May 15, 2007 Letter from The North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence

The North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence
PO Box 52446, Shannon Plaza Station, Durham, NC 27717-2446
The Innocence Projects@ at the Law Schools of

Duke University, UNC-Chapel NCCU, and Elon University

May 15, 2007

Mr. Ronnie Kimble. #0628799
Nash Correctional P.O. Box 600
Nashville, NC 27856

Dear Mr. Kimble:

We have received your letter inquiring about the status of your case. We have received your completed questionnaires and legal materials. As you know, we are a volunteer organization with limited resources and a heavy case load. Our Center coordinates the Innocence Projects@ for the law schools named above, so you may send all correspondence directly to our address:

NC Center on Actual Innocence
P.O. Box 52446, Shannon Plaza Station
Durham, NC 27717-2446.

Although your transcripts are available online, we would still like to review a hard copy of your trial transcript. Please forward your trial transcripts to our office at the above address. All legal documents will be returned to you upon completion of our review.

We receive an enormous number of requests for assistance. In order to devote adequate resources to case review and investigation, it is necessary that we devote very little to correspondence. Please understand that we are not currently able to send regular updates. We will be in touch with you if we require additional information during your case review or when a decision has been made on your case.

In addition. you should be aware that our services are limited to investigating actual claims of innocence on behalf of inmates. Thank you for your patience.

Sincerely,

North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence
Cc: Ronnie and Edna Kimble

NOTE: The North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence (including all its affiliated innocence projects and individuals) reviews cases for the sole purpose of investigating claims of actual innocence. The Center does not act as legal counsel to any person whose case is being investigated, until and unless the Center, through its legal counsel or her designees, specifically agrees in writing to take on such representation.

July 6, 2004 Reply to request for transcripts

HATFIELD & HATFIELD ATTORNEYS AT LAW 219 W. WASHINGTON STREET GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA 27401 July 6, 2004 Mr. Ronnie Kimble #0628799 P. O. Box 600 Nashville, NC 27856 Dear Ronnie: Several months after your case was concluded I turned over all my files to you. I have no trial transcripts and I do not consider myself to be the proper person to request a transcript because that would be solely in the control of the court reporter who took down the information. Very truly yours,

/Signature/

John B. Hatfield, Jr.        JBHjr/ph

February 5, 2008 Motion for Preparation of Stenographic Transcript

Minor typographical and grammatical errors have been corrected, but remain in the image file.

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA              FILED                          

SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION                 2008 FEB-5  PM 4:50

COUNTY OF GUILFORD                          GUILFORD COUNTY, C.S.C.
FILE NOS; 97CRS23654;95380                    BY__________________
98CRS23485

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA}
RONNIE L. KIMBLE,
DEFENDANT

MOTION FOR PREPARATION
OF STENOGRAPHIC TRANSCRIPT

Now comes Ronnie L Kimble, defendant prose in the above captioned case, and respect moves the court for an order that a stenographic transcript of particular pages from hearings and trial of defendant be prepared.

In support of this motion, Defendant shows the court:

(1)

Defendant is seeking to have the court review the following convictions;

Date of Conviction : 0-2-1998

                           Presiding Judge :     Honorable Preston Cornelius

Plea :                        Not Guilty

                           Convicted of :         First Degree Murder; First Degree Arson:

Conspiracy To Commit Murder

                            Sentences : Life Without Parole; 55Months Minimum to 75 Months

(2)

Defendant lacks sufficient funds sufficient funds to have the missing pages from the verbatim Transcript prepared, as shown by the affidavit of In Forma Pauperis.

(3)

The missing and un-transcribed pages are necessary to resolve genuine issues of material facts that constitute good grounds for filing a post-conviction motion. The particular pages sought by this Court's Order are: particular pages sought by Court's Order are:

A.   The bond hearing held on June 2, 1997

B.    The voir dire jury selection

C.    Transcript Volume XIII, pages 2679-2709 and 2730

(these pages were missing when transcript was received).

D.   The in-camera conference discussion of Jury Charge.

Two non-profit organizations assisting in research and/or advice have requested complete transcripts in order to properly evaluate the case. Letters in support of these requests are attached herewith.

(4)

Attachments:

I. Letter from defense attorney John B. Hatfield

II. Letter from the North Carolina Center Actual Innocence

III. Letter from PWC Consulting

IV.    Letter to Marsha M. Garlick, Court Reporter

V.  Letter to Response from Marcia M. Galick, Court Reporter

Argument

In consideration of these circumstances, defendant submits that a transcript and copies of the missing pages should be prepared at state expense. Inspection of the actual verbatim record is appropriate and necessary.

It has been held that standard for determining whether an indigent is entitled to a transcript at State expense is

(1) Whether a transcript is necessary for preparation of an effective defense, and (2), whether there are alternative devices available to the defendant which are substantially equivalent to a transcript. STATE V. RANKIN, 306 N.C 712, 295 S.E.2D 416 (1982)

General statue # 15A-1026 requires that a verbatim record of all such proceedings be maintained and preserved. Furthermore, transcripts for indigents are an ordinary part of the budget of the Administrative Office of the Courts.

See, G.S. # 7A300(a)(7), (8), (9) and (11). These statues plainly establish a legislative policy in favor of allowing review of the verbatim record to ensure compliance with the various statutory and constitutional mandates. Such review can be realized only if a transcript is prepared. The legislative could not have intended that a verbatim record must be preserved, only for it to remain unavailable for inspection upon a reasonable request of a defendant or his counsel.

Although the right to post-conviction review beyond the direct appeal from a conviction is limited, the defendant has a constitutional right to petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus when he is held illegally as well as his statutory right to a Motion for Appropriate Relief.

G.S. # 15A-15a-1411: 7A-451(a)(3): Whenever an indigent is "entitled to counsel", it is the responsibility of the state to provide "the other necessary expense of representation. G. S. # 7A-450(b). Unless transcript preparation is ordered, defendant may be placed in the unfair position of having a legal entitlement to counsel and preparation of a transcript at the state expense, and yet be unable to show such legal entitlement simply because the verbatim transcript has not yet been completely prepared.

It will be impossible to fully evaluate the defendant's claims without the ability to review the complete verbatim transcript. The defendant could lose important legal rights by filing in complete or improperly drafted petitions or a Motion for Appropriate Relief. G. S. # 15A-1419. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to have a complete record prepared and the missing pages of the verbatim transcript supplied before any petition or motion for Appropriate Relief is completed and filed.

Wherefore. Defendant respectfully asks of the Court to Order that a verbatim transcript be prepared and that the missing pages of the already-transcribed volume be supplied to the defendant.

Respectfully submitted, This _____________ day of ________________2008

                                                                _________________________

                                                                  Ronnie L. Kimble, Prose

                                                                  P.O. Box 600

                                                                  Nashville, N.C. 278567

February 7, 2008 Acknowledgement of receipt of Motion for Stenographic Transcript

State Seal

State of North Carolina
General Court of Justice
CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT
GUILFORD COUNTY
PO BOX 3008
GREENSBORO, NC 27402-3008

February 7, 2008
Ronnie Lee Kimble #0628799
NASH CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
PO Box 600
Nashville NC 27856

RE: State of North Carolina v. Ronnie Lee Kimble
       97CRS 39580; 23654; 98CRS 23485

Dear Mr. Kimble:

This is to acknowledge receipt of your Motion for Stenographic Transcript and to advise you that it has been docketed in this office and a copy of this letter delivered to the District Attorney.

We are bringing this matter to the attention of a Resident Superior Court Judge for whatever action he/she deems proper.

Sincerely,

David L. Churchill
Clerk Superior Court
By:   /Signature/
Assistant Clerk, Criminal Superior Court Department
cc District Attorney

September 21, 2000 Superior Court reply to request for all documents, exhibits, & transcripts

/Sate Seal/

State of North Carolina

General Court of Justice

CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT

GUILFORD COUNTY                  

PO. BOX 3008

GREENSBORO, NC 27402-3008                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

September 21, 2000                                                                                                                                                               

Ronnie Lee Kimble

#0628799

ODOM CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE

Route 1, Box 36

Jackson NC 27845

RE: State v. Ronnie Lee Kimble

97CRS39580;23654

98CRS23485;23399

In reply to your letter dated September 8, 2000, requesting copies of documents on file, all exhibits and a transcript of all parts of the proceedings. These requests will need to be made by motions in order for a Resident Superior Court Judge to review and rule upon. You may send these motions to the Clerk of Superior Court, Guilford County, P O Box 3008, Greensboro NC 27402, Attention: Criminal Superior Court Department.

Sincerely,

/Signature/

CD. Dann

Assistant Clerk

Criminal Superior Court Department

November 8, 2000 Reply to Request for Case Files

HATFILED & HATFIELD

Attorneys At Law

219 W. Washington Street

Greensboro, North Carolina 27401

KATHRYN K. HATFIELD                                                                                                           TELEPHONE (336) 273-0589

JOHN B. HATFIELD. JR.                                                                                                           FAX (336) 273-9238

CYNTHIA A. HATFIELD

November 8, 2000

Mr. Ronnie Kimble, Jr.

N. C. Department Corrections

Dear Ronnie:

As per your request, I am turning over all of my files in your case to your father for delivery to you in the Department of Corrections.

                                                Best Wishes,

                                                 /Signature/

                                                 John B. Hatfield, Jr.

JBHjr/ph

June 10, 2004 Request for Missing Transcript Pages

Ronnie Kimble

#0628799

P.O. BOX 600

Nashville, NC 27856

June 10, 2004

RE:      State v. Ronnie Lee Kimble 97 CRS 39580; 23654

            98 CRS 23485; 23399

Mr. W. David Lloyd

Counselor at Law

101 South Eim Street

Suite 310

Greensboro, NC 27401

Dear Mr. Lloyd:

          I hope this letter finds you doing well. I'm in the process of working on my MAR. Consequently, thank you for your representation, I have a better understanding today, than I did years ago of the task that was before you. While researching my case I have discovered I am missing trial transcripts.

          In order to prepare my MAR , I need the missing trial transcript pages of the jury selection voir dire examination, and most important, the in-chambers conference to develop jury instructions. I am confident the jury selection and in-chambers conference was recorded. At this moment, I believe I have some very good arguments. Briefly, Crawford v. Washington has over ruled Ohio v. Roberts. This would be in my case, substantive change in the law. Moreover, the Supreme Court is ruling on retroactivity case now. Further, the in chambers conference I was excluded; with other issues I'm working on, there may be hope.

          I realize you are very busy, but will you please take the time to send me the missing transcript pages. I believe the in-chambers conference was held on Friday, August 28, 1998, because in volume XIII pages missing are: Tpp. 2679-2709.

          Thank you for your attention and consideration. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Ronnie Kimble