Court Opinion

ID: 9445377
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 21:26:56.052837+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:30:14.105260
License: Public Domain

FRANK, Circuit Judge
(dissenting in
part).
Although I think we need not do so, I see no good reason why, before deciding the motion, we should not obtain the views of the trial judge. Consequently, I concur in allowing the defendant to renew his application, for leave to appeal in forma pauperis, to the trial judge.
However, my colleagues’ disposition of the matter is fraught with difficulties for the defendant. My colleagues say that the trial judge should certify that the appeal is not taken in good faith unless the defendant (in addition to showing his indigence and that he is a citizen) in his renewed application “identifies with reasonable particularity the claimed errors which will be the basis for the appeal.” It is highly likely that the defendant, not a lawyer, will not be able to comply with that requirement if he is not aided by counsel. For reasons stated in my dissenting opinion in United States v. Johnson, 2 Cir., 238 F.2d 565 decided today, I think that we should appoint such counsel or direct the trial judge to do so, and that such counsel should assist the defendant from here on until (a) defendant’s application for leave to appeal in forma pauperis is finally decided and (b) in the conduct of his appeal if that application should be granted.
Moreover, from my colleagues’ opinion in the instant case and their opinion in U. S. v. Johnson, it seems clear that my colleagues conclude as follows: Should the district judge, on the renewed application, issue a certificate of “bad faith,” we would permit defendant to appeal in forma pauperis only if he showed that the district judge’s certificate was itself “ ‘without warrant or not in good faith’ ”; but, even so, we and the district judge would be obliged to deny defendant what may well be the sole means of so showing, i. e., a transcript of the trial proceedings or its equivalent. With that conclusion I disagree.
In sum, I think the defendant should have the assistance of court-appointed counsel in preparing his renewed application and that, in aid of such preparation, either (1) the defendant should be furnished a transcript gratis or (2) his counsel should assist him in obtaining a statement of the trial proceedings, in the manner explained in my dissenting opinion in U. S. v. Johnson; also, if the district judge issues a “bad faith” certificate, such counsel should assist defendant in again applying to this court.