Court Opinion

ID: 9846750
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 03:47:54.268506+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:19:47.398574
License: Public Domain

Stafford, J.
(concurring in part, dissenting in part) — I agree with the majority insofar as it interprets the general application of JCrR 6.01, 6.03, and 10.01(b). But, I do not agree that the case at hand falls within the "excusable neglect" provisions of JCrR 10.01(b).
The majority's position is that it would be unreasonable for a court not to be able to correct an injustice if a defendant or his attorney is unable to comply with the rules through no intent or act of his own volition. However nothing in this record demonstrates an inability to comply with the rules. Rather, there is failure to comply.
Pursuant to JCrR 6.01(c) and (d), the district court filed the transcript within 10 days following the notice of appeal and notified defendant's attorney of that fact. At this point counsel's secretary is said to have misplaced the notice.
Since the district court must file the transcript within 10 days of the notice of appeal and give notice thereof to appellant (JCrR 6.01(c), (d)) and since counsel is required to note the case for trial within 20 days of that filing (JCrR 6.01(e)), logic indicates counsel should have made some inquiry after the 10th day had elapsed with no apparent receipt of notice. A mere telephone call would have clarified the problem within minutes. Nevertheless, while more than adequate time remained to clarify the status of the transcript and even though a simple inquiry would have disclosed the transcript had been filed and notice sent to his office, counsel chose to do nothing.
A misplaced notice might possibly be classed as inadvertence. But, failure to make inquiry about the filing status of *426the transcript was not inadvertence. It was a total failure to act under circumstances that called for inquiry.
If the facts of this case give rise to a judicially-recognized excuse of "excusable neglect" requiring relief, we might as well abandon further thought of enforcing compliance with JCrR 6.01 and JCrR 6.03, except in cases of intentional or wilful neglect. It is certain that few of the latter class of cases will ever arise as long as there are secretaries to be blamed.
Wright, C.J., concurs with Stafford, J.