Case Title: State v. Morris

Citation: 364 P.2d 348, 69 N.M. 89

Docket Number: 

State: new-mexico

Court: New Mexico Supreme Court

Date: 1961-08-22T00:00:00Z

Document:
364 P.2d 348 (1961) 69 N.M. 89 STATE of New Mexico, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. John H. MORRIS, Defendant-Appellant. No. 6870. Supreme Court of New Mexico. August 22, 1961. Dan Buzzard, Clovis, for appellant. Earl Hartley, Atty. Gen., Thomas O. Olson and F. Harlan Flint, Asst. Attys. Gen., for appellee. NOBLE, Justice. The defendant, John H. Morris, was charged in Curry County, New Mexico, by information with having embezzled $1,482.35 while being entrusted with the same by fraudently converting the same to his own use, contrary to the provisions of Section 40-45-19, N.M.S.A. 1953 Comp. After trial before the court without a jury, the record discloses that no formal judgment or sentence was entered by the court but the following statement by the court appears: This appeal is from the above statement by the court appearing in the stenographic record. A basic jurisdictional question, not raised by the parties, is presented *349 at the very outset. Was there a final judgment in this case from which an appeal can be taken, and does the appellate court have jurisdiction? The fact that the jurisdictional question is not raised by the parties is of no consequence. William K. Warren Foundation v. Barnes, 67 N.M. 187, 354 P.2d 126. Our rule applicable to civil appeals. Rule 5, subd. 1, as amended (Sec. 21-2-1(5), subd. 1, N.M.S.A. 1953 Comp., Pocket Supp.) is as follows: Rule 5, subd. 3 of the Supreme Court rules (Sec. 41-15-1, N.M.S.A. 1953 Comp.) governing procedure on appeals in criminal cases reads: In the absence of an express statute or rule, no appeal will lie from anything other than a formal written order or judgment signed by the judge and filed in the case or entered upon the records of the court and signed by the judge thereof. State v. Thorne, 39 Wash. 2d 63, 234 P.2d 528; State v. McClain, 186 Tenn. 401, 210 S.W.2d 680. An oral ruling by the trial judge is not a final judgment. It is merely evidence of what the court had decided to do but he can change such ruling at any time before the entry of a final judgment. State v. McClain, supra. Zellers v. Huff, 57 N.M. 609, 261 P.2d 643, 644, is controlling. We there held that a judgment in a criminal case is not final until sentence is imposed and said: The court having specifically refused to impose sentence, it follows that the appeal is premature and must be dismissed. It is so ordered. CARMODY and MOISE, JJ., concur. COMPTON, C.J., and CHAVEZ, J., not participating.