Nos. 120/159, 2002 (Consolidated).Supreme Court of Delaware.Submitted: April 29, 2003.
Decided: May 20, 2003.
Court Below-Superior Court of the State of Delaware, in and for Sussex County Cr. A. Nos. 98-11-0579 through -0581 Cr. ID No. 9809013934
Appeal dismissed.
Unpublished opinion is below.
RONALD E. PROCTOR, JR., Defendant Below, Appellant, v. STATE OF DELAWARE, Plaintiff Below, Appellee. Nos. 120/159, 2002 (Consolidated). Supreme Court of Delaware. Submitted: April 29, 2003. Decided: May 20, 2003.
Before VEASEY, Chief Justice, BERGER and STEELE, Justices.
Myron T. Steele, Justice:
ORDER
This 20th day of May 2003, it appears to the Court that:
(1) On April 16, 2003, the Clerk of the Court issued a notice to the appellant Ronald Proctor to show cause why these consolidated appeals should not be dismissed, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 29(b), for his failure to diligently prosecute the appeals by not filing his opening brief and appendix. Proctor filed a response to the notice to show cause on April 29, 2003.
(2) In his response, Proctor complains of retaliatory treatment within the prison and lack of access to requested materials. Proctor’s response also includes a request for the appointment of counsel. Proctor had counsel when his appeal was filed. At Proctor’s request, his appointed counsel was dismissed. This Court granted Proctor’s petition to represent himself on October 1, 2002 with Proctor’s full knowledge of the hazards of self-representation.
(3) Because Proctor knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to the assistance of counsel, it was his duty to diligently prosecute these consolidated appeals. Proctor’s brief and appendix have not been filed as required by Supreme Court Rule 15; therefore, this Court is unable to conduct a meaningful review. In light of Proctor’s failure to diligently prosecute the appeals by not filing his opening brief and appendix, the dismissal of this action is appropriate pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 29(b).
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 29(b), that the consolidated appeals are DISMISSED.