Zetino-Rivera v. USA

Filing 2

ORDER granting in part, denying in part, Motion to Vacate, Set Aside or Correct Sentence (2255); all petr's clms except his ineffective assistance of cnsl clm based on his atty's failure to file appeal are dismissed without prejudice; petr& #039;s crim jgmt is vacated due to atty's failure to file direct appeal; Clerk is directed to prepare new crim jgmt with same sentence and conditions; Clerk is directed to file a Notice of Appeal on petr's behalf.. Signed by Judge Richard Voorhees on 8/10/2007. (cbb)

Zetino-Rivera v. USA

Doc. 2

Case 5:07-cv-00085-RLV

Document 2

Filed 08/10/2007

Page 1 of 3

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA STATESVILLE DIVISION 5:07CV85-V 5:05CR30-2-V

JEREMIAS NATHAN ZETINO-RIVERA, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) v. ) ) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) ) Respondent. ) ____________________________________)

ORDER

THIS MATTER comes before the Court for an initial review of Petitioner's Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence, filed August 3, 2007. In his Motion to Vacate, Petitioner claims, among other things, that he specifically asked his counsel to file a direct appeal but that his counsel refused to file the requested appeal. More specifically, Petitioner states that even though he requested that an appeal be filed, his counsel "would not honor [his] request." (Mot. to Vac. p. 5). An attorney's failure to file a notice of appeal, when requested by his client to do so, is per se ineffective assistance of counsel. Prejudice to the defendant is presumed irrespective of the merits of the appeal. Evitts v. Lucey, 469 U.S. 387, 391-405 (1985); United States v. Peak, 992 F.2d 39 (4th Cir. 1993). Accordingly, on a showing that counsel was requested to appeal but failed to do so, the prescribed remedy is to vacate the original judgment and enter a new judgment from which an appeal can be taken. Peak, 992 F.2d at 42.

Dockets.Justia.com

Case 5:07-cv-00085-RLV

Document 2

Filed 08/10/2007

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Regardless of how Respondent responds to Petitioner's allegation, at a minimum a factual dispute will exist over whether or not Petitioner requested his counsel to file a direct appeal. Consequently, in accordance with this Court's practices, the Court will vacate the original judgment and direct the Clerk to enter a new judgment from which an appeal can be taken. THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. 2. Petitioner's Motion to Vacate is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part; All of Petitioner's claims except for his ineffective assistance of counsel claim based upon his attorney's failure to file an appeal are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE; Petitioner's criminal judgment is vacated due to his attorney's failure to file a direct appeal; The Clerk is directed to prepare a new criminal judgment with the same sentence and conditions; and The Clerk is directed to file a notice of appeal on Petitioner's behalf.

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Signed: August 10, 2007

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Case 5:07-cv-00085-RLV

Document 2

Filed 08/10/2007

Page 3 of 3

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