Court Opinion

ID: 9455429
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 19:21:48.038866+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:34:35.801458
License: Public Domain

SEITZ, Circuit Judge
(concurring).
I am satisfied from my reading of the record that appellant’s counsel abandoned him after the verdict without in any way attempting to elicit his desires concerning an appeal and without filing the post-trial motions prerequisite to an appeal in compliance with his contract with appellant. In my view such conduct was tantamount to a refusal to initiate an appeal and deprived appellant of effective assistance of counsel. If counsel had been appointed by the court, appellant would be entitled to relief even though he did not inform the court within the statutory period of his desire to appeal. Because appellant retained his counsel, decisions of this circuit require that there be some actual or constructive notice to the state before he can be afforded relief. United States ex rel. Wilkins v. Banmiller, 325 F.2d 514 (3rd Cir. 1963); United States ex rel. Darcy v. Handy, 203 F.2d 407, 426 (3d Cir. 1953) (en banc). I do not believe justice is served by distinguishing between litigants on the basis of whether they or the state pays the counsel fee. However, such is the rule in this circuit and because I am constrained to follow it, I concur in the result in this case.