Opinion
No. 47A04-0103-PC-112.
July 23, 2001.
APPEAL FROM THE LAWRENCE SUPERIOR COURT, The Honorable RAYMOND L. KERN, Judge, Cause No. 47D01-9708-DF-553.
LLOYD D. JOHNSON, Carlisle, Indiana, APPELLANT PRO SE.
STEVE CARTER, Attorney General of Indiana, CHRISTOPHER L. LAFUSE, Deputy Attorney General, Indianapolis, Indiana, ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE.
OPINION
Appellant-defendant Lloyd D. Johnson appeals the trial court's denial of his motion to compel production of documents. Specifically, Johnson contends that the trial court improperly denied his motion because the trial judge was prejudiced against him.
FACTS
The facts most favorable to the judgment reveal that on October 4, 1999, the trial court sentenced Johnson to twenty years imprisonment for dealing in a schedule 1 controlled substance and twenty years imprisonment for conspiracy to deal in a schedule 1 controlled substance, to be served consecutively. On appeal, this court affirmed Johnson's conviction for dealing but reversed his conviction for conspiracy. See Johnson v. State, No. 47A01-9911-CR 384 (Ind.Ct.App. Oct. 27, 2000). On January 13, 2001, Johnson filed a motion to compel production of documents from his former appellate counsel in order to institute post-conviction proceedings. The trial court denied Johnson's motion on January 18, 2001. Johnson now appeals.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
We need not address Johnson's claims on the merits because he has failed to file an Appendix with his appellant's brief. Indiana Appellate Rule 49(A) mandates that "[t]he Appellant shall file its Appendix with its appellant's brief." Indiana Appellate Rule 50(B)(1) provides that the Appendix shall contain, among other things:
(a) the Clerk's record, including the chronological case summary;
(b) the portion of the Transcript that contains the rationale of the decision and any colloquy related thereto, if and to the extent the brief challenges any oral ruling or statement of the decision;
(c) a verification of accuracy by the attorney or unrepresented party filing the Appendix.
The documents contained in the Appendix are necessary for the appellee to prepare a responsive brief and to facilitate appellate review of the merits of the appellant's claim. Because Johnson has failed to comply with the appellate rules and file an Appendix with his brief, his appeal is dismissed.
BAILEY, J., and MATHIAS, J., concur.