Court Opinion

ID: 9711867
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 04:40:46.79383+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:08.062438
License: Public Domain

*677FERREN, Associate Judge,
concurring:
I concur in the opinion for the court except for footnote 5, which declines to address a question squarely presented on appeal, as I see it. All members of this division agree that an attorney who conducts the inquiry under Shepard v. United States, 533 A.2d 1278 (D.C.1987), is entitled to compensation for that inquiry, as well as for preparing and filing a motion under D.C.Code § 23-110 (1989) (including a response to a government opposition). We should go on to explain how counsel gets paid. In my view, if the trial court appoints counsel to pursue the § 23-110 motion, counsel should file for compensation for the Shepard inquiry (and for later § 23-110 time) in that court. If, on the other hand, the trial court does not appoint counsel to pursue the matter further, counsel should file in this court for Shepard compensation. Finally, if the trial court denies the § 23-110 motion without a hearing and counsel concludes the court erred, I believe appellant is entitled to appointment of appellate counsel — compensated by this court — to pursue that matter in conjunction with the direct appeal. Counsel should have clear guidance here; we should not leave the impression — as footnote 5 does— that the court system is not yet clear about who will pay the vouchers under the various possible scenarios.