State v. Glover , 281 Ga. 633 ( 2007 )

641 S.E.2d 543 (2007)

The STATE
v.
GLOVER.

No. S06A1550.

Supreme Court of Georgia.

February 26, 2007.

Paul L. Howard Jr., Dist. Atty., Bettieanne C. Hart, Asst. Dist. Atty., for The State.

Sanford Allen Wallack, Sanford A. Wallack, P.C., Atlanta, for Glover.

SEARS, Chief Justice.

On November 9, 2005, the trial court, relying on OCGA § 5-6-48(c),^[1] dismissed the State's appeal of a February 2001 ruling that barred the trial of the appellee, Maurice Glover, on the ground that his constitutional right to a speedy trial had been violated.^[2] The State appeals from the order dismissing its appeal. We conclude, however, that an order dismissing an appeal is not an order that the State has a right to appeal under OCGA § 5-7-1. Although the State has a right to appeal from void orders, OCGA § 5-7-1(a)(5), the order dismissing the State's appeal, even if erroneous, is not void. A judgment "is not void so long as it was entered by a court of competent jurisdiction."^[3] For example, in Collins, this Court addressed an order of a trial court modifying a divorce judgment in a contempt proceeding. We held that, although the trial court did not have the authority to modify the divorce judgment in the contempt proceeding, the judgment was not void, but was erroneous, as it was entered by a court having competent jurisdiction to hear the dispute.^[4] In the present case, the dissent states that the trial court erroneously applied OCGA § 5-6-48(c). Even assuming the trial court erred, however, the order is not void as it was entered by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Because the State does not have right to appeal under § 5-7-1(a)(5) or under any other provision of § 5-7-1, the State's appeal is hereby dismissed.^[5]

Appeal dismissed.

All the Justices concur, except CARLEY and MELTON, JJ., who dissent.

CARLEY, Justice, dissenting.

The majority broadly holds that "an order dismissing an appeal is not an order that the State has a right to appeal under OCGA § 5-7-1. . . ." Under that statute, however, the State may appeal from any order, including a dismissal of its appeal, "where the court does not have jurisdiction or the order is otherwise void under the Constitution or laws of this state. . . ." OCGA § 5-7-1(a)(5). See also State v. Sumlin, 281 Ga. 183, 184(2), 637 S.E.2d 36 (2006). Even prior to the enactment of subsection (a)(5), the appellate courts of this state have held "that, ``(n)otwithstanding the provisions of OCGA § 5-7-1, the State may appeal directly an illegal judgment. [Cits.]' [Cit.]" Gibbins v. State, 229 Ga.App. 896, 902(8), 495 S.E.2d 46 (1997).

The trial court's dismissal of the State's appeal in this case is a prime example of an illegal or void order. As the majority recognizes, the trial court relied on OCGA § 5-6-48(c).

Those circumstances under which a trial court may properly dismiss an appeal are strictly limited. OCGA § 5-6-48(c) statutorily authorizes a trial court to dismiss an appeal only in those instances where the appellant caused an unreasonable, inexcusable delay in the filing of the transcript or where an unreasonable, inexcusable delay in the transmission of the record to the appellate court was caused by the failure of a party to pay costs or secure an affidavit of indigency.

Castleberry's Food Co. v. Smith, 205 Ga.App. 859, 860(1), 424 S.E.2d 33 (1992). See also Stone v. George F. Richardson, 169 Ga.App. 232, 233, 312 S.E.2d 339 (1983). However, the trial court did not base its dismissal of the State's appeal on either of these grounds. It did not find any delay in the filing of a transcript or any failure to pay costs. See Brumby v. State, 264 Ga. 215, 216(1), 443 S.E.2d 613 (1994) (failure to find whether delay in filing transcript was inexcusable or caused by defendant). Instead, the trial court based its order solely on "the State's unreasonable and inexcusable delay in causing the present case to be redocketed by the Supreme Court and/or in causing the transmission of any additional record (namely, [the trial] [c]ourt's Order appointing counsel . . . )[.]"

Thus, the trial court acted outside its statutory authority in dismissing the State's appeal. See Castleberry's Food Co. v. Smith, supra. "Neither of [the] situations [in OCGA § 5-6-48(c) having] occurred here . . ., [the trial court's] order of dismissal [is] absolutely void." Stone v. George F. Richardson, supra. See also Jonas v. Jonas, 280 Ga.App. 155, 157(1), 633 S.E.2d 544 (2006). The majority disapproves Stone in favor of certain cases which were governed by the Civil Practice Act and did not involve the dismissal of any appeal. Regardless of the accuracy of the majority's analysis with respect to civil cases not involving appeals, the applicable law here consists of precedent relating to the dismissal of appeals, such as Stone and Castleberry's, as well as the following statute governing criminal procedure: "The judgment of a court having no jurisdiction of the person or subject matter, or void for any other cause, is a mere nullity and may be so held in any court when it becomes material to the interest of the parties to consider it." OCGA § 17-9-4. (Emphasis supplied.) Because the trial court's order is illegal and void, it is the proper subject of a direct appeal by the State. OCGA § 5-7-1(a)(5). See also State v. Welch, 201 Ga.App. 803, 804-805, 413 S.E.2d 747 (1991). By making such illegal orders unreviewable, the majority permits trial courts to defeat the legislative intent in granting the State a limited right of appeal, and creates the potential for grave injustices. See State v. Morrell, 281 Ga. 152, 153(2), 635 S.E.2d 716 (2006). Accordingly, I dissent to the dismissal of this appeal.

I am authorized to state that Justice MELTON joins in this dissent.

NOTES

[1] Under OCGA § 5-6-48(c), a trial court may dismiss an appeal when a party causes an inexcusable and unreasonable delay in the filing of the transcript or when a party causes an unreasonable delay in the transmission of the record to the appellate court that was "inexcusable and was caused by the failure of the party to pay costs in the trial court."

[2] Glover was indicted in Fulton County Superior Court on April 8, 1997, for various crimes that allegedly were committed on February 25, 1994.

[3] See Smith v. Smith, 281 Ga. 204, 207, 636 S.E.2d 519 (2006); Collins v. Billow, 277 Ga. 604, 605, 592 S.E.2d 843 (2004).

[4] Collins, 277 Ga. at 605-606, 592 S.E.2d 843. In Stone v. George F. Richardson, Inc., 169 Ga. App. 232, 233, 312 S.E.2d 339 (1983), on which the dissent relies, the Court of Appeals did not address the difference between a void and an erroneous judgment. However, to the extent Stone can be read to hold that an erroneous judgment is void, it is hereby disapproved.

[5] See Glenn v. State, 271 Ga. 604, 604-605, 523 S.E.2d 13 (1999) (the State has a right of appeal in criminal cases only from the types of orders specified in OCGA § 5-7-1, and OCGA § 5-7-1 must be construed strictly against the State).