NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 10-JAN-2025 07:56 AM Dkt. 52 SO
NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I
DEXTER J. SMITH, Petitioner-Appellant, v. STATE OF HAWAI‘I, Respondent-Appellee
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT (CASE NOS. 1PR161000009; 1PC121001834)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Leonard, Acting Chief Judge, Wadsworth and Guidry, JJ)
Self-represented Petitioner-Appellant Dexter J. Smith
(Smith) appeals from the "Order Denying Hawaiʻi Rules of Penal
Procedures [(HRPP)] Rule 47 Motion [(Rule 47 Motion)] and Motion
for Appointment of Counsel" (Order), entered on May 25, 2022 by
the Circuit Court of the First Circuit (circuit court).1
1 The Honorable Christine E. Kuriyama presided. NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
The Rule 47 Motion arose from Smith's conviction for
Kidnapping in violation of Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) §§ 707-
720(1)(d) and/or -720(1)(e) (Supp. 2012). Smith appealed from
his conviction, and this court affirmed. State v. Smith,
No. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX, 2015 WL 1070756 (Haw. App. Mar. 11, 2015)
(SDO).
On May 17, 2016, Smith filed his Petition to Vacate,
Set Aside, or Correct Judgment or to Release Petitioner from
Custody (Petition), asserting thirteen grounds in support of his
Petition. The circuit court dismissed the Petition, finding
"the allegations and arguments raised by [Smith] to be without
merit, patently frivolous, and without a trace of support either
in the record or from anything submitted by [Smith]." On
January 12, 2017, the circuit court entered a "Second Amended
Order Dismissing Amended Petition to Vacate, Set Aside, or
Correct Judgment or to Release Petitioner from Custody Without a
Hearing" (Petition Order). Smith appealed, arguing that
appellate counsel in his direct appeal provided ineffective
assistance by failing to argue prosecutorial misconduct, and
that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction.
Smith v. State, No. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX, 2019 WL 2482109, at *1
(Haw. App. June 14, 2019). This court affirmed. Id. at *4.
2 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
On November 29, 2021, Smith filed the Rule 47 Motion.
Smith contended that the circuit court abused its discretion in
dismissing the Petition, and in failing to explain its
reasoning. The State did not file a response. On May 25, 2022,
the circuit court denied the Rule 47 Motion, and ruled that,
pursuant to HRPP Rule 40(a)(3), Smith's claims had already been
ruled upon and/or waived.
This appeal followed. On appeal, Smith appears to
raise four points of error: (1) the circuit court erred in
denying the Rule 47 Motion before the State could file a
response; (2) it was plain error to deny the Rule 47 Motion
because Smith's claims are exempt from HRPP Rule 40(a)(3);
(3) the Order withdrew "potentially meritorious defenses against
any waiver" and the circuit court is the "extraordinary
circumstances" to justify Smith's failure to raise issues in the
Petition; and (4) the circuit court erred in denying the
Petition without entering findings of fact (FOF) and conclusions
of law (COL).
At the outset, we address the State's contention that
this court lacks jurisdiction because the Order is not
appealable. We disagree. The circuit court construed Smith's
Rule 47 Motion as a nonconforming HRPP Rule 40 petition, and
denied relief pursuant to HRPP Rule 40(a)(3). The circuit court 3 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
found that Smith had "already raised or failed to raise the
issues" in the Petition, and did not establish "extraordinary
circumstances justifying [his] failure to raise the issues."
Moreover, Smith's Rule 47 Motion states that it was made, in
relevant part, pursuant to HRPP Rule 40. Smith also
represented, in his reply brief, that the Rule 47 Motion is a
nonconforming HRPP Rule 40 petition, and that Rule 33 of the
Rules of the Circuit Courts of the State of Hawaiʻi allows for
the Rule 47 Motion to be interpreted under HRPP Rule 40. Thus,
this court construes Smith's appeal as being taken from an
appealable written order denying a nonconforming HRPP Rule 40
petition. See Grattafiori v. State, 79 Hawaiʻi 10, 13, 897 P.2d
937, 940 (1995) ("According to HRPP Rule 40(h), appeals from
proceedings for post-conviction relief may be made 'from a
judgment entered in the proceeding.'").
We therefore consider Smith's points of error in turn.
Upon careful review of the record, briefs, and relevant legal
authorities, and having given due consideration to the arguments
advanced and the issues raised by the parties, we resolve
Smith's points of error as follows:
(1) The circuit court did not err by entering the
Order without a response from the State. As explained supra,
the circuit court properly construed the Rule 47 Motion as a 4 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
nonconforming HRPP Rule 40 petition. HRPP Rule 40(d) states
that "the respondent may answer or otherwise plead, but the
court may require the State to answer at any time." (Emphasis
added.) Thus, a response from the State was not necessary.
(2) We review de novo Smith's contention that his
claims are exempt from HRPP Rule 40(a)(3), and are therefore not
waived, because his conviction was invalid and his sentence was
illegal. See Maddox v. State, 141 Hawaiʻi 196, 202, 407 P.3d
152, 158 (2017). As discussed infra, Smith's conviction was
valid, and his failure to raise the "[p]lain [e]rrors" in an
ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim resulted in a
waiver pursuant to HRPP Rule 40(a)(3).
(3) The Order and Petition Order did not withdraw
"potentially meritorious defenses against the waiver of the
issues" in the Rule 47 Motion. This court previously ruled upon
Smith's claim for ineffective assistance of appellate counsel,
and therefore, further relief is not available here. Smith,
2019 WL 2482109, at *3—4; see HRPP Rule 40(a)(3). And Smith has
not demonstrated the requisite "extraordinary circumstances" to
justify his failure to raise the claim in the Petition. See
HRPP Rule 40(a)(3).
The circuit court's denial of the Rule 47 Motion and
the Petition did not constitute "extraordinary circumstances." 5 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Smith contends that the circuit court's Petition Order denied
Smith "referral to another counsel pursuant to HRPP Rule 40(i),"2
thereby preventing him from filing a supplemental petition
pursuant to HRPP Rule 40(e) to raise the issues that were raised
in the Rule 47 Motion. Smith did not request counsel for the
Petition. The circuit court did not abuse its discretion in
these circumstances. See Lankford v. State, No. CAAP-19-
0000008, 2021 WL 1174584, at *1 (Haw. App. Mar. 29, 2021) (SDO)
(citing State v. Levi, 102 Hawaiʻi 282, 288, 75 P.3d 1173, 1179
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 10-JAN-2025 07:56 AM Dkt. 52 SO
NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I
DEXTER J. SMITH, Petitioner-Appellant, v. STATE OF HAWAI‘I, Respondent-Appellee
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT (CASE NOS. 1PR161000009; 1PC121001834)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Leonard, Acting Chief Judge, Wadsworth and Guidry, JJ)
Self-represented Petitioner-Appellant Dexter J. Smith
(Smith) appeals from the "Order Denying Hawaiʻi Rules of Penal
Procedures [(HRPP)] Rule 47 Motion [(Rule 47 Motion)] and Motion
for Appointment of Counsel" (Order), entered on May 25, 2022 by
the Circuit Court of the First Circuit (circuit court).1
1 The Honorable Christine E. Kuriyama presided. NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
The Rule 47 Motion arose from Smith's conviction for
Kidnapping in violation of Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) §§ 707-
720(1)(d) and/or -720(1)(e) (Supp. 2012). Smith appealed from
his conviction, and this court affirmed. State v. Smith,
No. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX, 2015 WL 1070756 (Haw. App. Mar. 11, 2015)
(SDO).
On May 17, 2016, Smith filed his Petition to Vacate,
Set Aside, or Correct Judgment or to Release Petitioner from
Custody (Petition), asserting thirteen grounds in support of his
Petition. The circuit court dismissed the Petition, finding
"the allegations and arguments raised by [Smith] to be without
merit, patently frivolous, and without a trace of support either
in the record or from anything submitted by [Smith]." On
January 12, 2017, the circuit court entered a "Second Amended
Order Dismissing Amended Petition to Vacate, Set Aside, or
Correct Judgment or to Release Petitioner from Custody Without a
Hearing" (Petition Order). Smith appealed, arguing that
appellate counsel in his direct appeal provided ineffective
assistance by failing to argue prosecutorial misconduct, and
that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction.
Smith v. State, No. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX, 2019 WL 2482109, at *1
(Haw. App. June 14, 2019). This court affirmed. Id. at *4.
2 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
On November 29, 2021, Smith filed the Rule 47 Motion.
Smith contended that the circuit court abused its discretion in
dismissing the Petition, and in failing to explain its
reasoning. The State did not file a response. On May 25, 2022,
the circuit court denied the Rule 47 Motion, and ruled that,
pursuant to HRPP Rule 40(a)(3), Smith's claims had already been
ruled upon and/or waived.
This appeal followed. On appeal, Smith appears to
raise four points of error: (1) the circuit court erred in
denying the Rule 47 Motion before the State could file a
response; (2) it was plain error to deny the Rule 47 Motion
because Smith's claims are exempt from HRPP Rule 40(a)(3);
(3) the Order withdrew "potentially meritorious defenses against
any waiver" and the circuit court is the "extraordinary
circumstances" to justify Smith's failure to raise issues in the
Petition; and (4) the circuit court erred in denying the
Petition without entering findings of fact (FOF) and conclusions
of law (COL).
At the outset, we address the State's contention that
this court lacks jurisdiction because the Order is not
appealable. We disagree. The circuit court construed Smith's
Rule 47 Motion as a nonconforming HRPP Rule 40 petition, and
denied relief pursuant to HRPP Rule 40(a)(3). The circuit court 3 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
found that Smith had "already raised or failed to raise the
issues" in the Petition, and did not establish "extraordinary
circumstances justifying [his] failure to raise the issues."
Moreover, Smith's Rule 47 Motion states that it was made, in
relevant part, pursuant to HRPP Rule 40. Smith also
represented, in his reply brief, that the Rule 47 Motion is a
nonconforming HRPP Rule 40 petition, and that Rule 33 of the
Rules of the Circuit Courts of the State of Hawaiʻi allows for
the Rule 47 Motion to be interpreted under HRPP Rule 40. Thus,
this court construes Smith's appeal as being taken from an
appealable written order denying a nonconforming HRPP Rule 40
petition. See Grattafiori v. State, 79 Hawaiʻi 10, 13, 897 P.2d
937, 940 (1995) ("According to HRPP Rule 40(h), appeals from
proceedings for post-conviction relief may be made 'from a
judgment entered in the proceeding.'").
We therefore consider Smith's points of error in turn.
Upon careful review of the record, briefs, and relevant legal
authorities, and having given due consideration to the arguments
advanced and the issues raised by the parties, we resolve
Smith's points of error as follows:
(1) The circuit court did not err by entering the
Order without a response from the State. As explained supra,
the circuit court properly construed the Rule 47 Motion as a 4 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
nonconforming HRPP Rule 40 petition. HRPP Rule 40(d) states
that "the respondent may answer or otherwise plead, but the
court may require the State to answer at any time." (Emphasis
added.) Thus, a response from the State was not necessary.
(2) We review de novo Smith's contention that his
claims are exempt from HRPP Rule 40(a)(3), and are therefore not
waived, because his conviction was invalid and his sentence was
illegal. See Maddox v. State, 141 Hawaiʻi 196, 202, 407 P.3d
152, 158 (2017). As discussed infra, Smith's conviction was
valid, and his failure to raise the "[p]lain [e]rrors" in an
ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim resulted in a
waiver pursuant to HRPP Rule 40(a)(3).
(3) The Order and Petition Order did not withdraw
"potentially meritorious defenses against the waiver of the
issues" in the Rule 47 Motion. This court previously ruled upon
Smith's claim for ineffective assistance of appellate counsel,
and therefore, further relief is not available here. Smith,
2019 WL 2482109, at *3—4; see HRPP Rule 40(a)(3). And Smith has
not demonstrated the requisite "extraordinary circumstances" to
justify his failure to raise the claim in the Petition. See
HRPP Rule 40(a)(3).
The circuit court's denial of the Rule 47 Motion and
the Petition did not constitute "extraordinary circumstances." 5 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Smith contends that the circuit court's Petition Order denied
Smith "referral to another counsel pursuant to HRPP Rule 40(i),"2
thereby preventing him from filing a supplemental petition
pursuant to HRPP Rule 40(e) to raise the issues that were raised
in the Rule 47 Motion. Smith did not request counsel for the
Petition. The circuit court did not abuse its discretion in
these circumstances. See Lankford v. State, No. CAAP-19-
0000008, 2021 WL 1174584, at *1 (Haw. App. Mar. 29, 2021) (SDO)
(citing State v. Levi, 102 Hawaiʻi 282, 288, 75 P.3d 1173, 1179
(2003)) (explaining that a court has discretion in appointing
counsel in post-conviction proceedings).
Moreover, the Hawaiʻi Rules of Professional Conduct,
which govern attorney conduct in Hawaiʻi, and Tagupa v. VIPDesk,
135 Hawaiʻi 468, 353 P.3d 1010 (2015), which relates to
attorneys' fees, do not apply here. There is no requirement
that the Petition must have been filed with "bad faith" or
"malicious intent" for the circuit court to conclude that it is
"patently frivolous." See HRPP Rule 40(i).
The purported lack of transcripts or access to the
"Rules of Evidence Manual" also do not constitute "extraordinary
2 HRPP Rule 40(i) provides that the court is not required to refer a petition to the public defender if the claim is "patently frivolous and without trace of support either in the record or from other evidence submitted by the petitioner." 6 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
circumstances." The courts are not required to provide
transcripts to Smith in this case, and it is Smith's burden, as
Appellant, to demonstrate error based on the record.
Bettencourt v. Bettencourt, 80 Hawaiʻi 225, 230, 909 P.2d 553,
558 (1995); State v. Murphy, 59 Haw. 1, 5 n.3, 575 P.2d 448, 452
n.3 (1978).
Finally, we note that the circuit court entered the
Order after Smith filed the Rule 47 Motion, which undercuts
Smith's assertion that the Order "withdrew potentially
meritorious defenses against the waiver of the issues in the
HRPP Rule 47 motion."
Smith fails to demonstrate the "extraordinary
circumstances" necessary to justify his failure to assert
ineffective assistance of counsel in the Petition. We
therefore determine that the issue was waived pursuant to HRPP
Rule 40(a)(3).
(4) The circuit court did not err in failing to enter
FOF and COL with the Order. HRPP Rule 40(g) requires the
circuit court to enter FOF and COL only if the circuit court
does not dismiss a petition as "patently frivolous." Domingo v.
State, 76 Hawaiʻi 237, 243, 873 P.2d 775, 781 (1994). Here, the
Amended Order states the Rule 47 Motion was "patently frivolous
7 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
and without a trace of support in the record." Thus, FOF and
COL were not necessary.
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the Order.
DATED: Honolulu, Hawai‘i, January 10, 2025.
On the briefs: /s/ Katherine G. Leonard Acting Chief Judge Dexter J. Smith, Self-represented /s/ Clyde J. Wadsworth Petitioner-Appellant. Associate Judge
Loren J. Thomas, /s/ Kimberly T. Guidry Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Associate Judge City and County of Honolulu, for Respondent-Appellee.