People v. Cortez
| Decision Date | 18 April 2018 |
| Docket Number | 2017–02563,Ind. No. 913–16 |
| Citation | 75 N.Y.S.3d 227,160 A.D.3d 891 |
| Parties | The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Carlos CORTEZ, appellant. |
| Court | New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division |
Laurette D. Mulry, Riverhead, N.Y. (Alfred J. Cicale of counsel), for appellant.
Timothy D. Sini, District Attorney, Riverhead, N.Y. (Glenn Green of counsel), for respondent.
MARK C. DILLON, J.P., SANDRA L. SGROI, SYLVIA O. HINDS–RADIX, VALERIE BRATHWAITE NELSON, ANGELA G. IANNACCI, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER ON MOTION
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Suffolk County (John J. Toomey, J.), rendered February 7, 2017, convicting him of driving while intoxicated as a felony and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree, upon his plea of guilty, and imposing sentence. Assigned counsel has submitted a brief in accordance with Anders v. California (386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 ), in which she moves for leave to withdraw as counsel for the appellant.
ORDERED that new counsel shall serve and file a brief on behalf of the appellant within 90 days 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 prior decision and order on motion of this Court dated April 17, 2017, the appellant was granted leave to prosecute the appeal as a poor person, with the appeal to be heard on the original papers (including a certified transcript of the proceedings)and on the briefs of the parties, who were directed to file nine copies of their respective briefs and to serve one copy on each other.
In reviewing an attorney's motion to be relieved pursuant to Anders v. California (386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 ), 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 A.D.3d 252, 255, 931 N.Y.S.2d 676, quoting Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 83, 109 S.Ct. 346, 102 L.Ed.2d 300 ). As this Court explained in Matter of Giovanni S. (Jasmin A.), "counsel must, at a minimum, draw the Court's attention to the relevant evidence, with specific references to the record; identify and assess the efficacy of any significant objections, applications, or motions; and identify possible issues for appeal, with reference to the facts of the case and relevant legal authority" ( id. at 258, 931 N.Y.S.2d 676 ).
Here, the brief submitted by the appellant's counsel pursuant to Anders v. California (386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 ) is deficient because it fails to analyze potential appellate issues with reference to the relevant legal authority or highlight facts in the record that might arguably support the appeal (see People v. Deprosperis, 126 A.D.3d 997, 998, 7 N.Y.S.3d 194 ; People v. Sedita, 113 A.D.3d 638, 639–640, 978 N.Y.S.2d 318 ; People v. McNair, 110 A.D.3d 742, 743, 971 N.Y.S.2d 889 ; Matter of Giovanni S. [Jasmin A.], 89 A.D.3d at 256, 931 N.Y.S.2d 676 ). Further, the brief fails to contain an adequate statement of facts, as it does not review, in any detail, the County Court's advisements to the appellant regarding the rights he was waiving, the...
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