Opinion ID: 1977406
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Denial of Gattis's motion for more time to brief and an extension of the page limits

Text: Gattis next argues that the Superior Court abused its discretion in denying his request for an extension of the time period for filing and of the page limitations for a brief. Although he provides reasons why he initially made the request, he focuses on the consequence that counsel was forced to edit the opening brief from fifty to thirty-five pages resulting in the removal of the arguments Gattis sought to advance in his brief in support of his claim for postconviction relief. Applications for extension of time and page limits are addressed to the trial judge's discretion and are reviewed for an abuse of discretion. [44] Here, the Superior Court devoted four-pages to explaining why it was denying both Gattis's request for an additional seven days to complete this opening brief and his request to increase the page limitation. With regard to the request to increase the page limitations, the Superior Court noted: [Defense counsel] is, of course, free to structure his brief any way he chooses, and to tender any argument that he considers to be persuasive. The Court has not prejudged any of the above-cited issues, and is ready to be swayed by reasonable argument on any of them. However, part of the process of appellate advocacy is to narrow a plethora of available arguments to those that have the greatest legal merit, and therefore a better chance of attaining relief for one's client. The fact that this is a death penalty case does not absolve defense counsel of that responsibility, or require the Court to plume through lengthy, arduous briefs in order to discern the legal issues of true import. The Superior Court also noted the timing of these requests (four days before the brief due date) and that a request for an extended briefing schedule had already been granted once, at the request of the same trial counsel. We find no abuse of discretion with the Superior Court's denial of these requests.