Opinion ID: 2197819
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Review Waived Without Case Authority

Text: Although four attorneys are representing Flamer in this appeal, the Opening Brief does not cite a single case. In fact, the entire Table of Citations in the Opening Brief reads, as follows: U.S. Constitution Amend. V Del. Constitution Art. I § 7 Delaware Rules of Evidence Rule 106 We take judicial notice that the Sixth Amendment of the United States, and not the Fifth Amendment, provides the right to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses. [2] That right was extended to state prosecutions by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. [3] The appealing party is generally afforded the opportunity to select and frame the issues it wants to have considered on appeal. [4] A corollary to that opportunity is a requirement that the appealing party's opening brief fully state the grounds for appeal, as well as the arguments and supporting authorities on each issue or claim of reversible error. [5] Therefore, this Court has held that the failure of a party appellant to present and argue a legal issue in the text of an opening brief constitutes a waiver of that claim on appeal. [6] In order to develop a legal argument effectively, the Opening Brief must marshall the relevant facts and establish reversible error by demonstrating why the action at trial was contrary to either controlling precedent or persuasive decisional authority from other jurisdictions. [7] The failure to cite any authority in support of a legal argument constitutes a waiver of the issue on appeal. [8] Accordingly, we hold that all of the legal issues raised by Flamer in this appeal have been waived. [9]