Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

No. 24-0050/AR. Rene D. Alfaro v. Judges of the CCA. CCA 20220282. Petitioner has filed a petition for extraordinary relief in the nature of a writ of mandamus and a writ of prohibition. He asks this Court to issue a writ of mandamus directing the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals to permit military appellate defense counsel to transmit sealed materials in the record of trial – with the exception of Item Y – to his civilian appellate defense counsel, who now lives in Israel. He also asks this Court to issue a writ of prohibition ordering the same court not to enforce Army Court of Criminal Appeals Rule 6.9 in any matter before that court.
 
This Court previously issued a writ of mandamus, except for Item Y, providing for access to the sealed materials. Alfaro v. Judges of United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals, No. 23-0258/AR (C.A.A.F. Oct. 24, 2023)(sum. disp.). Next, Petitioner moved the lower court for an order to copy and transmit the sealed items to his civilian counsel. CCA Motion for Leave to Transmit Sealed Materials of 22 Nov 2023. The lower court summarily denied the motion.
 
Petitioner subsequently submitted his most recent writ petition to this Court seeking enforcement of the writ of mandamus. This Court responded by issuing an order to the government to answer the petition and to show cause why a military appellate defense counsel has not been detailed to represent Petitioner. Alfaro v. Judges of United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals, No. 24-0050/AR (C.A.A.F. Dec. 18, 2023)(order).
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In response to that order, Respondent has filed an answer. On consideration of all pleadings of record, we note that military appellate defense counsel has been detailed to represent Petitioner before the lower court. We further note that technological means exist whereby the sealed materials may be securely transmitted or shared virtually with civilian appellate defense counsel.
 
Accordingly, it is ordered that the petition for a writ of mandamus is granted.
 
Without further delay, the lower court shall permit and facilitate the military counsel to securely transmit or virtually share the sealed materials – except for Item Y – with civilian counsel.
 
The petition for a writ of prohibition as to A.C.C.A. R. 6.9 is denied without prejudice to Petitioner's right to raise the matters asserted during the course of normal appellate review