Opinion
No. 468, 2000.
Submitted: January 11, 2001.
Decided: January 19, 2001.
Court Below — Superior Court of the State of Delaware, in and for New Castle County, Cr.A. Nos. IN99-07-1279 and IN99-07-1281.
Before WALSH, HOLLAND, and BERGER, Justices.
ORDER
This 19th day of January 2001, upon consideration of the appellant's Supreme Court Rule 26(c) brief, his attorney's motion to withdraw, and the State's response thereto, it appears to the Court that:
(1) A Superior Court jury convicted the defendant-appellant, Jamie B. Fields, of carrying a concealed deadly weapon and resisting arrest. The Superior Court sentenced Fields to a total of three years in jail, to be suspended after six months for two and a half years of probation. This is Fields' direct appeal.
(2) Fields' counsel on appeal has filed a brief and a motion to withdraw pursuant to Rule 26(c). Fields' counsel asserts that, based upon a complete and careful examination of the record, there are no arguably appealable issues. By letter, Fields' attorney informed him of the provisions of Rule 26(c) and provided Fields with a copy of the motion to withdraw and the accompanying brief. Fields also was informed of his right to supplement his attorney's presentation. Fields has not raised any issues for this Court's consideration. The State has responded to the position taken by Fields' counsel and has moved to affirm the Superior Court's decision.
(3) The standard and scope of review applicable to the consideration of a motion to withdraw and an accompanying brief under Rule 26(c) is twofold: (a) this Court must be satisfied that defense counsel has made a conscientious examination of the record and the law for arguable claims; and (b) this Court must conduct its own review of the record and determine whether the appeal is so totally devoid of at least arguably appealable issues that it can be decided without an adversary presentation.
Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 83 (1988); McCoy v. Court of Appeals of Wisconsin, 486 U.S. 429, 442 (1988); Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744 (1967).
(4) This Court has reviewed the record carefully and has concluded that Fields' appeal is wholly without merit and devoid of any arguably appealable issue. We also are satisfied that Fields' counsel has made a conscientious effort to examine the record and the law and has properly determined that Fields could not raise a meritorious claim in this appeal.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the State's motion to affirm is GRANTED. The judgment of the Superior Court is AFFIRMED.
The motion to withdraw is moot.
BY THE COURT:
/s/ Randy J. Holland Justice