Scalf v. Singletary

Decision Date13 November 1991
Docket NumberNo. 91-02925,91-02925
Citation589 So.2d 986
Parties16 Fla. L. Weekly D2874 Danny J. SCALF, Petitioner, v. Harry K. SINGLETARY, Jr., Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections, Respondent.
CourtFlorida District Court of Appeals

Danny J. Scalf, pro se.

Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen., Tallahassee, and Davis G. Anderson, Jr., Asst. Atty. Gen., Tampa, for respondent.

PER CURIAM.

In this petition for writ of habeas corpus Danny Scalf seeks belated appellate review of a circuit court order denying, after evidentiary hearing, his motion for postconviction relief. The state does not contest the factual allegations contained in the petition, which indicate that neither Scalf nor his attorney received a copy of the court's order until the appeal time had expired. We write primarily to address the threshold question of our continuing jurisdiction in light of State v. District Court of Appeal, First District, 569 So.2d 439 (Fla.1990).

Prior to 1990 this court would have been the proper forum to grant relief whenever it could be demonstrated that the petitioner's appellate rights were thwarted by "state action" or by the omissions of defense counsel. Baggett v. Wainwright, 229 So.2d 239 (Fla.1970); State v. Meyer, 430 So.2d 440 (Fla.1983). However, such proceedings often provoked factual disputes which appellate courts are not well-equipped to resolve. In such cases we would often associate the circuit court to take testimony and make recommendations. This cumbersome procedure was abolished, at least in part, by First District, wherein the supreme court expressed a preference for Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850 for obtaining belated appellate review.

On its facts First District is confined to omissions of counsel. That is, while clearly overruling Meyer, the supreme court left open the question whether Baggett and State ex rel. Shevin v. District Court of Appeal, Third District, 316 So.2d 50 (Fla.1975), which authorizes belated appeal of 3.850 orders when the trial court fails to apprise the movant of his right to appeal, were similarly overruled to the extent they established rules of procedure. Because the supreme court did not explicitly overrule Baggett and Shevin, we believe that this court still has jurisdiction to entertain petitions for belated appeal except when the failure to appeal is attributable to counsel. See McMillian v. State, 573 So.2d 965 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991); Cox v. State, 583 So.2d 822 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991).

...

To continue reading

Request your trial
18 cases
  • Amendments to the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Florida
    • 22 Noviembre 1996
    ...... See Scalf v. Singletary, 589 So.2d 986 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991). Experience showed that filing in the appellate court was more efficient. This rule is intended to ......
  • AMEND. TO FLA. RULES OF APPELLATE PROC.
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Florida
    • 26 Diciembre 1996
    ...appeal was frustrated by ineffective assistance of trial counsel, id.; and habeas corpus for everything else. See Scalf v. Singletary, 589 So.2d 986 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991). Experience showed that filing in the appellate court was more efficient. This rule is intended to reinstate the procedure ......
  • AMEND. TO FLA. RULES OF APPELLATE PROC., SC00-718.
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Florida
    • 12 Octubre 2000
    ...appeal was frustrated by ineffective assistance of trial counsel, id.; and habeas corpus for everything else. See Scalf v. Singletary, 589 So.2d 986 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991). Experience showed that filing in the appellate court was more efficient. This rule is intended to reinstate the procedure ......
  • AMEND. TO FLA. RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE, SC02-270.
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Florida
    • 29 Agosto 2002
    ...appeal was frustrated by ineffective assistance of trial counsel, id.; and habeas corpus for everything else. See Scalf v. Singletary, 589 So.2d 986 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991). Experience showed that filing in the appellate court was more efficient. This rule is intended to reinstate the procedure ......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT