Mo. banc 1994) (signature of movant is sufficient to meet verification requirement); Tooley v. State, 20 S.W.3d 519, 520 (Mo. banc 2000) (decided after verification requirement deleted from Rule 29.15) (holding Rule 55.03(a) applies to Rule 29.15 motions and that case should not have been dismissed before time for filing amended motion expired); Wallingford v. State, 131 S.W.3d 781, 782 (Mo. banc 2004) (Rule 55.03 permits prompt correction of signature omission in rule 29.15 motion even after time to file amended motion has expired). As noted in Hensel v. American Air Network, Inc., 189 S.W.3d 582, 583 (Mo. banc 2006), the purpose of the signature requirement is not to deprive litigants of a right of action. The Court holds, therefore, that for purposes of Rule 29.15 and 24.035 the signature requirement is not jurisdictional and is subject to the sanctions of Rule 55.03. To the extent they contain language or hold to the contrary, Tooley , Wallingford , and similar cases are overruled. [3]