Court Opinion

ID: 9576143
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:21:14.993412+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:00:31.465841
License: Public Domain

WARNER, J.,
specially concurring.
I concur in the statement of the law which leads the majority to the conclusion that this court has the power and duty to appoint counsel to assist indigent persons convicted of felonies to perfect an appeal when it reasonably appears that such an appeal is justified.
I cannot join in the formula which the opinion sets up for the determination of the necessity for such an appointment, for the reason that it omits a step which I deem necessary in fairness to the applicant and as a time-saving device for the court.
I would place no great value on what the party might state in his application as representing appeal-able error. No matter what his education or experience, it would be impossible for him to make an adequate or sufficient presentation of alleged errors, except in some rare cases, or unless applicant was skilled in the law. The majority opinion suggests to me that unless his trial attorney might “be willing” to express a belief on the probable merits of an appeal, this court will make such an examination of the record without independent aid and, predicated thereon, say that there is or is not warrant for an appeal. I do not gainsay the ability of the court to come to a sound *644conclusion by reason of its examination of the transcript, but, aside from the burden such procedure would east upon the court, I feel the value of an independent examination, especially if made by applicant’s trial counsel, would give greater weight to the ultimate conclusion for or against the need of counsel to perfect an appeal.
I would make it clear in the majority opinion that when the application for the appointment of counsel, accompanied by the transcript of testimony, is received by the clerk of the court, our only concern at that juncture will be to satisfy ourselves that the applicant is indigent. If we so find, we thereupon pass the application, together with the transcript of testimony, to applicant’s attorney of record in the trial of the matter for examination with directions to certify within a definite time whether or not in his opinion the applicant has good cause for appeal, and if he so finds, to briefly state his reasons therefor. If the applicant had no counsel to defend him in the lower court, then I would have this court refer the application and transcript to an attorney of our selection or a committee of the bar for such a preliminary investigation and report as is done by the District Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 3, California. People v. Logan, 137 Cal App 331, 290 P2d 11.
If counsel examining the record certify that in their opinion no grounds for appeal are shown, then this court would be warranted in denying the application. If, on the other hand, counsel certify that in their opinion there are grounds warranting an appeal, then it should be incumbent upon this court, without further examination of the record here, to forthwith appoint counsel to bring the matter to the attention of the court in regular course by preparing necessary *645briefs and making an oral presentation in behalf of the applicant.