People v. Emmett

CourtNew York Court of Appeals
Writing for the CourtFULD
Citation306 N.Y.S.2d 433,25 N.Y.2d 354,254 N.E.2d 744
Decision Date26 November 1969
Parties, 254 N.E.2d 744 The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Eli EMMETT, Appellant.

Page 433

306 N.Y.S.2d 433
25 N.Y.2d 354, 254 N.E.2d 744
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent,
v.
Eli EMMETT, Appellant.
Court of Appeals of New York.
Decided Nov. 26, 1969.

Page 434

Mattew Muraskin and James J. McDonough, Mineola, for appellant.

[25 N.Y.2d 355] William Cahn, Dist. Atty. (Henry P. DeVine, Mineola, of counsel), for respondent.

FULD, Chief Judge.

This appeal presents the question whether a defendant is effectively deprived of his right to an appeal where the Appellate Term has decided against him without allowing his attorney an opportunity to prepare and submit a brief.

Tried in the District Court of Nassau County by a judge without a jury, the defendant was found guilty of issuing a worthless check of some $51 and sentenced to 10 days in jail, execution being suspended. On appeal to the Appellate Term, the defendant, through his lawyer, sought a reversal on two grounds--first, that the evidence failed to establish his guilt and, second, that he had not intelligently waived his rights to counsel and to a trial by jury. 1 The Appellate Term, withholding [254 N.E.2d 745] final decision, remitted the case to the trial court for a hearing as to whether the defendant had 'understandingly, voluntarily and consciously' waived his rights.

At the hearing thus directed, the District Court Judge found, on the basis of ample evidence, that the defendant had, in fact, knowingly waived his jury trial right, as well as his right to counsel, and his 'report' to that effect was transmitted to the Appellate Term in June, 1968, where it was added to the record already before that court. The defendant applied for, and was granted, an order providing him with a free copy of the hearing [25 N.Y.2d 356] minutes. However, prior to counsel's receipt of those minutes, the Appellate Term issued an order affirming the judgment of conviction. The defendant's counsel immediately moved for reargument, vacatur of the order of affirmance and leave to file a brief; he averred that he had been misled by a court clerk into the belief that he had two weeks within which to submit a brief and that, lacking a copy of the minutes, he was not able to present his argument in support of his client's position. The Appellate Term denied the application and the defendant appeals from its affirmance of the conviction.

In arguing for an affirmance, the District Attorney does not deny that, as a general rule, an appellant has a right to file a brief in...

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17 practice notes
  • In the Matter of Giovanni S. (anonymous).Admin. For Children's Serv.
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court Appellate Division
    • November 1, 2011
    ...courts, no matter how conscientiously and carefully those judges read the records before them” [931 N.Y.S.2d 682] ( People v. Emmett, 25 N.Y.2d 354, 356, 306 N.Y.S.2d 433, 254 N.E.2d 744; see People v. Casiano, 67 N.Y.2d at 907, 501 N.Y.S.2d 808, 492 N.E.2d 1224; People v. Gonzalez, 47 N.Y.......
  • People v. Murray, 2017–08647
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court Appellate Division
    • February 13, 2019
    ...722 N.Y.S.2d 217, 744 N.E.2d 1153 ; People v. Gonzalez, 47 N.Y.2d 606, 610–611, 419 N.Y.S.2d 913, 393 N.E.2d 987 ; People v. Emmett, 25 N.Y.2d 354, 356–357, 306 N.Y.S.2d 433, 254 N.E.2d 744 ; People v. Saunders, 52 A.D.2d 833, 833–834, 384 N.Y.S.2d 161 ). When evaluating a record of crimina......
  • People v. Grimes, No. 103
    • United States
    • New York Court of Appeals
    • October 23, 2018
    ...appeal requires a review of the merits without defendant first demonstrating the merits of entertaining the appeal]; People v. Emmett , 25 N.Y.2d 354, 357, 306 N.Y.S.2d 433, 254 N.E.2d 744 [1969] [right to appeal includes opportunity for defendant to submit a brief]; People v. Gonzalez , 47......
  • People v. Arjune
    • United States
    • New York Court of Appeals
    • November 20, 2017
    ...defendant's options regarding an appeal."There is no substitute for the single-minded advocacy of appellate counsel" ( People v. Emmett, 25 N.Y.2d 354, 356, 306 N.Y.S.2d 433, 254 N.E.2d 744 [1969] [holding unacceptable an appellate tribunal reviewing a case without waiting for defense couns......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
17 cases
  • In the Matter of Giovanni S. (anonymous).Admin. For Children's Serv.
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court Appellate Division
    • November 1, 2011
    ...courts, no matter how conscientiously and carefully those judges read the records before them” [931 N.Y.S.2d 682] ( People v. Emmett, 25 N.Y.2d 354, 356, 306 N.Y.S.2d 433, 254 N.E.2d 744; see People v. Casiano, 67 N.Y.2d at 907, 501 N.Y.S.2d 808, 492 N.E.2d 1224; People v. Gonzalez, 47 N.Y.......
  • People v. Murray, 2017–08647
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court Appellate Division
    • February 13, 2019
    ...722 N.Y.S.2d 217, 744 N.E.2d 1153 ; People v. Gonzalez, 47 N.Y.2d 606, 610–611, 419 N.Y.S.2d 913, 393 N.E.2d 987 ; People v. Emmett, 25 N.Y.2d 354, 356–357, 306 N.Y.S.2d 433, 254 N.E.2d 744 ; People v. Saunders, 52 A.D.2d 833, 833–834, 384 N.Y.S.2d 161 ). When evaluating a record of crimina......
  • People v. Grimes, No. 103
    • United States
    • New York Court of Appeals
    • October 23, 2018
    ...appeal requires a review of the merits without defendant first demonstrating the merits of entertaining the appeal]; People v. Emmett , 25 N.Y.2d 354, 357, 306 N.Y.S.2d 433, 254 N.E.2d 744 [1969] [right to appeal includes opportunity for defendant to submit a brief]; People v. Gonzalez , 47......
  • People v. Arjune
    • United States
    • New York Court of Appeals
    • November 20, 2017
    ...defendant's options regarding an appeal."There is no substitute for the single-minded advocacy of appellate counsel" ( People v. Emmett, 25 N.Y.2d 354, 356, 306 N.Y.S.2d 433, 254 N.E.2d 744 [1969] [holding unacceptable an appellate tribunal reviewing a case without waiting for defense couns......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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