Case ID: nd_54/html/0047-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Pee. Curiam:.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA, Appellant, v. PASQUALE BURDO, Respondent.
    (209 N. W. 657.)
    Criminal law — defendant acquitted on an advised verdict — cash hail returned to him — state does not have right of appeal.
    Where, in a criminal prosecution for bootlegging, the trial court has advised a verdict and a verdict of acquittal is returned, cash bail delivered to the defendant, and he is discharged, it is held, following State v. Kelsey, 49 N. D. 148, that the state does not have a right of appeal.
    Opinion filed April 14, 1926.
    Criminal Law, 17 C. J. § 3318 p. 45 n. 74; § 3543 p. 203 n. 85.
    Note. — Right of state to appeal in criminal ease, see annotation in L.R.A.1915E, 1093; 8 R. C. L. 169; 2 R. C. L. Supp. 567.
    Appeal from the District Court of Ward County, Lowe, J.
    Appeal dismissed.
    
      George F. Shafer, Attorney General, Philip Elliot, Assistant Attorney General, and H. E. Johnson, State’s Attorney, for appellant.
    
      L. J. Falda, for respondent.
   Pee. Curiam:.

The state contends that the trial court erred in advising a verdict of not guilty and that from this' order an appeal may be taken, under subdivision 5 of § 10,993, Comp. Law's, 1913.'

The defendant contends, first, that an appeal does not lie; that the question is moot because a verdict of not guilty was returned by the jury,, citing State v. Kelsey, 49 N. D. 148, 190 N. W. 817; and, that, in any event, on the merits the court did not err in advising a verdict for the reason that, the state’s evidence conclusively and indisputably shows a case of entrapment.

The record in the case shows that a verdict of not guilty was returned ; that the defendant was discharged, and the cash bail which he deposited was returned to him.

This appeal is controlled by State v. Kelsey, supra. The two cases are not distinguishable on the facts, and that 'decision, therefore, is conclusive and the appeal must be dismissed.

We are asked by the state 'to' examine the rulings of the trial court pertaining to the question of entrapment. In the circumstances we deem it better to'let the láw on that subject be settled in a case where the issue is necessarily and properly before the court.. The records of this court, as well as matters which we may judicially notice, do not suggest that the question arises frequently, or is one of such difficulty and public importance that wé should express an opinion thereon which, in the view we take, would be merely advisory in character.

The appeal is dismissed.

• ^' CheistiaNSON,- Ch. J., ' and • Jbi-msoN, Nuessle, Bibdzell, and Bubke, JJ., concur.'