N.D.R.App.P.
RULE 24. APPEALS BY INDIGENT DEFENDANTS
(a) Withdrawal by Counsel When Appeal Without Merit.
(1) In General. If, after filing notice of appeal, counsel representing an indigent defendant can find no basis for a good faith argument on appeal, counsel should file a motion to withdraw as counsel for the indigent. The motion must:
(A) identify the issues that could be argued if they had merit and,
(B) without argument, include references to the record and citations of authority relevant to the issues.
(2) Response to Motion. The appellee must file an answer to the motion within 30 days after the motion is served on the appellee.
(3) Service on Indigent Defendant. The motion, answer and the court's decision on the motion will be reproduced by the clerk and served on the appellee and the person represented by counsel seeking to withdraw. If the court grants the motion to withdraw, replacement counsel will not be appointed and the defendant must proceed with the appeal as a self-represented party.
(b) Disagreement Between Attorney and Indigent Defendant on Grounds for Review.
(1) Statement of additional grounds permitted. In a criminal case in which counsel representing an indigent defendant has identified a good faith argument on appeal and submitted a brief, the indigent defendant may file a statement of additional grounds for review to identify and discuss matters that the indigent defendant believes were not adequately addressed in the brief filed by counsel.
(2) Length and legibility The statement may not exceed 20 pages and may be handwritten so long as it is legible.
(3) Identification of Errors. Reference to the record and citation to authorities are not necessary or required, but the court will not consider an indigent defendant's statement of additional grounds for review if it does not inform the court of the nature and occurrence of alleged errors.
(4) Time for filing The statement of additional grounds for review must be filed within 30 days after service on the indigent appellant of the brief prepared by indigent appellant's counsel. The indigent defendant must serve all parties with the statement of additional grounds for review.
(5) Additional briefing The court may, in the exercise of its discretion, allow additional briefing to address issues raised in the indigent defendants statement.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Rule 24 was adopted, effective____________.
Sources: Joint Procedure Committee Minutes of _________; Wash.R.App.P. 10.10, 18.3.