Taylor Ernest Davis v. State ( 2018 )


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  • Court of Appeals
    of the State of Georgia
    ATLANTA,____________________
    September 18, 2018
    The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:
    A19A0278. TAYLOR ERNEST DAVIS v. THE STATE.
    On May 10, 2017, Taylor Davis was convicted of driving under the influence
    and two controlled-substance offenses. Davis filed a timely motion for a new trial,
    which he subsequently withdrew. On October 2, 2017, he filed a notice of appeal.
    We lack jurisdiction.
    A notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days of the judgment being
    appealed. OCGA § 5-6-38 (a). The proper and timely filing of a notice of appeal is
    an absolute requirement to confer jurisdiction on this Court. Rowland v. State, 
    264 Ga. 872
    , 872 (1) (452 SE2d 756) (1995). A timely filed motion for a new trial
    extends the deadline for filing a notice of appeal until 30 days after the trial court
    disposes of the motion. OCGA § 5-6-38 (a). Absent a court order resolving the
    motion, however, the deadline for filing a notice of appeal is not extended. Rather,
    “OCGA § 5-6-38 requires a trial court order granting, denying, or otherwise finally
    disposing of” a motion for a new trial to extend the time for filing a notice of appeal
    more than 30 days after entry of judgment. Heard v. State, 
    274 Ga. 196
    , 197 (1) (552
    SE2d 818) (2001). A unilaterally withdrawn motion for a new trial, standing alone,
    does not extend the deadline for filing an appeal. See 
    id.
    In this case, Davis voluntarily withdrew his motion for a new trial. The trial
    court neither ruled on the motion nor granted him permission to withdraw it. The
    deadline for filing his direct appeal, therefore, was not extended, and his notice of
    appeal was untimely filed 145 days after the trial court entered his judgment of
    conviction. See Heard, 
    274 Ga. at 197
     (1); see also Simmons v. State, 
    276 Ga. 525
    ,
    525, n. 1 (579 SE2d 735) (2003). Accordingly, we have no authority to consider
    Davis’s appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction.
    Because Davis was represented by counsel before the trial court, he is informed
    of the following in accordance with Rowland, 
    264 Ga. at 875-876
     (2): This appeal has
    been dismissed because you failed to file a proper and timely notice of appeal. If you
    still wish to appeal, you may petition the trial court for leave to file an out-of-time
    appeal. If the trial court grants your request, you will have 30 days from the entry of
    that order to file a notice of appeal referencing your conviction. If the trial court
    denies your request, you will have 30 days from the entry of that order to file a notice
    of appeal referencing the denial of your request for an out-of-time appeal.
    The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to send a copy of this order to Davis and to
    his attorney, and the latter also is DIRECTED to send a copy to Davis.
    Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
    Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________
    09/18/2018
    I certify that the above is a true extract from
    the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia.
    Witness my signature and the seal of said court
    hereto affixed the day and year last above written.
    , Clerk.
    

Document Info

Docket Number: A19A0278

Filed Date: 9/26/2018

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 9/26/2018