State v. Seely, Unpublished Decision (12-6-2001)
State v. Seely, Unpublished Decision (12-6-2001)
Opinion of the Court
Appellant timely filed a notice of appeal and the trial court appointed the Office of the Ohio Public Defender to represent him on appeal. On October 8, 2001, Attorney Craig Jaquith submitted a brief pursuant toAnders v. California (1967),
This court must now determine whether Attorney Jaquith's request to withdraw should be granted and whether to dismiss the instant appeal as wholly frivolous. In Anders, the United States Supreme Court established five criteria which must be met before a motion to withdraw may be granted:
(1) A showing appellant's counsel thoroughly reviewed the transcript and record in the case before determining the appeal to be frivolous.
(2) A showing a motion to withdraw has been filed by appellant's counsel.
(3) The existence of a brief filed by appellant's counsel raising any potential assignments of error.
(4) A showing appellant's counsel provided to the appellant a copy of said brief.
(5) A showing appellant's counsel provided appellant adequate opportunity to file a pro se brief raising any additional assignments of error appellant believes the appellate court should address. Id. at 744.
Upon a finding these criteria have been met, Anders explains:
* * * the court-not counsel-proceeds, after full examination of all the proceedings, to decide whether the case is wholly frivolous. If it so finds it may grant counsel's request to withdraw and dismiss the appeal insofar as federal requirements are concerned, or proceed to a decision on the merits, if state law so requires. On the other hand, if it finds any of the legal points arguable on the merits (and therefore not frivolous) it must, prior to decision, afford the indigent the assistance of counsel to argue the appeal. Id.
We find the criteria established by the United States Supreme Court, inAnders, have been met. First, Attorney Jaquith represents to this court, through his "Motion to Withdraw", that he made a thorough review of the case and legal research; therefore, satisfying the first criteria. Next, Attorney Jaquith filed a "Motion to Withdraw" and "Merit Brief of Appellant, Jack F. Seely" on October 8, 2001, which satisfies the second and third criteria. Further, the Certificate of Service indicates that appellant was served a copy of the motion by regular U.S. Mail, which satisfies the fourth criteria. Finally, appellant was provided with an opportunity to file a brief pro se; thereby, satisfying the fifth criteria.
After a full examination of all the proceedings, we further find this case is wholly frivolous. The record is devoid of any legal points arguable on the merits. Further, appellant did not file a brief pro se raising any assignments of error to support this appeal.
Accordingly, Attorney Jaquith's "Motion to Withdraw" is granted and the appeal is dismissed.
JUDGMENT ENTRY
For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, this appeal is dismissed.
Pursuant to App.R. 24(A)(2), appellant shall pay costs in this matter.
Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P. J. Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J. Hon. John W. Wise, J. concur.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.