Court Opinion

ID: 9621442
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 05:57:57.756535+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:05:03.746345
License: Public Domain

ON DENIAL OF PETITION FOR REHEARING
DONALDSON, Justice.
Appellant, in his petition for rehearing, directs this Court’s attention to the fact that the case of United States ex rel. Bjornsen v. LaVallee, 364 F.2d 489 (2d Cir. 1966) has been overruled by the decision in United States ex rel. Smith v. McMann, 417 F.2d 648 (2d Cir. 1969). That decision however is substantially based on two recent developments in New York State law which have imposed a mandatory duty on attorneys within that jurisdiction, whether assigned or retained, to inform their defendants of the right of appeal.1 The decision in United States ex rel. Smith v. McMann, supra, is also based on a broad interpretation of Douglas v. California, 372 U.S. 353, 83 S.Ct. 814, 9 L.Ed.2d 811 (1963). Douglas merely held that indigent state court defendants are to be afforded counsel on appeal, regardless of the merits of the case.
Idaho has no rules similar to those promulgated by the courts of New York State and thus no duty has been imposed in this jurisdiction on court or counsel to inform defendants of their right to appeal.
Petition for rehearing denied.

. The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court (intermediary appellate court in New York State) promulgated a rule requiring defense counsel to notify the defendant of his right to appeal.
“AVhere there has been a conviction after trial or otherwise * * * it shall be the duty of counsel, retained or assigned, and of the public defender * ■ * * to advise defendant in writing of his right to appeal.” New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, § 606.5 (1968), Rules of the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department (b) (1). (emphasis supplied).
The rules furthermore provide that, “ * * * if a defendant has appeared pro se, the trial court shall advise a defendant of his right to appeal * * New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, § 606.5 (1968), Rules of the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department (c). (emphasis supplied).
In 1969, the New York Court of Appeals in the case of People v. Montgomery, 24 N.Y.2d 130, 299 N.Y.S.2d 156, 247 N.E.2d 130 (1969) adopted this requirement.