State v. Nathaniel Ford

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
NATHANIEL FORD, )
)
Petitioner, ) C. C. A. NO. 02C01-9706-CC-00215
)
vs. ) LAUDERDALE COUNTY
)
STATE OF TENNESSEE, ) No. 4937
)
Respondent. )
ORDER
This matter is before the Court upon the state’s motion, pursuant to Rule
20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals, to affirm the judgment of the trial court in
this case by order rather than formal opinion. The above-captioned case represents an
appeal from the trial court’s dismissal of the petitioner’s petition for writ of habeas
corpus. The record was filed on June 20, 1997, and the petitioner filed his brief on
June 25, 1997. The petitioner is currently serving a life sentence, having been declared
a habitual criminal, pursuant to T.C.A. § 39-1-806 (repealed 1989), in 1987. The
petitioner contends that his sentence and conviction are now void because the statute
under which he received his life sentence no longer exists.
Having reviewed the state’s motion in light of the petitioner’s brief and the
record as a whole, we conclude that the motion is well-taken and should be granted. In
dismissing the petition, the trial court found that the petitioner had failed to show upon
the face of the judgment or the record of the proceedings upon which the judgment was
rendered that the convicting court was without jurisdiction or authority to sentence the
petitioner or that the petitioner’s sentence of imprisonment or other restraint has
expired. See State v. Archer, 851 S.W.2d 157 (Tenn. 1993).
We agree with the trial court’s ruling. The convicting court in this case
had jurisdiction over both the subject matter and person, and nothing in the record
before us demonstrates that the convicting court’s actions were unauthorized. Nor has
the petitioner shown that his sentence has expired. Contrary to the petitioner's
argument, the Tennessee Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1989, which repealed the
habitual criminal statute, specifically states that "[t]his act shall not affect rights and
duties matured, penalties that were incurred, or proceedings that were begun before its
effective date." 1989 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 591, § 115. Moreover, the habitual criminal
statute has repeatedly been declared constitutional by the courts of this state. See e.g.
Pearson v. State, 521 S.W.2d 225 (Tenn. 1975); State v. Kilby, 763 S.W.2d 389, 393-
94 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1988). Therefore, since the petitioner is not challenging the
appropriateness of his sentence at the time it was imposed, his present claim must fail.
See State v. Russell, 866 S.W.2d 578, 581-82 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991).
Accordingly, we cannot find any error on the part of the trial court in
dismissing the petition. It is therefore ORDERED that the state’s motion is granted.
Pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals, we affirm the trial court’s dismissal of
the petitioner’s petition for writ of habeas corpus.
Enter, this the ___ day of August, 1997.
______________________________
PAUL G. SUMMERS, JUDGE
______________________________
JOE B. JONES, PRESIDING JUDGE
______________________________
DAVID G. HAYES, JUDGE
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