State v. James Marion

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee
• Decided: May 16, 1997
• Docket: 02C01-9605-CR-00158
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE

AT JACKSON

MARCH 1997 SESSION FILED May 16, 1997 JAMES MARION, ) ) Cecil Crowson, Jr. APPELLANT, ) Appellate C ourt Clerk ) No. 02-C-01-9605-CR-00158 ) ) Shelby County v. ) ) Joseph B. Dailey, Judge ) ) (Post-Conviction Relief) STATE OF TENNESSEE, ) ) APPELLEE. )

FOR THE APPELLANT: FOR THE APPELLEE:

C. Anne Tipton John Knox Walkup Attorney at Law Attorney General & Reporter 140 North Third Street 500 Charlotte Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 Nashville, TN 37243-0497

Ellen H. Pollack Assistant Attorney General 450 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37243-0493

William L. Gibbons District Attorney General 201 Poplar Avenue, Suite 3-01 Memphis, TN 38103

James M. Lammey Assistant District Attorney General 201 Poplar Avenue, Suite 3-01 Memphis, TN 38103

OPINION FILED:___________________________________

AFFIRMED IN PART AND REVERSED IN PART; JUDGMENT VACATED AND REINSTATED

Joe B. Jones, Presiding Judge OPINION

The appellant, James Marion1 (petitioner), appeals as of right from a judgment of

the trial court denying his suit for post-conviction relief following an evidentiary hearing. In

this Court, he contends the evidence establishes he was denied his constitutional right to

the effective assistance of counsel.

Two people testified at the evidentiary hearing, the petitioner and the attorney who

represented him in the trial court and in the appellate court. Their respective testimony

conflicts as to every material fact save one, and the conflicts in the testimony cannot be

reconciled. Therefore, the evidence contained in the record does not preponderate against

the findings of fact made by the trial court regarding the representation in the trial court and

this Court.

The petitioner testified his attorney never notified him of what occurred in this Court.

Counsel testified he did not know whether or not he notified the petitioner of the decision

of this Court. The record of the direct appeal reveals that counsel did not seek to withdraw

as counsel pursuant to Rule 14, Tennessee Supreme Court Rules. He sought an

extension of time to file an application for permission to appeal, but the Supreme Court

denied the motion because it was not timely filed. No application for permission to appeal

was filed on behalf of the petitioner.

The trial court did not address this specific issue in its findings of fact. It was raised

by the petitioner and there is proof in the record concerning this issue. Based upon a

review of this record and the record of the direct appeal, it is crystal clear the petitioner was

denied his right to file an application for permission to appeal in the Supreme Court

pursuant to Rule 11, Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure.

The judgment of this Court entered in State v. James E. Marion, Shelby County No.

02-C-1-9406-CR-00126 (Tenn. Crim. App., Jackson, December 14, 1994) is hereby

1 It is the policy of this Court to use the name used in the initial pleading filed in the cause. The petition was brought in the name of "James Marion." When testifying, the petitioner identified himself as "James Earl Marion." He was indicted and convicted as "James E. Marion." The petitioner has styled the case in this Court using the name of "James Earl Marion." All of these names refer to the same person.

2 vacated and the judgment is reinstated effective on the date the judgment is entered in this

case. This will permit the petitioner to prepare and file an application for permission to

appeal.

________________________________________ JOE B. JONES, PRESIDING JUDGE

CONCUR:

______________________________________ GARY R. WADE, JUDGE

______________________________________ CURWOOD WITT, JUDGE