Court Opinion

ID: 4509774
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-02-24 14:16:27.989501+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:12:51.318299
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
                              SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

                                                                                   FILED
State of West Virginia,                                                       February 24, 2020
                                                                               EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK
Plaintiff Below, Respondent                                                    SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                   OF WEST VIRGINIA
vs.) No. 19-0502 (Harrison County 18-F-230-2)

Michael Joseph Taber,
Defendant Below, Petitioner

                                 MEMORANDUM DECISION

         In this criminal appeal, the Court issued a rule to show cause in contempt against the
petitioner’s counsel, Jonathan Fittro, to show cause why he should not be held in contempt and
subjected to further sanctions after failing to perfect the appeal and otherwise comply with orders
of this Court. This memorandum decision does not address the merits of the criminal appeal; it
addresses only the rule to show cause in contempt against Mr. Fittro. Based upon Mr. Fittro’s
failure to perfect the appeal, appear during oral argument to show cause as directed, and otherwise
comply with orders of the Court, we hold him in contempt. Considering the sanctions to be
imposed, Mr. Fittro is hereby denied eligibility for any court-appointed cases until the Office of
Disciplinary Counsel’s investigation into this matter and any resulting disciplinary action are fully
concluded. Additionally, Mr. Fittro is hereby removed as counsel for the petitioner, Michael
Joseph Taber.

       This matter involves the petitioner’s appeal of his sentence of three to thirty-five years
imprisonment following his convictions for burglary and forgery of a public document. By
scheduling order entered on June 9, 2019, Mr. Fittro was directed to perfect the appeal in
accordance with the Rules of Appellate Procedure on or before August 28, 2019. The appeal
remains unperfected, and an extension of time to perfect the appeal has not been requested.

        Accordingly, on September 10, 2019, a notice of intent to sanction was issued by the Court
directing Mr. Fittro to perfect the appeal within ten days of receipt of the order. Counsel was
reminded that failure to perfect the appeal could result in sanctions being imposed under Rule 10(j)
of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. Once again, the appeal was not perfected, and on October 2,
2019, an amended notice of intent to sanction was issued directing Mr. Fittro to perfect the appeal
on or before October 15, 2019. Again, the appeal was not perfected, and no additional pleadings
or other documents were submitted by Mr. Fittro.

                                                 1
        By order entered on January 9, 2020, the Court issued a rule to show cause in contempt
against Mr. Fittro for failure to perfect the appeal and otherwise comply with orders of this Court.
The January 9, 2020, order provided that the rule to show cause was returnable at ten o’clock a.m.
on Tuesday, January 28, 2020. In the order the Court directed Mr. Fittro to show cause why he
should not be held in contempt for failure to perfect the appeal, unless sooner mooted by perfecting
the appeal. Additionally, the Court directed that Mr. Fittro be referred to the Office of Disciplinary
Counsel for failing to perfect the appeal and for failing to respond to orders of the Court.1 On
January 22, 2020, this Court sent Mr. Fittro a notice of the January 28, 2020, appearance date,
together with a copy of the “Argument Docket” listing the rule to show cause as number eight on
the docket.

        Mr. Fittro did not perfect the appeal, as set forth in the January 9, 2020, order. Further, he
did not appear at ten o’clock a.m. on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, as directed in the January 9, 2020,
order. To date, the appeal has not been perfected, and Mr. Fittro has failed to respond to this Court’s
orders entered in this matter.

        Having considered Mr. Fittro’s failure to perfect the appeal and otherwise comply with
orders of this Court entered in this matter, we find him in contempt. Accordingly, we hereby order
that Mr. Fittro be, and he hereby is, held in contempt for his willful violations of orders of this
Court. Mr. Fittro is hereby denied eligibility for all court-appointed cases until the Office of
Disciplinary Counsel’s investigation into this matter and any resulting disciplinary action is fully
concluded. Additionally, Mr. Fittro is hereby removed as counsel for the petitioner, Michael
Joseph Taber. Crystal L. Walden, West Virginia Public Defender Services, is hereby appointed as
counsel for the petitioner. Mr. Fittro is directed to immediately transfer his entire file in this matter
to Ms. Walden. The Clerk of Court is directed to provide notice of this sanction to the circuit court
in each county where Mr. Fittro routinely practices.

                                                                                    Sanctions imposed.

ISSUED: February 24, 2020

CONCURRED IN BY:
Chief Justice Tim Armstead
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Elizabeth D. Walker
Justice Evan H. Jenkins
Justice John A. Hutchison

1
  By referring this matter to the Office of Disciplinary counsel, we express no opinion regarding
the initiation of a disciplinary proceeding. We likewise express no opinion regarding the resolution
of any such proceeding that may be initiated.
                                                   2