Criminal Appeal

NOA Liberally Construed

In a dependency case last week, the Court of Appeal (Fifth Dist.) reaffirmed that notices of appeal are to be liberally construed. The Court specifically held that a notice of appeal from an order terminating parental rights would be liberally construed to also encompass an order denying a petition to modify (WI Code sec 388) an earlier order filed within the 60-day period preceding the NOA. In re Madison W., Cal.Ct.App. (Div. 5) F049851, filed Aug. 10, 2006.

NOA & Excusal Neglect/En Banc Argument. On June 24, the Ninth Circuit heard en banc argument in Pincay v. Andrews, 02-56577, which presents the question of "What constitutes excusable neglect under Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(5) for failure to file a timely notice of appeal?"

The panel: Mary M. Schroeder, Alex Kozinski, Pamela A. Rymer, Andrew J. Kleinfeld, Sidney R. Thomas, Barry G. Silverman, M.M. McKeown, Ronald M. Gould, Marsha S. Berzon, Johnnie B. Rawlinson, Consuelo M. Callahan.

Listen to the argument by clicking here (this link works at least for Windows Media Player).

Israel---the Country that Is---Files Late NOA; Appeal Dismissed. Espey v. State of Israel, no. A105941 (Cal.Ct.App. (1st Dist., Div. 2) Apr. 28, 2004.) (Unpublished.)