
    Michael KAILING, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida, Respondent.
    No. 5D03-2887.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
    Oct. 24, 2003.
    Rehearing Denied Nov. 24, 2003.
    Michael Railing, Avon Park, pro se.
    No Appearance for Respondent.
   PALMER, J.

Michael Railing (defendant) petitions this court to issue a writ of habeas corpus for the purpose of allowing him to pursue a belated appeal, claiming ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. Concluding that his petition was timely filed under the mailbox rule, we grant the petition and defendant’s request for belated appeal.

Turning to the defendant’s substantive claim that he was denied effective assistance of appellate counsel on direct appeal, we affirm on the merits concluding that the defendant’s reliance upon Jozens v. State, 649 So.2d 322 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995) is misplaced.

Petition for belated appeal GRANTED, judgment and sentence AFFIRMED.

GRIFFIN and THOMPSON, JJ., concur.  