Court Opinion

ID: 6528430
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 19:28:10.944796+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:55:17.072791
License: Public Domain

Formerly, on June 29, 1971, in 3 Div. 167, we granted the Attorney General's motion to strike the entire record and dismiss the appeal under Supreme Court Rule 37. No opinion was filed. This procedure follows Relf [v. State], 267 Ala. 3,99 So.2d 216.
The record then before this court was certified by the Clerk of the Circuit Court under seal and bears date of May 24, 1971.
According to the later purported appeal, on May 24, 1971, White, for the first time, pleaded poverty and asked the Circuit Court for a free transcript and for a lawyer. This motion reads as follows:
"Motion For Leave to Appeal in Forma Pauperis
 "John C. White, defendant herein ProSe Petitions the Court for leave to appeal in Forma Pauperis to the Alabama Court of Appeal [sic] from the final judgment entered in this action on the 17th day November, 1970, and attaches hereto his affidavit. *Page 60
 "Defendant request a copy of the transcript, and a copy of the indictment be forward to him.
"Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
 "Sincerely, "John C. White "Box P.M.B. 94086 "Atlanta, Georgia 30315
 "John C. White, defendant in the Circuit Court Case # 20973 in support of his motion to proceed or appeal without required to prepay fees, cost or give security therefor, states that because of his poverty he is unable to pay the cost of proceedings or to give security therefor:
 "I swear that the response which I have made to the below relating to my ability to pay the cost of prosecuting the appeal are true.
 "I am presently incarcerated in the U.S. Penitentiary Atlanta, Georgia, and have been since March 6, 1970.
 "I have not received any income from a business, profession, interest, dividends or other source since the above date.
 "I do not own any cash or checking or saving account.
 "I understand that a false statement or answer to any questions in this affidavit will subject me to penalties.
 "Subscribed and Sworn By Me "John C. White "Box P.M.B. 94086 "Atlanta, Georgia 30315
 "STATE OF ALA. MOBILE CO. "I CERTIFY THIS PLEADING "WAS FILED ON "MAY 24 5 16 PM '71 "JOHN E. MANDEVILLE"
This document was not laid before the Court of Criminal Appeals when the appeal record was originally sent up. The Circuit Court denied this motion the day it was filed therein, no doubt because of tardiness.
The reason for this motion being too late arises from the fact that the notice of appeal was given by counsel on the day of conviction, November 17, 1970. Thereafter, Michie's Code, T. 15, § 380(16) gave appellant ten days (i. e., by November 27, 1970) to request a free transcript of testimony. See Keeton [v. State], 278 Ala. 81, 175 So.2d 774.
The State was under no affirmative duty — before May 24, 1971, when the first claim of indigency was advanced — to investigate whether or not White was indigent and, if so, to appoint counsel and give him a free transcript of testimony. Worts v. Dutton, 5 Cir., 395 F.2d 341.
In the instant case, as I read the order of the United States District Court, the State of Alabama had the option of an out-of-time appeal, or a new trial. We have said that there is no such proceeding as an out-of-time appeal. Hines [v. State],48 Ala. App. 297, 264 So. 218; Wade [v. State], 51 Ala. App. 441,286 So.2d 317.
Moreover, no request was made by the Attorney General for leave to reinstate the appeal. Apart from the discourtesy of this dodge, I consider that jurisdiction cannot be conferred on a court by only the consent of the parties.
In my opinion, counsel on this abortive second appeal is not adequately representing his client by failing to insist that under the Federal order his client can only be tried again. The State failed to take an out-of-time appeal to the Fifth Circuit, instead rolled over and played dead as though menaced by the golden dog of Zeus.
Thinking that the Attorney General should stop trying to make our court a mere hearing master for Federal habeas corpus, I respectfully vote to dismiss this appeal. *Page 61