In re Galvan CA4/3 ( 2013 )

Filed 12/12/13 In re Galvan CA4/3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION THREE
In re JAVIER GALVAN G049103
on Habeas Corpus. (Super. Ct. No. 13CF0447)
OPINION
Original proceedings; petition for a writ of habeas corpus to file a timely
notice of appeal. Petition granted.
Michael Ian Garey for Petitioner.
Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, and Julie L. Garland, Assistant
Attorney General for Respondent.
* * *
THE COURT: *
Javier Galvan seeks relief from the failure to file a timely notice of appeal.
The petition is granted.
After pleading guilty in case number 13CF0447, Javier Galvan was
sentenced to 16 months. Although Galvan argued he was entitled to custody credits, he
received no custody credits at the time of the pronouncement of judgment. According to
trial counsel’s declaration, about three weeks after the sentencing hearing, he received a
letter from Galvan asking counsel to file a notice of appeal on his behalf regarding his
custody credits. According to counsel’s declaration, through inadvertence and clerical
error he failed to file a timely notice of appeal, but nonetheless prepared a late notice of
appeal to be filed in superior court. According to superior court, the late notice of appeal
was stamped “received” but not filed because it was received six days beyond the 60 day
deadline to file a timely notice of appeal. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.308.)
The principle of constructive filing of the notice of appeal should be
applied in situations where a criminal defendant requests trial counsel to file a notice of
appeal on his behalf and counsel fails to do so in accordance with the law. (In re Benoit
(1973) 10 Cal. 3d 72, 87-88.) This is because an attorney, who has advised his client that
he would file a notice of appeal, has a duty to file a proper notice of appeal, or tell the
client how to file it himself. In this case, trial counsel advised Galvan that he would file a
notice of appeal on his behalf. Galvan’s reasonable reliance on the promise of trial
counsel to file a timely notice of appeal entitles him to the relief requested.
The Attorney General does not oppose Galvan’s request for relief to file a
late notice of appeal without the issuance of an order to show cause. (People v. Romero
(1994) 8 Cal. 4th 728.)
* Before Rylaarsdam, Acting P. J., Fybel, J., and Ikola, J.
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The petition is granted. The Clerk of the Superior Court is directed to file
the notice of appeal that was stamped “received” but not filed on September 27. Further
proceedings, including the preparation of the record on appeal, are to be conducted
according to the applicable rules of court. In the interest of justice, the opinion in this
matter is deemed final as to this court forthwith.
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