Opinion ID: 1256589
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Relief from Default

Text: Even though petitioner has not complied with section 1237.5, the facts of this case raise a substantial question involving the scope of an attorney's duty to assist his client in perfecting an appeal from a judgment upon a plea of guilty. Where a plea of guilty is not involved, rule 31(a) requires that a notice of appeal be filed within 10 days after rendition of judgment. In cases in which a judgment of conviction was entered upon a plea of guilty, rule 31(d) also requires that a notice of appeal be filed within 10 days after rendition of judgment, but further provides that the appeal shall not be operative unless the defendant files the statement, and the trial court executes and files the certificate of probable cause, required by section 1237.5 of the Penal Code. The defendant must file the statement within 10 days after rendition of judgment, and if filed within such period it shall serve as a notice of appeal if no other notice of appeal has been filed. If a timely notice of appeal has been filed, the trial court may permit the defendant to file his statement beyond the 10-day period, but not later than 40 days after rendition of judgment. It is readily apparent that where a defendant has been convicted upon a plea of guilty, his right to appeal may be dependent on many technical requirements of which he may be unaware. (8) Pursuant to rule 31 (a), appellate courts have the power to grant relief from default in filing notices of appeal in proper cases. This power is to be liberally construed to protect the right to appeal. ( People v. Acosta (1969) 71 Cal.2d 683, 685 [78 Cal. Rptr. 864, 456 P.2d 136]; People v. Camarillo (1967) 66 Cal.2d 455, 456 [58 Cal. Rptr. 112, 426 P.2d 512].) (9) In exercising its power to determine the circumstances which warrant granting a defendant relief from his failure to file a timely notice of appeal [citations] this court has established the following general rules: A defendant is entitled to relief, absent grounds for waiver or estoppel, where he makes a timely request of his trial attorney to file an appeal, thereby placing the attorney under a duty to file it, instruct defendant how to file it, or secure other counsel for him [citations].... ( People v. Acosta, supra, at p. 687.) The reasons for imposing such a duty on trial counsel have often been stated by this court and they need not be repeated here. (See People v. Acosta, supra, at p. 685; People v. Camarillo, supra, at p. 458; People v. Curry (1965) 62 Cal.2d 207, 209-210 [42 Cal. Rptr. 17, 397 P.2d 1009]; People v. Diehl (1964) 62 Cal.2d 114, 117 [41 Cal. Rptr. 281, 396 P.2d 697]; People v. Flanagan (1964) 62 Cal.2d 63, 66 [41 Cal. Rptr. 85, 396 P.2d 389]; People v. Johnson (1964) 61 Cal.2d 843, 844 [40 Cal. Rptr. 708, 395 P.2d 668]; People v. Tucker (1964) 61 Cal.2d 828, 832 [40 Cal. Rptr. 609, 395 P.2d 449]; People v. Casillas (1964) 61 Cal.2d 344, 346 [38 Cal. Rptr. 721, 392 P.2d 521].) (10a) The Attorney General has stipulated that within 10 days after imposition of sentence petitioner told his attorney that he wanted to appeal, and that his attorney did not take any action to perfect the appeal. (11) The rationale of the above rule granting relief from the failure to file a timely notice of appeal applies with equal force to granting relief from default for the failure to file a timely statement pursuant to section 1237.5, and the appellate court is empowered to grant such relief by rule 45 of the California Rules of Court. When a defendant makes a timely request of his trial attorney to file an appeal from a judgment upon a plea of guilty, the attorney must file the 1237.5 statement, instruct defendant how to file it, or secure other counsel for him. [6] The Attorney General has argued that to impose such a duty would place the attorney in the frustrating position of attempting to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear; that it would be an often-uncompensated intrusion upon the attorney's time and energies; and that it would be an unreasonable burden in light of the miniscule chance that a certificate of probable cause would ever be issued. We find little merit in these arguments when they are weighed against the importance of the right to counsel and the right to appeal. Furthermore, the attorney is not required to assist the defendant in setting forth frivolous contentions. The attorney need only assist him in setting forth the relevant facts necessary to enable the trial court to rule on the issue of probable cause. The Legislature has conditioned the right to appeal from a plea of guilty upon the filing of the required statement. Advice or assistance of counsel in filing the notice of appeal is meaningless if counsel does not also advise or assist in preparation and filing of the required statement. It follows that counsel's obligation to assist in filing the notice of appeal necessarily encompasses assistance with the statement required by section 1237.5. (10b) Counsel appointed by this court to represent petitioner in this proceeding is hereby directed to assist petitioner in the preparation of the required statement. The Clerk of the Superior Court of San Mateo County is directed to file such a statement and to treat it as a notice of appeal in the present case if such statement is tendered to him within 10 days after our judgment herein becomes final. If such a statement is filed and the trial court within the time specified by rule 31 (d) of the California Rules of Court executes and files a certificate of probable cause, the clerk is directed to proceed with the preparation of the record on appeal.