7.  The applicant was born in 1970. 8.  On 25 September 2008 the Łódź Regional Court convicted the applicant of attempted murder and sentenced him to 9 years’ imprisonment. On 11 December 2008 the Łódź Court of Appeal quashed the first‑instance judgment and remitted the case. On 3 March 2009 the Łódź Regional Court found the applicant guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and sentenced him to 5 years’ imprisonment. The applicant’s lawyer appealed. By a judgment of 4 June 2009 the Łódź Court of Appeal upheld the first‑instance judgment. 9.  Throughout the judicial proceeding the applicant was represented by a legal­aid lawyer. 10.  By a letter of 3 August 2009 the lawyer informed the court that he had not found any grounds on which to prepare a cassation appeal. 11.  By a letter of 7 August 2009 the court forwarded the lawyer’s statement to the applicant. The letter read as follows:
 “The Registry of the Łódź Court of Appeal forwards [...] a copy of a statement of your legal-aid lawyer, advocate Mr P.K., submitted in accordance with Article 84 § 3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, for your information.” 12.  The letter as well as the opinion were served on the applicant on 12 August 2009.