Dorman v. State

Summary

The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed Adrienne Dorman’s Superior Court convictions and sentences following her guilty pleas to aggravated menacing, possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child. The Court granted no relief after reviewing counsel’s motion to withdraw and Rule 26(c) brief, concluding that the appeal was wholly without merit and presented no arguably appealable issue.

Holdings

1. When reviewing a Rule 26(c) motion to withdraw and accompanying brief, the Delaware Supreme Court must determine both whether defense counsel conscientiously examined the record and law for arguable claims and whether the court's own review shows that the appeal is wholly devoid of any arguably appealable issue.
2. Dorman's appeal was wholly without merit and presented no arguably appealable issue; therefore, the Superior Court's judgment was affirmed.

Questions Presented

1. Whether appellate counsel satisfied the requirements of Delaware Supreme Court Rule 26(c) by conscientiously examining the record and law for arguably appealable issues.
2. Whether the appeal contained any arguably appealable issue requiring adversarial presentation.
3. Whether the Superior Court's judgment should be affirmed.

Disposition

affirmed