Opinion ID: 2120930
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: Before reaching the legal issues presented for review, it is the duty of an appellate court to determine whether it has jurisdiction over the matter before it. State v. McLemore, 261 Neb. 452, 623 N.W.2d 315 (2001). The State contends that this court lacks jurisdiction because the district court's order granting Harms' request to proceed in forma pauperis does not comply with Neb.Rev.Stat. § 29-2306 (Cum.Supp.2000). Section 29-2306 states:  If a defendant in a criminal case files, within thirty days after the entry of the judgment, order, or sentence, an application to proceed in forma pauperis in accordance with sections 25-2301 to 25-2310 with the clerk of the district court, then no payment of the docket fee shall be required of him or her unless the defendant's application to proceed in forma pauperis is denied.... If an application to proceed in forma pauperis is filed and granted, the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court shall acquire jurisdiction of the case when the notice of appeal is filed with the clerk of the district court. The State argues that jurisdiction is lacking because the district court judge did not sign the order granting Harms' application to proceed in forma pauperis within 30 days after the entry of Harms' sentence. This argument is without merit. The relevant date under § 29-2306 is the date the defendant files the application to proceed in forma pauperis, not the date on which the court grants the application. The record shows, and the State acknowledges, that Harms timely filed his notice of appeal, application to proceed in forma pauperis, and poverty affidavit within 30 days after the entry of his sentence. Since the district court granted Harms' application to proceed in forma pauperis, the Supreme Court shall acquire jurisdiction of the case when the notice of appeal is filed with the clerk of the district court. See § 29-2306. We determine that the requirements of § 29-2306 have been satisfied. Accordingly, we determine that we have jurisdiction over Harms' appeal.