Court Opinion

ID: 9673913
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 04:20:25.192431+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:24.353681
License: Public Domain

FENNER, Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
Appellant does not argue that he made a timely request for an evidentiary hearing as required by Rule 29.15(g). To the contrary, appellant concedes in his brief that he did not make a timely request for an *109evidentiary hearing. Nonetheless, the majority opinion finds that the trial court erred in failing to recognize Luster’s “motion” for an evidentiary hearing.
The “motion” to which the majority refers is a handwritten document contained in the circuit court file that the trial court was entitled to ignore because it did not comply with the Missouri Rules of Court. Rule 55.02 requires that every pleading shall contain a caption setting forth the name of the court, the title of the action and the file number. Rule 55.26(b) makes the requirements of form of pleadings applicable to motions.
Luster’s “motion” for an evidentiary hearing contained no caption, no title and did not reference the case to which it referred. The “motion” was not stamped filed by the court. Luster’s “motion” was on a sheet of paper by itself and consisted of nothing more than the following:
Comes now movant and would move this court for an evidentiary hearing on this motion.
Respectfully yours,
/s/ Eddie Luster 6/22/88
Luster’s “motion” for an evidentiary hearing totally failed to comply with the Missouri Rules of Court. Contrary to the majority’s opinion that the trial court apparently overlooked Luster’s “motion” for an evidentiary hearing, the trial court specifically stated in its findings that “an evi-dentiary hearing was not properly requested.” The trial court was entitled to ignore Luster’s “motion” and did not err in finding that Luster failed to make a proper motion for an evidentiary hearing.
The majority opinion next addresses the effectiveness of motion counsel which is another matter not raised by appellant in this appeal. In analyzing this issue, sua sponte, the majority states that Missouri courts have reversed denials of postconviction motions when appointed counsel has failed to amend a pro se motion.
The cases cited by the majority dealing with failure to amend a pro se motion show that review of motion counsel’s conduct has been granted, when challenged, in the limited circumstance where motion counsel did nothing to represent the movant and the motion was summarily dismissed because of procedural shortcomings.
The case at bar was not dismissed because of procedural shortcomings and it cannot be said that motion counsel did nothing to represent movant. Counsel entered his appearance and Luster himself advised the court that counsel met with him in regard to the case. The record also reflects that counsel filed a Motion For Photocopy Of Transcript.
As pointed out by the majority, the mere fact that the Rule 29.15 motion was not amended does not automatically entitle appellant to relief. Guyton v. State, 752 S.W.2d 390, 392 (Mo.App.1988). Amendments are only required if they are necessary. Id. at 30.
Even if it is appropriate to consider the effectiveness of motion counsel in light of his failure to amend appellant’s pro se motion, there is no indication that counsel could or should have known of any ground not asserted in the motion. Absent such a showing there is no requirement of reversal of the motion court’s ruling. State v. Perez, 768 S.W.2d 224, 228 (Mo.App.1989).
Regardless of any difference of opinion over motion counsel’s shortcomings, it has been clearly, concisely and unequivocally held by the Missouri Supreme Court that a post-conviction proceeding cannot be used as a conduit to challenge the effectiveness of counsel in the post-conviction proceeding. Young v. State, 770 S.W.2d 243, 245 (Mo. banc 1989); Lingar v. State, 766 S.W.2d 640, 641 (Mo. banc 1989); cert. denied - U.S. -, 110 S.Ct. 258, 107 L.Ed.2d 207 (1989). The purpose of post-conviction proceedings is to challenge the validity of a conviction and sentence. Young v. State, 770 S.W.2d at 245.
Contrary to Young and Lingar, the majority analyzes motion counsel’s effectiveness, sua sponte, and concludes, partially relying on letters of complaint by Luster which are not evidence, that motion counsel was ineffective. Such an analysis is contrary to the law.
*110Luster has not shown that his conviction and sentence were invalid and the denial of his Rule 29.15 motion should be affirmed.