Everett v. State

2017 ND 93, 892 N.W.2d 898, 2017 WL 1463944, 2017 N.D. LEXIS 106
CourtNorth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedApril 25, 2017
Docket20160160
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 2017 ND 93 (Everett v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Everett v. State, 2017 ND 93, 892 N.W.2d 898, 2017 WL 1463944, 2017 N.D. LEXIS 106 (N.D. 2017).

Opinion

McEvers, Justice.

[¶ 1] Tilmer Everett appeals from an order denying him leave of court for further filings entered after he moved for permission to file what he claims is newly discovered evidence and an application for post-conviction relief. Everett is subject to an injunctive order barring him from future filings without the district court’s approval. We conclude the order denying him leave of court is not an appealable order. We dismiss the appeal.

I

[¶ 2] In 2007 Everett was convicted of gross sexual imposition after a jury found him guilty, and this Court summarily affirmed his criminal judgment on appeal. State v. Everett, 2008 ND 126, 756 N.W.2d 344. Everett has since filed numerous post-conviction relief applications, which have been denied and upheld on appeal. See Everett v. State, 2016 ND 78, 877 N.W.2d 796; Everett v. State, 2015 ND 162, 870 N.W.2d 26; Everett v. State, 2012 ND 189, 821 N.W.2d 385; Everett v. State, 2011 ND 221, 806 N.W.2d 438; Everett v. State, 2010 ND 226, 795 N.W.2d 37; Everett v. State, 2010 ND 4, 789 N.W.2d 282; Everett v. State, 2008 ND 199, 757 N.W.2d 530; see also State v. Everett, 2014 ND 191, 858 N.W.2d 652.

[¶ 3] On August 6, 2015, the district court entered an order finding Everett’s filings repetitive, excessive, and cumbersome and barring Everett from future filings without leave of the court:

[H]e may not file any further motions or pleading in or related to his criminal action 08-06-K-1026 at the district court level, except after seeking and receiving approval of the presiding judge of the South Central Judicial District or her/ his designee to file a proper application under [N.D.C.C. §] 29-32.1-04 where Everett succinctly and concisely establishes an exception to the statute of limitation under [N.D.C.C. §] 29-32.1-01(3) and is not subject to summary disposition under [N.D.C.C. §] 29-32.1-09. The State is relieved from responding to any further motions or pleadings filed in District Court in these cases, unless the District Court reviews the motion or pleading, determines it has merit and, in writing, permits Everett’s filing and requests a response.

In Everett, 2016 ND 78, ¶¶ 1, 22-24, 877 N.W.2d 796, we affirmed the district court’s order, concluding the order did not violate Everett’s due process rights. 1

[¶4] On February 17, 2016, Everett moved the district court for permission to file newly discovered evidence and another post-conviction relief application claiming newly discovered evidence under N.D.C.C. § 29-32.1-01(3). In a March 2016 order, the court denied leave to allow the filings and dismissed the matter. The court explained:

Everett again alleges he was not provided information regarding a companion case, which led to the investigation leading to his conviction. The informa-
*900 tion was referenced in the trial of the matter. Everett has on multiple occasions alleged this information is new evidence. Everett on every occasion has failed to show the alleged new evidence would have any bearing on the case and each time his motions have been merit-less. The Court is not going to address this same information once again.
The Court has reviewed the new application and finds all of the alleged new allegations are meritless and Everett has previously brought these same matters before the Court in previous post-conviction applications.
The motion to file the matter is denied and the matter is dismissed.

II

[¶5] Everett argues the district court should have allowed him to file his alleged newly discovered evidence and held an evidentiary hearing on his post-conviction relief application. He contends the court violated his due process rights by failing to grant him a hearing. He also asserts the State intentionally and knowingly allowed a police detective to give false testimony at his trial and failed to disclose certain documents before trial.

[¶ 6] We first decide, however, whether Everett’s appeal from the district court’s order denying him leave for further filings is properly before us. This Court must have jurisdiction to consider the merits of an appeal. City of Grand Forks v. Lamb, 2005 ND 103, ¶ 5, 697 N.W.2d 362; Choice Fin. Grp. v. Schellpfeffer, 2005 ND 90, ¶ 6, 696 N.W.2d 504. “The right to appeal is jurisdictional, and we will consider the appealability of an order on our own initiative even if neither party questions the appealability.” Jordet v. Jordet, 2015 ND 73, ¶ 12, 861 N.W.2d 154; see also Lamb, at ¶ 5, State v. Steen, 2003 ND 116, ¶ 5, 665 N.W.2d 688; State v. Gwyther, 1999 ND 15, ¶ 17, 589 N.W.2d 575. Under N.D. Const, art. VI, § 6, “[a]ppeals shall be allowed from decisions of lower courts to the supreme court as may be provided by law.” We have consistently held the right to appeal in this state is “purely statutory” or is “solely” provided by statute. In re K.J., 2010 ND 46, ¶ 14, 779 N.W.2d 635; City of Grand Forks v. Riemers, 2008 ND 153, ¶ 5, 755 N.W.2d 99. “There is no federal or state constitutional right to an appeal.” Riemers, at ¶ 5; see also K.J., at ¶ 14,

[¶ 7] Since the right to appeal is governed by statute, without a statutory basis to hear an appeal, this Court does not have jurisdiction and must dismiss the appeal. Jordet, 2015 ND 73, ¶ 13, 861 N.W.2d 154; Mann v. N.D. Tax Comm’r, 2005 ND 36, ¶ 7, 692 N.W.2d 490. “Only judgments and decrees which constitute a final judgment of the rights of the parties to the action and orders enumerated by statute are appealable.” Jordet, ¶ 14 (citing Mann, at ¶8). We have also said that “[ajlthough ‘[statutes conferring the right to appeal must be liberally construed to maintain the right to appeal,’ the party appealing bears the burden of showing that the right to appeal comes within the language of a statute,” State v. Moore, 2003 ND 83, ¶ 4, 662 N.W.2d 263 (quoting State v. Peterson, 334 N.W.2d 483, 484 (N.D. 1983)),

[¶ 8] Here, the district court’s order denied Everett leave of court for further filings, essentially concluding Everett had failed to meet the conditions of the court’s order that barred him from filing any further motions or pleading “in or related to” his criminal case. We have said that “[p]ost-conviction relief proceedings are civil in nature.” Hamilton v. State, 2017 ND 54, ¶ 5, 890 N.W.2d 810. Under N.D.C.C. § 29-32.1-14, “[a] final judgment entered under this chapter [N.D.C.C. ch. *901 29-32.1, Uniform Postconviction Procedure Act] may be reviewed by the supreme court of this state upon appeal as provided by rule of the supreme court.” Everett’s present appeal is not from a final judgment under N.D.C.C. ch. 29-32.1, but is instead from the court’s order denying him permission under the court’s prior order barring further post-conviction relief filings relating to his criminal case.

[¶ 9] Section 28-27-02, N.D.C.C., generally provides what orders are reviewable on appeal in civil cases:

1. An order affecting a substantial right made in any action, when such order in effect determines the action and prevents a judgment from which an appeal might be taken;
2.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2017 ND 93, 892 N.W.2d 898, 2017 WL 1463944, 2017 N.D. LEXIS 106, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/everett-v-state-nd-2017.