Court Opinion

ID: 8598836
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-23 20:05:24.740971+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:55:06.867767
License: Public Domain

People v Singh (2022 NY Slip Op 06723)

People v Singh

2022 NY Slip Op 06723

Decided on November 23, 2022

Appellate Division, Second Department

Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.

This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports.

Decided on November 23, 2022
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department

MARK C. DILLON, J.P.
LINDA CHRISTOPHER
WILLIAM G. FORD
JANICE A. TAYLOR, JJ.

2020-06163	ON MOTION
 (Docket No. 74D/20)

[*1]The People of the State of New York, respondent,
vGurbaksh Singh, appellant. Joseph A. Hanshe, Sayville, NY, for appellant.

Anne T. Donnelly, District Attorney, Mineola, NY (Tammy J. Smiley of counsel; Matthew C. Frankel on the brief), for respondent.

DECISION & ORDER
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Teresa Corrigan, J.), rendered July 24, 2020, convicting him of disorderly conduct, upon his plea of guilty, and imposing sentence. Assigned counsel has submitted a brief in accordance with Anders v California (386 US 738), in which he moves for leave to withdraw as counsel for the appellant.
ORDERED that the motion of Joseph A. Hanshe for leave to withdraw as counsel for the appellant is granted, and he is directed to turn over all papers in his possession to new counsel assigned herein; and it is further,
ORDERED that Judah Maltz, 125-10 Queens Blvd., Suite 12, Kew Gardens, NY 11415, is assigned as counsel to prosecute the appeal; and it is further,
ORDERED that the respondent is directed to furnish a copy of the certified transcript of the proceedings to the appellant's new assigned counsel; and it is further,
ORDERED that new counsel shall serve and file a brief on behalf of the appellant within 90 days of the date of this decision and order on motion, and the respondent shall serve and file its brief within 30 days after the brief on behalf of the appellant is served and filed. By order dated July 29, 2020, the Supreme Court, Nassau County, granted an application pursuant to CPL 380.55 for poor person relief. By prior decision and order on motion dated August 28, 2020, this Court directed that the appeal be heard on the original papers (including a certified transcript of the proceedings, if any) and on the briefs of the parties. The parties are directed to upload, through the digital portal on this Court's website, digital copies of their respective briefs, with proof of service of one hard copy on each other (see 22 NYCRR 670.9[a]).
In reviewing an attorney's motion to be relieved pursuant to Anders v California (386 US 738), this Court must first "'satisfy itself that the attorney has provided the client with a diligent and thorough search of the record for any arguable claim that might support the client's appeal'" (Matter of Giovanni S. [Jasmin A.], 89 AD3d 252, 255, quoting Penson v Ohio, 488 US 75, 83). "The filing of a sufficient Anders brief is essential to ensuring that an indigent party's rights are protected" (Matter of Giovanni S. [Jasmin A.], 89 AD3d at 256). "[W]here counsel has failed in his [*2]or her role as advocate by filing a deficient brief, on this basis alone, new counsel will be assigned to represent the appellant on the appeal" (id. at 258; see People v Murray, 169 AD3d 227, 232).
Here, the brief submitted by assigned counsel pursuant to Anders v California is deficient because it fails to analyze potential legal issues with reference to the facts of the case and relevant legal authority. The one-paragraph analysis of the case at hand does little more than conclusorily assert the opinion of assigned counsel that there are no nonfrivolous issues to raise on appeal. Since the brief does not demonstrate that assigned counsel fulfilled his obligations under Anders v California, we must assign new counsel to represent the defendant (see People v Chicas, 203 AD3d 1064, 1066; People v Giglio, 202 AD3d 820, 821; Matter of Giovanni S. [Jasmin A.], 89 AD3d at 256).
DILLON, J.P., CHRISTOPHER, FORD and TAYLOR, JJ., concur.
ENTER:
Maria T. Fasulo
Clerk of the Court