Scot Eugene Gaither v. Kentucky Court of Appeals

       IMPO-RTANTNOTICE
      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OPINION




THIS OPINION IS DESIGNA TED "NOT TO BE
PUBLISHED. " PURSUANT TO THE RULES OF
CIVIL PROCEDURE PROMUL GA TED BY THE
SUPREME COURT, CR 76.28 (4) (c), THIS OPINION
IS NOT TO BE PUBLISHED AND SHALL NOT BE
CITED OR USED AS A UTHORITY INANY OTHER
CASE IN ANY CO UR T OF THIS STA TE.
                                                       RENDERED : FEBRUARY 23, 2006
                                                              NOT TO BE PUBLISHED



             6*UyrrMr Courf of
                                   2005-SC-000910-OA

SCOT EUGENE GAITHER                                                    PETITIONER


vs .                   ORIGINAL ACTION IN SUPREME COURT


KENTUCKY COURT OF APPEALS, ET AL                                     RESPONDENT


                       MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT

                                         DENYING

       The Petitioner, Scot Eugene Gaither, petitions this Court, pro se, for a Writ of

Mandamus requiring the Kentucky Court of Appeals to p!ace on its docket an appeal

from a ruling by the Daviess Circuit Court denying his CR 10 .06 motion. Gaither argues

that his timely Notice of Appeal and corresponding documentation were sent to the

Daviess Circuit Court, but was not filed until nearly 30 days past the time for appeal .

       The Petitioner twice attempted to file a "brief' supporting his appeal of the ruling

with this Court ; both times he was advised by the Clerk of the Kentucky Supreme Court

that no appeal, other than the direct appeal of his conviction, had been filed with the

court. He then attempted to file the same documentation with the Kentucky Court of

Appeals and was likewise advised, by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals, that no appeal ,

had been filed there . The Clerk of the Court of Appeals further advised the Petitioner

that, because the notice of appeal was untimely filed with the Daviess Circuit Clerk, it

had not been formally filed and thus had not been transferred to the Court of Appeals
for initiation of an appeal from the Daviess Circuit Court order. The Petitioner argues

that he has no other remedy at law, or in equity, in which to protect his "jural rights" on

the RCr 10.06 action and appeal, other than seeking mandamus for the "procedural

non-compliance" on the part of the Respondent .

       In response to the petition, it is the Kentucky Court of Appeals' position that the

notice of appeal of the ruling was not properly filed and that Petitioner has never sought

leave to file a belated notice of appeal ; and, as such, there is no proper action to place

on the docket of either appellate court.

             A writ of mandamus is an exceptional remedy that is granted
             only under the most extraordinary circumstances . The decision
             as to whether to issue a writ is always discretionary. The
              petition may be granted upon a showing : (1) that the lower
             court is proceeding or is about to proceed outside its jurisdiction
             and that there is no remedy through an application to an
              intermediate court; or (2) that the lower court is acting or is
             about to act erroneously (albeit within its jurisdiction), that there
             exists no adequate remedy by appeal or otherwise, and that
             great injustice and irreparable injury will result if the petition is
             not granted.
Horn v. Wheeler, --- S.W.3d ----, 2005, WL 3244959, *1 (Ky.App .2005)
(citations omitted) .

       Petitioner has not satisfied the requirements for a Writ of Mandamus and, as

such, we hereby deny his Petition.

       All concur .
COUNSEL FOR PETITIONER :

Scot E. Gaither, Petitioner
KSP #175293 P .O. Box 5128
Eddyville, KY 42038


COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT :

Gregory D . Stumbo
Attorney General of Kentucky
Office of the Attorney General
1024 Capital Center Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601

Hon. George E. Fowler, Jr.
Chief Staff Attorney
Kentucky Court of Appeals
360 Democrat Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601

Hon . Thomas O' Castlen
100 E. 2"d St.
Owensboro, KY 42303

Susan Tierney
100 E. 2"d St.
Owensboro, KY 42303