Opinion ID: 1974409
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: post-appeal proceedings before the motions judge

Text: On April 3, 1989, three days after this court affirmed his convictions, appellant filed in Superior Court a hand-written pro se motion to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence, citing D.C.Code § 23-110. Appellant claimed that the trial judge failed to strictly comply with the requirements of § 23-111(b) by not asking him, after his conviction, whether he affirmed or denied any prior convictions. He also claimed that there was an error in the § 23-111(a) information filed against him. [5] Thereafter, appellant, with the assistance of counsel, filed a supplemental memorandum in open court and requested that his motion be construed as a motion to correct a sentence imposed in an illegal manner, pursuant to Super.Ct.Crim.R. 35(a). [6] The motions judge, [7] relying on the holding in United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. 152, 167-68, 102 S.Ct. 1584, 1594-95, 71 L.Ed.2d 816 (1982), ruled that because appellant had failed to raise an available challenge to his sentence on direct appeal, he could not, thereafter, collaterally attack the sentence, unless he made a showing of both cause for his failure to raise the issue on direct appeal and prejudice as a result of that failure. Finding that appellant had established neither cause nor prejudice, the motions judge orally denied appellant's motion and subsequently issued a written order. This appeal followed.