People v. Richardson

159 Misc. 2d 167, 603 N.Y.S.2d 700, 1993 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 425
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 20, 1993
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 159 Misc. 2d 167 (People v. Richardson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Richardson, 159 Misc. 2d 167, 603 N.Y.S.2d 700, 1993 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 425 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1993).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

William F. Mastro, J.

Defendant moves to vacate the conviction on various grounds. Defendant also requests the court appoint counsel on this motion because she lacks funds and is unable to obtain an attorney who will volunteer to assist her. Before addressing the merits, the court addresses assignment of counsel.

The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution as [168]*168applied to the States through the Fourteenth Amendment mandates that States provide indigent defendants with counsel at trial (Gideon v Wainwright, 372 US 335). The Federal Constitution also mandates that States appoint counsel to poor persons for the first appeal as of right (Douglas v California, 372 US 353). However, the Federal Constitution does not require States to appoint an attorney to an indigent individual in discretionary appeals or after the initial appeal (Ross v Moffitt, 417 US 600). The Federal Constitution also does not mandate that States appoint counsel to indigent defendants in collateral proceedings (Pennsylvania v Finley, 481 US 551).

Since CPL 440.10 is a collateral proceeding the Federal Constitution does not mandate that the court assign counsel to defendant (Pennsylvania v Finley, supra).

While the Federal Constitution does not mandate appointment of counsel to indigents, States are free to interpret their own constitutional provisions differently (see, People v Settles, 46 NY2d 154).

Most States that have addressed the State Constitution issue have held that there exists no State constitutional right to counsel in a postconviction motion to vacate a judgment (Mayes v State, 563 So 2d 38, 39 [Ala]; Hertz v State, 755 P2d 406, 407-408 [Alaska]; Howard v Lockhart, 300 Ark 144, 777 SW2d 223; Lozada v Warden, 24 Conn App 723, 591 A2d 1272, 1273-1274, affd 223 Conn 834, 613 A2d 818; People v Demarest, 801 P2d 6, 7 [Colo]; State v Dickens, 602 A2d 95, 98, affd 577 A2d 752 [Del]; Doe v United States, 583 A2d 670, 672 [DC]; Rodriguez v State, 122 Idaho 20, 830 P2d 531, 533; People v Flores, 153 Ill 2d 264, 274, 606 NE2d 1078, 1084; Baum v State, 533 NE2d 1200, 1201 [Ind]; Fuhrmann v State, 433 NW2d 720, 722 [Iowa]; Commonwealth v Stamps, 672 SW2d 336, 339 [Ky]; Neal v State, 422 So 2d 747, 748 [Miss]; Rice v State, 779 SW2d 771, 774 [Mo]; Petition of Martin, 240 Mont 419, 420, 787 P2d 746, 747; State v Stewart, 242 Neb 712, 496 NW2d 524, 529; State v Crowder, 60 Ohio St 3d 151, 152, 573 NE2d 652, 653-654; Commonwealth v Perry, 386 Pa Super 534, 540, 563 A2d 511, 514; State v Garrard, 693 SW2d 921 [Tenn]; In re Chapman, 155 Vt 163, 581 A2d 1041, 1043). While not constitutionally mandated, a majority of these States have statutory authority or rules regarding appointment of counsel in postconviction motions instituted by indigent persons (see, cases above). Florida (Brevard County Bd. of County Commrs. v Moxley, 526 So 2d 1023, 1026) and California (People v Shipman, 62 Cal 2d 226, 232, 42 Cal Rptr 1, 5, 397 P2d 993, [169]*169997; contra, People v Fowler, 175 Cal App 2d 808, 346 P2d 792, 794, cert denied 363 US 849) appear (although it is somewhat unclear) to require under their State Constitutions the appointment of counsel to poor individuals on postconviction motions where the moving papers indicate that the motion is not "frivolous”.

New York does not appear to have addressed the State Constitution issue of the right of an indigent to counsel on a motion to vacate a judgment. In determining whether or not a State constitutional right differs from the Federal Constitution, courts examine "interpretive” and "noninterpretive” factors (see, People v P. J Video, 68 NY2d 296, 302-303, cert denied 497 US 1091). Interpretive factors focus on "differences in the text, structure, or historical underpinning” of the State and Federal Constitutions (People v Alvarez, 70 NY2d 375, 378). Noninterpretive factors include, but are not limited to, a perception of a sound policy and fairness, historical protections in New York, and whether the right is of local concern (supra, at 378-379). Balanced against these concerns are "practical considerations”, the need for uniformity and "bright line[s]” (supra, at 379).

A textual analysis of article I, § 6 of the New York Constitution indicates that "[i]n any trial in any court” (emphasis added) defendant has a right to "appear and defend” with counsel. The meaning of the word " 'trial’ ” in the State Constitution must be determined in light of the particular purpose of the particular right (People v Anderson, 16 NY2d 282, 288). For example, for the purpose of the New York State constitutional right to be present, the word trial includes suppression hearings (supra). In contrast, the New York State constitutional right to compulsory process at "trial” does not include suppression hearings (People v Chipp, 75 NY2d 327, cert denied 498 US 833).

Nonetheless, it appears that the trial "terminates” with a jury verdict (CPL 1.20 [11]), and a judgment is entered upon sentencing (CPL 1.20 [15]). It appears from a textual analysis that the New York State Constitution would not include postjudgment motions as part of the "trial”.

Historically, New York’s right to counsel has developed independent of the Federal Constitution (see, People v Hobson, 39 NY2d 479). The right to counsel in New York antedates the Federal right (People v Witenski, 15 NY2d 392, 396-397), and is much broader than the Federal equivalent (see, People v [170]*170Settles, 64 NY2d 154, supra; People v Samuels, 49 NY2d 218; People v Rogers, 48 NY2d 167).

Nonetheless, historically, the New York right to counsel has consistently not been extended to postconviction matters (see, e.g., People v Robles, 72 NY2d 689; Matter of Jose D., 66 NY2d 638; People v Colwell, 65 NY2d 883; People v Lucarano, 61 NY2d 138; People v Stoliker, 94 AD2d 854; cf., People v West, 81 NY2d 370). The postconviction matters where a right to counsel exists, such as appeals as of right, have their genesis in the Federal Constitution not the State Constitution (Douglas v California, 372 US 353, supra; see, People v Hughes, 15 NY2d 172; People v Wilson, 7 NY2d 568, both apparently overruled because of CPL 450.15).

There appears to be no historical basis for the appointment of counsel under the New York State Constitution in a post-judgment motion to vacate.

It appears necessary to balance the imposition of an additional financial burden on the State of providing free counsel against a movant’s statutorily authorized CPL article 440 motion, where appeals are provided for and there exists a presumption of regularity.

The court finds that the New York State Constitution does not mandate appointment of counsel on a postconviction motion.

While the Constitution does not require appointment of counsel for "poor persons”, the court must analyze New York statutes.

CPL 210.15 (2) (c) as is relevant states:

"2. The defendant has a right to the aid of counsel at the arraignment and at every subsequent stage of the action,

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
159 Misc. 2d 167, 603 N.Y.S.2d 700, 1993 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 425, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-richardson-nysupct-1993.