Court Opinion

ID: 9942099
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-20 15:07:39.246421+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:47:40.424089
License: Public Domain

RECORD IMPOUNDED

                                NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                               APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
        This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                        SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                        APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                        DOCKET NO. A-3297-21

STATE OF NEW JERSEY,

          Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

ALTURIK FRANCIS, a/k/a
ALTURIC FRANCIS, ALTURIC
MARTIN, ALTERICK A. FRANCIS,
ALTURIK MARTIN, and ALTRIK
FRANCIS,

     Defendant-Appellant.
_______________________________

                   Submitted January 17, 2024 – Decided February 20, 2024

                   Before Judges Whipple and Paganelli.

                   On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
                   Division, Union County, Indictment No. 05-06-0707.

                   Alturik Francis, appellant pro se.

                   William A. Daniel, Union County Prosecutor, attorney
                   for respondent (Meredith L. Balo, Assistant Prosecutor,
                   of counsel and on the brief).

PER CURIAM
      Defendant, Alturik Francis, appeals from a July 1, 2021 order denying his

motion to correct an illegal sentence. Since we conclude he was denied his right

to have oral argument on the motion we vacate and remand.

      The facts relating to defendant's convictions are fully recounted in our

prior opinions on defendant's direct appeal, State v. Francis, No. A-1741-09

(App. Div. Aug. 7, 2012) (slip op. at 1), and on defendant's first petition for

post-conviction relief (PCR), State v. Francis, No. A-2825-15 (App. Div. Dec.

12, 2017) (slip op. at 1). Here, we recite only the facts that are necessary to

provide context for our opinion. Defendant was convicted of breaking into

Majoly Collins's apartment, robbing her, raping her at knife point, stabbing her

to death, smothering to death her two young children, and attempting to stab to

death a fourth victim. Francis, slip op. at 1 (App. Div. Aug. 7, 2012). After

merger, defendant was sentenced to three consecutive terms of life in prison, a

twenty-year consecutive term, and a concurrent term of twenty years. Ibid.

      In defendant's direct appeal, he raised several issues including his

sentence being improper and excessive. Id. at 3. In our opinion, we concluded

there was no abuse of the judge's discretion in imposing the sentence and no

merit in defendant's argument. Id. at 38.

                                                                          A-3297-21
                                       2
      After we affirmed the denial of defendant's petition for PCR, without an

evidentiary hearing, Francis, slip op. at 6 (App. Div. Dec. 12, 2017), he filed a

pro se motion to correct an alleged illegal sentence. In a fourteen-page written

decision the judge denied defendant's motion. In reciting the procedural history,

the judge indicated "[t]he parties . . . consented to the motion being addressed

on the papers."

      However, it is undisputed that oral argument was scheduled by the judge's

chambers and defendant's "[c]ourt appointed attorney informed him that he

would have the opportunity to advance his argument via the [Z]oom hearing ."

There was no consent to have the motion decided on the papers. Defendant

argues his rights were violated because he was denied oral argument on the

motion.

      The State contends defendant's rights were not denied, despite no

opportunity for oral argument, because the motion judge had discretion whether

to grant oral argument, citing State v. Mayron, 344 N.J. Super. 382, 387 (App.

Div. 2001). The State argues there was no abuse of discretion because: (1)

"defendant's argument was wholly without merit, and oral argument was not

necessary for the court to make its ruling"; and (2) "the court clearly put its

reasons for denying defendant's motion on the record . . . ."

                                                                           A-3297-21
                                        3
      We are not convinced by the State's argument. The merits of defendant's

argument and whether substantively the judge addressed the merits is of no

moment. "Oral advocacy is a fundamental aspect of our criminal justice system

and should be encouraged, preserved, and protected." State v. Parker, 459 N.J.

Super. 26, 31 (App. Div. 2019). If a "judge . . . reach[es] the determination that

the arguments presented in the papers do not warrant oral argument, the judge

should provide a statement of reasons that is tailored to the particular

application, stating why the judge consider[ed] oral argument unnecessary."

State v. Parker, 212 N.J. 269, 282 (2012). That was not done here. Therefore,

we are compelled to vacate the order and remand the motion for further

consideration.

      Although the judge here issued a thoughtful decision, "[i]n an abundance

of caution, we direct that th[e motion] be remanded to a different judge . . . to

avoid the appearance of bias or prejudice based upon the judge's prior

involvement with the matter . . . ." Entress v. Entress, 376 N.J. Super. 125, 133

(App. Div. 2005); see also Graziano v. Grant, 326 N.J. Super. 328, 349 (App.

Div. 1999) (the power to remand to a different judge "may be exercised when

there is a concern that the trial judge has a potential commitment to his or her

prior findings."); Luedtke v. Shobert, 342 N.J. Super. 202, 219 (App. Div. 2001)

                                                                            A-3297-21
                                        4
("recogniz[ing] the time and effort the court put into the case" but expressing

concern that judge would be in an "untenable position" on remand). Here, we

express no opinion about the merits of the arguments.

      Vacated and remanded. We do not retain jurisdiction.

                                                                         A-3297-21
                                      5