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# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A0 54 4 . THE STATE v . W ALKER.

H O D G E S , J u d g e.

Aft er t h e St at e’ s wi t n es s fai l ed to ap p ear at a b en ch tri al

, t h e tri al co u rt

d i s m i s s ed t h is m i s d em ean o r p ro s ecu t i o n o f Sara W al k er. Th e d i s m i s s al ord er d i d n ot

s p e c i f y wh et h er t h e d is m i ss al was wi t h o r wi t h o ut p reju di ce. Th e St at e fi l ed t h e

i n s t an t ap p eal

, arg u i n g t h at t h e d i s m i ss al o rd er am o u n t ed t o a n i m p erm i s s i b l e

d i s m i s s al wi th p reju d i ce b ecau s e t h e s tat u t e o f l i m it at i o n h ad ex p i red

, t h u s b arri n g t h e

St at e fro m fi l i n g an o t her accu s at i o n

. Becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s m is s al fu n ct i o n ed

as an i m p erm i s si b le d i s m i s s al wi t h p rej u d i c e , we v acat e t h e ju d g m en t bel o w an d

rem an d t h e cas e.

Wal k er was arres t ed o n Decem ber 3 0

, 2 0 1 6

, an d u lt i m at el y ch arg e d w i t h

d ri v i ng u n d er th e i n fl u en ce o f al co h o l

– per s e (OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 (a) (5 )), d ri v i n gu n d er t he i n fl u en ce o f al co h o l

– l es s s afe (OCGA § 4 0 -6 -3 9 1 (a) (1 )), reck l es s d ri v i n g

(OCGA § 4 0

- 6

- 3 9 0), an d fo l l o wi n g t o o cl o s el y (OCGA § 4 0 -6 -4 9 ). T h e cas e was

cal l ed fo r a b en ch t ri al on M ay 28

, 2 0 1 9

, o u t s i d e t h e t wo -y ear s t at u t e of l i m i t at i o n fo r

m i s d em ean o r o ffen ses

. See OCGA § 17 -3 -1 (e) (“ Pro s ecu ti o n fo r m i s d em ean o rs s h al l

b e co m m en ced wi t hi n t wo y ears aft er t h e co m m i s si on o f t h e cri m e.”).

At t h e b en ch t ri al

, wh en W al k er an no u n ced read y , th e St at e d ecl ared t h at i t was

n o t read y b ecau s e th e arres t i n g o ffi cer, wh o h ad been p ro p erl y su b po en aed

, was

u n av ai l ab l e. Al t h o u g h t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at th e St at e “ was g i v en a lo n g t i m e t o

at t em p t t o reco n nect wi t h th e offi cer o n t h i s i s s ue[,] ” t h e o ffi cer co u l d n o t b e reach ed

.

W al k er m o v ed t o di s m is s t h e ch arg es fo r w an t o f p ro s ecu ti o n , an d o n May 3 1

, 2 0 1 9,

t h e t r i a l co u rt gran t ed t h at m o t i o n n u n c p ro t u n c t o M ay 2 8

, 2 0 1 9

, wi t h o u t s t at i n g

wh et h er t h e d i sm i s s al was wi t h o r wi t h o u t p reju d i ce. T h e St at e t h en fi l ed t h e i n s t an t

ap p eal

. 1

On ap p eal

, t h e St at e co n t en d s th at b ecau s e th e t wo -y ear s tat u t e o f l i m i t at i o n fo r

p ro s ecu ti n g m is d em ean o rs h ad ex p i red an d as a res u l t

, i t co u ld no t re-accu s e W al k er,

1 Al t ho u g h th e St at e i n d i cat ed t h at i t wo u l d fi l e a t ran s cri p t o f t h e p ro ceed i ng s wi t h t h is ap p eal

, it d i d n o t d o so

. Th i s l ack o f a t r a n s c r i p t i s n o t fat al t o t h e St at e’ s

ap p eal

, as t h e erro r i s ap p aren t fro m t h e face o f t he t ri al co u rt ’ s ord er. See g en eral l y Ca mer o n v. Mi l es , 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 3

, 7 5 5 (1 ) (7 1 6 SE2 d 8 3 1 ) ( 2 0 1 1 ) (fi n d i n g

t ran s cri p t n o t es s en t i al wh ere t ri al co u rt ’ s erro r ap p ears o n t h e face o f i t s o rd er).

2t h e un s p eci fi ed di s m i s s al n eces s ari l y fu n ct i o n ed as an i m p erm i s s i b le d i s m is s al wi th

p reju d i ce. 2

Ou r l aw i s ab u nd an t ly cl ear t h at cri m i n al ch arg es m ay n o t b e d i s m i s s ed wi th

p reju d i ce. See S t a t e v. Lu t t r el l , 2 0 7 Ga. Ap p . 1 1 6 (4 2 7 SE2 d 9 5) (1 99 3 ) (t ri al co u rt

l ack s au t ho ri t y t o en t er d i s m is s al wi t h preju d ice fo r wan t o f pro s ecu ti o n in cri m i n al

cas e); S t a t e v. Co o

per ma n , 1 4 7 Ga. Ap p. 5 56

, 5 5 8 (2 ) (2 4 9 SE2 d 3 5 8 ) (1 9 7 8 ) (“ Th e

Ci v il Pract i ce A ct ([OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 1 (b )] ) p ro vi d es fo r d is m i ss al wi t h p reju d i ce o f

[c ]i v i l c a s es , b u t t h e co u rt k n o ws o f n o s t at u t o ry o r cas e au t h o ri t y wh ich p erm i t s

d i s m i s s al s i n [c] ri m in al cas es

. ”). In o u r recen t o p i n io n , S t a t e v. Ba n ks

, 3 4 8 G a. Ap p.

8 7 6

, 8 7 9 (8 2 5 SE2 d 3 9 9 ) (2 0 1 9 ), as i n t h i s cas e, th e t ri al c o u r t di s m i s s ed ch arg es

ag ai n s t a n u m

ber o f d efen dan t s fo r wan t o f p ro s ecu ti o n i n an o rd er t h at d i d n ot

s p eci fy w h et h er t he d i sm i s s al s were wi t h o r wi t h ou t p reju d i ce. As t o t h e d i s m i s s al s

en t ered i n cas es wh ere t h e s t at u t e o f l i m it at i o n h ad i nd i s pu t ab l y ru n , t h u s b arri n g t h e

2 W e n o t e t h at i f t h e s t at u t e o f l i m i tat i on i s ap pro ach i n g an d t h e St at e n eed s

m o re t i m e to p rep are i t s cas e, i t h as t h e s o le ri g h t t o s eek an en t ry o f n o l l e p ro s eq u i

, wh i ch , i f g ran t ed

, ex t en d s i ts l i m i t at i o n p eri o d b y si x m o nt h s

. See S t a t e v. LeJeu ne , 2 7 6 Ga. 1 7 9

, 1 8 4 (4 ) (5 7 6 SE2 d 8 8 8 ) (2 00 3 ) (“ On l y t h e S t a t e m a y i n i t i at e a n o l l e

p ro s eq u i o rd er.”); acco rd OCGA § 1 7 -8

- 3 ; s ee al so OCGA § 1 7 -3 -3 (“ If an i n d i ct m en t i s fo un d wi t h i n t h e t i m e p ro v id ed fo r i n Co d e Sect i o n 1 7 -3 -1 o r 1 7 -3 -2

,

o r o t her ap pl i cab l e s t at u t e, an d i s q u as h ed o r a n o l l e p ro s eq u i en t ered

, t he l i m i t at i o n

s h al l b e ex t en d ed si x m o n t h s fro m t h e ti m e t h e fi rs t in d i ct m en t i s q u as h ed o r t h e n o l l e

p ro s eq u i en t ered .”).

3St at e fro m re- a c cu s in g , t h i s Co u rt fo u n d t h at t h o s e d i s m i s s al s fu n ct i o n ed as

d i s m i s s al s w i t h preju d ice. Id

. at 8 8 0

, ci t i n g S t a t e v. Gr i mes , 1 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. 73 6

, 7 3 6

-

7 3 7 (3 9 2 SE2 d 7 2 7) (1 9 9 0 ) (affi rm i n g d is m i ss al o f accu s at io n wh ere “ t h e St at e m ay

fi l e a n o t h er accu sat io n ag ai n s t ap p el l ee pri o r t o t he ex p i rat i o n o f t h e p eri o d o f

l i m i tat i on an d p ro s ecu t e h i m o n t h at accu s at i o n”). In t h e i n st an t ap p eal , t h e St at e i s

b arred fro m re-accu s i n g W al k er b ecau s e t h e st at ut e of l im i t at io n h as ru n an d t h e St at e

h as n o t s o u g h t b y n o l l e p ro s eq u i o r ot h er m ean s t o ex t en d t h at l i m i t at io n p eri o d.

Th u s, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s u n s p eci fi ed d i s m i s s al n eces s ari ly fu n ct i o ns as a d i s m i s s al wi th

p reju d i ce, g i v en t h at t h ere i s n o l o ng er an y p o s s i b i li t y fo r t h e St a t e t o re-accu s e

W al k er. See S t at e v

. R o c a , 2 0 3 Ga. A p p

. 2 67

, 2 6 8 (4 1 6 SE2 d 8 36 ) (1 9 9 2 )

(u n s p eci fi ed d is m i s s al fo r wan t o f p ro s ecu t io n i n cri m i n al cas e d i d n o t am o u n t t o a

dism i ss al wi t h p reju d i ce o r acq ui t t al wh ere “ St at e co u l d reaccu s e the de f e n da nt w ithin

t h e ap p l i cab l e p eri o d o f l i m i t at i o n s ”).

Tri al co u rt s are v es t ed wi t h co n s i d erab le, t h o u g h n o t u n li m i ted

, au th o ri t y an d

d i s cret i o n i n t h e co nd u ct o f t h ei r p ro ceed in g s

. S t a t e v. F i o r en z o , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 6 6 6,

6 6 7 (1 ) (7 5 4 SE2 d 63 4 ) (2 0 1 4 ); Ez eb u i ro v

. S t a t e , 30 8 G a. Ap p

. 2 8 2, 2 84 (1 ) (7 0 7

SE2 d 18 2 ) ( 2 0 1 1 )

. As i s o ut l i n ed ab o v e, a t ri al co u rt h as th e au t h o ri ty t o d i s m i ss

cri m i n al accu s at i o n s w i t ho u t p reju d i ce, b u t i t l ack s t h e au t h o ri t y t o d i s m i s s t h em wi th

4p reju d i ce. Bec au s e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s u n s p eci fi ed d i s m i s s al n eces s ari l y fu n ct i o n ed as

a di s m i ss al wi t h preju d ice g i v en t h at t he s t at u t e o f l im it at i o n b arred th e St at e fro m reaccu s i n g , t h e t ri al co u rt ’s a u t h o ri t y is n ei t h er i m p l i cat ed n o r i m

p i n g ed b y o u r

d eci s i o n , as th e t ri al co urt h ad n o au t ho ri t y t o d o wh at o u r l aw p ro hi bi t s i t fro m d o i n g.

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e r ema n d ed

. Rees e, P

. J., a n d Mer ci er

, J., co n cu r

.

Di l l a r d

, P

. J., Go b ei l

, Co omer

, Pi p ki n

, a n d C o l vi n

, JJ., co n cu r f u l ly a n d sp eci a l l

y.

McFa d den

, C. J., Ba r n es

, P. J., a n d Do yl e, P. J., d i ss en t

. Mi ll er

, P. J., Ri ckma n,

Br o wn , a n d

Ma r kl e, JJ., co ncu r

i n t h e j u d

gmen t o nl y o f t h e d i s s en t

.A2 0 A0 54 4 . THE STATE v . W ALKER.

G O B E I L
, J u d g e.

I jo i n fu ll y

i n t h e m ajo ri ty

o pi n i o n , b u t wri t e s ep arat el y t o fu rt h er cl ari fy

t h at

t h e d i s m i s sal o f an accu s at i o n aft er t he ex p i rat i o n o f t h e ap p l i cab l e s t at u t e o f

l i m i tat i on i m

p erm i s s ib l y ab ri d ges t h e St at e’ s ri g h t t o p ro s ecu t e wh ere th e co u rt l ack s

a l eg al b as is t o d o s o

.

In t h e [p ro s ecu t i n g at t orn ey ’ s ] ro l e as an ad m i ni s t rat o r o f ju s t i ce, he o r

s h e h as b ro ad d i scret i o n i n m ak i n g d eci s i o n s p ri or t o t ri al ab o ut wh om

t o p ro s ecu t e, wh at ch arg es t o b ri n g , an d wh i ch s en t en ce to s eek

. T he

s t at e h as b o t h th e du t y an d th e ri g h t to p ro tect t h e s ecu ri t y o f it s ci t i zen s

b y p ro s ecu t i ng cri m e. Ga. Co n s t

. o f 1 9 8 3 , Art . 1 , § 1 , Par. 2

.

S t a t e v. P er r

y , 2 6 1 Ga. Ap p

. 88 6

, 8 8 7 (5 8 3 SE2 d 9 0 9) (2 0 0 3 ) (ci t at i on , p u n ct u at i o n,

an d fo o t n o t e o m i t ted ). Se e a l s o OCGA § 1 7 -1 -2 (“ A ‘ p en al act i o n’ i s an act i o n

al l o wed in p u rs u an ce o f p u b li c ju s t i ce u n d er p art i cu l ar l aws

. If n o s p eci al o ffi cer i s

au t h o ri zed t o b e t h e p l ai n ti ff t herei n , t h e s t at e, t h e Go v ern o r, t h e At t o rn ey Gen eral

,

o r t h e p ro s ecu t i ng at to rn ey m ay b e t h e p lai n ti ff.”).

2In Ba n ks , we ack n o wl ed g ed t h at :

“ It i s wel l s et tl ed t h at a t ri al co u rt i s v es ted wi t h co n s i d erab l e d i scret i o n

i n i t s co n du ct o f c o u rt p ro ceed in g s .” Ez eb u ir o v. S ta t e , 3 08 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 2

, 2 8 4 (1 ) (7 0 7 SE2 d 1 8 2 ) (2 01 1 ) (ci tat i on an d p u n ct uat i on o m i t t ed );

S t a t e v. Br oo ks

, 3 01 Ga. Ap p

. a t 35 9 ; S t a t e v. Co l q u i t t

, 1 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 2 7

, 6 2 8 -6 2 9 (2 49 SE2 d 6 8 0 ) (1 9 78 ). W h i l e t ri al co urt s are au t h ori zed

t o d i s m i s s accu s at i o ns , t h i s au t h ori t y i s n o t u nl i m i t ed

, an d a tri al co u rt

“ ab u s es i t s di s cret i o n w h en i t i n t er f e r e s w i t h t h e St at e’ s ri g h t t o

p r o s e c u t e b y d i s m i ss i n g an accu s at i o n wi t h o u t a l eg al b as i s t o do s o .”

Br o o ks , 3 0 1 Ga. Ap p . at 3 5 9

.

3 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 87 6

, 8 8 0 (8 2 5 SE2 d 39 9 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (fo o t n o t e o m i tt ed ). Fu rt h erm o re, t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s cret i on “ m u s t n o t b e ab u s ed an d i t m ay n o t b e ex erci s ed in s u ch a way

as t o i n v o l ve a d ep ri vat i o n o f a r i g h t .” Lo o mi s v. S ta t e , 7 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 3

, 1 6 3 (5 1

SE2 d 1 3 ) (1 9 4 8 ). Th u s , a co u rt ’ s i n h eren t “ ‘ p ower t o co n t r o l t h e p r o c eed i ng o f t h e

co u rt i s s u b

ject t o t h e p ro v i s o th at i n s o d o i n g a ju d g e d o es n ot t ak e away o r ab ri d g e

an y ri g h t o f a part y u n d er t h e l aw.’ ” Per r y , 2 6 1 Ga. A p p

. at 8 8 7

, qu o ti n g Co l q u i t t

,

1 4 7 Ga. Ap p . at 6 28 . Th i s l i m it at i o n ap p l i es t o t h e b en efi t o f b o t h p art i es

.

Acco rd i ng l y , wh i l e we ack n o wl ed g e an d res pect a t ri al ju d g e’ s wi de d i s cret i o n

i n th e co u rs e o f co nt ro l l in g j u d i ci al p ro ceed i n g s an d o ffi cers o f t he co u rt

, t h at

d i s cret i o n i s n o t u n b o u n d ed

. Lo o mi s , 7 8 Ga. A p p

. at 1 6 3

. A n d

, t he d i s s en t co n ced es

3as m

u ch

, ack n o w l e d g i n g t h at t ri al co u rt s m ay n o t di s m i s s cri m i nal cas es wi th

p reju d i ce. Bu t i n p ro p o s in g to ov erru l e B a n ks b y u p h o ld i n g t he t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s m i s s al

f o l l o w i n g th e ex p i rat i o n of t h e s t at u t e o f l i m it at i on , t h e d i s sen t ’ s ap p ro ach wo u l d

p erm i t tri al co u rt s t o d o j u s t t h a t

. In o t h er wo rd s , w h et h er i t i s l ab el ed a d i s m i s s al

wi t h o u t p reju d i ce o r o t h erwi s e, t h e d i s sen t effect i v el y s an ct i o n s tri al co urt s d o i n g

i n d i rect l y wh at t h ey

can n o t d o d i rect l y

.

In Ba n ks

, we reco g ni zed t h at t h e tri al co u rt ’ s d i s m i s s al o f a cri m i n al cas e wh ere

t h e s t at ut e o f li m i tat i o n h ad ex p i red (an d h ad n ot b een ex t en d ed ) effect i v el y b arred

t h e St at e fro m re-accu si n g a d e f en d an t. 3 4 8 Ga. A p p

. at 8 8 0-8 8 1

. To p erm i t a t ri al

co u rt t o effect i v el y di s m i s s a cas e wi t h p reju di ce wo u l d el ev at e fo rm o ver su b s t an ce

an d al l o w a co u rt t o i m

perm i s s i b l y d i s m i s s a cri m i n al p ro s ecu t i o n wi t h p reju d i ce. See

S t a t e v. Lu t t r el l

, 2 0 7 Ga. Ap p. 1 1 6

, 1 1 6 (4 2 7 SE2 d 9 5 ) (1 99 3 ) (a tri al co u rt i s wi t h o ut

a u t h o ri ty t o d is m i s s cri m i n al ch arg es fo r wan t of pro s ecu t i o n i f s u ch d i s m i s s al

am ou n t s t o a d i s m i s s al wi t h p r ej u d i ce ).

Th e d is s en t cl ai m s t h at Ba n ks p ro m o t es d el ay ed pro s e c u t i o n s an d s t ri p s t ri al

co u rt s o f t h ei r p o wer t o d is m i s s w i t h o u t preju d ice. W h at th e d is s en t o v erl o o k s ,

h o wev er, is t h at t h ere are rem ed i es fo r p ro s ecu t o ri al d el ay s an d a b u s es s h y o f

effect i v el y p erm i t t i ng d i s m i s sal s wi t h p reju d i ce. See, e.g

. , S ta t e v. Fl y , 1 9 3 G a. Ap p.

41 9 0

, 1 9 1 (3 8 7 SE2 d 3 4 7 ) (1 9 8 9) (wh ere St at e refu s ed t o g o fo rward wi t h t ri al o n t h e

g ro u nd t h at i t was n o t p rep ared t o g o fo rward wi th t ri al

, co u rt “ reg ard ed t h e i s s u e as

h av in g b een jo in ed an d t he cas e as ri p e fo r t ri al

, a n d t h e re bei n g n o ev i d en ce

p res en t ed b y t h e St at e, wh ich h a d t h e b u rd en t o pres en t ev id en ce t h en , t h e co u rt

en t ered an acq u i t tal ”); OCGA § § 1 5 -1 -3 (4 ) (“ [e] v ery co u rt h as po wer [] [t ] o co n t ro l

,

i n fu rt heran ce o f ju s t ice, t h e co n d u ct of i t s o ffi cers an d al l ot her p ers on s co n n ect ed

wi t h a ju d i ci al p ro ceed i n g befo re i t

, in ev ery m at t er ap pert ai n i n g t h eret o ”); 1 5 -1 -4

(g en eral co n t em

p t p o wers ); 1 7 -1 6 -2 2 (c), 1 7 -1 6 -2 3 (c ) (au th ori zi n g ex cl u s i o n o f

d efen d an t s ’ s t at em en t s o r s ci e n t i f i c rep o rt s n ot pro v i d ed o n d em an d ). Fu rt h er, t h e

d efen d an t ’ s co n s t it u t i o n al ri g h t t o a s p eed y t ri al rem ai n s

.

Fi n al l y , Ba nks d oes n o t s t ri p t ri al co u rt s o f th e ab i l i t y t o d i s m i s s cas es wi t h o ut

p reju d i ce, b ut rat her reco g n i zes l o n g s tan d i n g l aw t h at t ri al co u rt s can n o t d i s m i ss

cri m i n al cas es wi t h p reju d i ce, wh i ch t h e d i s s en t ’ s ap p ro ach effect i v el y d o es

.

Cri m i n al cas es can en d i n m an y w ay s

. Bu t

, d i s m i s s in g cri m in a l c a s e s wi th

p reju d i ce i s n o t o n e o f t h em

. In l i g h t o f t h e fo reg o i n g , I fi n d t h at th e t ri al co urt ’ s

d i s m i s s al o f t h e ch arg es ag ai n s t W al k er co n s ti t u t ed an i m p erm i s s ib l e ab ri d g m en t o f

t h e St at e’ s “ ri g h t an d d u ty t o p r o t ect t h e s ecu ri t y o f i t s ci t i zen s b y p ro s ecu t i n g a

5cri m e[,] ” Amb les v. S t at e , 2 5 9 Ga. 4 0 6

, 4 0 6 -4 0 7 (1 ) (3 8 3 SE2 d 5 55 ) (1 9 8 9 ), an d

s h o u ld b e rev ers ed

.

I am au t h o ri z e d to s tat e t h at Pres i di n g J u d g e Di l l ard

, J u dg e Co o m er, J u d g e

Pi p k in an d J u d g e Co l v i n, jo i n i n t h i s s p eci al co n cu rren ce.

6

# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A0 54 4 . THE STATE v . W ALKER.

M C F A D D E N , Ch i ef J u d g e, d i s s en t i n g

.

Aft er t h e s t at e’ s wi t n e s s fai led t o ap p ear at a b en ch t ri al

, t he t ri al co u rt

d i s m i s s ed t h is m i s d em ean o r p ro s ecu t i o n o f Sara W al ker. Th e d i s m i s s al ord er d i d n ot

s p eci fy wh et h er t h e d i s m i ss al was wi t h o r wi t h o ut p reju d i ce. It is u n d i s p ut ed t h at t h e

s t at u te o f l i m it at i o n h ad ex p i red an d s o t h at t h e s t at e wo u l d b e b arred fro m b ri n g i n g

t h e cas e ag ai n

. Bu t ab sen t ev i d en ce t o t h e c o n t rary , we m u s t p res u m e t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt act ed wi t h i n h er au t h o ri t y t o d i s m i s s t h e cas e wi t h o ut preju d ice. Th e s t at e i s

b arred fro m b ri n g in g t h e cas e ag ai n , n o t b y o p erat io n o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er, b u t by

o p erat i o n o f t h e s t at u t e o f l i m i tat i o n

. So I wo u ld ov erru l e o ur recen t h o l d i n g i n S t a t e

v. Ba n ks

, 3 4 8 Ga. A p p

. 8 7 6 (8 2 5 SE2 d 39 9 ) (2 0 1 9 ), t h at t h e t ri al co u rt l o s t h er

au t h o ri t y t o d i s m i s s wi t h o ut p reju di ce wh en th e s t at u te of l i m i t at i o n ex p i red

, an d I

res p ect fu l l y

d i s s en t fro m

t h e m ajo ri t y ’ s o p in i o n.

7On Decem b er 30

, 2 0 16

, W al k er was arres ted an d ch arg ed wi t h d ri v i n g u n d er

t h e in fl u en ce o f al co h o l a n d o t h er m i s d em ean o r offen s es

. Th e cas e was cal l ed fo r

t ri al o n M ay 2 8

, 20 1 9

, ou t s i de t h e t wo -y ear s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n. See OCGA § 1 7 -3 -1

(e) (“ Pro s ecu t i o n fo r m i s d em ean o r s s h al l b e co m m en ced wi t h i n two y ears aft er t h e

co m m i s s io n o f t h e cri m e.”).

Bu t t h e s t at e’ s wi tn es s , th e arres t i n g o ffi cer, d i d n o t ap p ear. W al ker m o v ed to

d i s m i s s th e ch arg es ag ai n s t h er fo r w an t o f p ro s ecu t i o n

. On M ay 3 1

, 2 01 9

, t h e t ri al

co u rt en tered an o rd er gran t i n g W al k er’ s m ot io n t o d i s m is s fo r wan t o f p ro s ecu t i o n.

Th e o rd er di d n o t sp eci fy wh et her t he d i s m i ss al was wi t h o r wi t h o u t p reju d i ce. Th e

s t at e fi l ed t h i s ap p eal

.

1

. Na t u r e o

f th e t r i a l co u r t ’s d i s mi ss a l o r d er

.

A t ri al co u rt “ m ay d i s m i s s cri m i n al ch arg es wi t h o u t p reju d i ce fo r wan t o f

p ro s ecu ti o n .” S t a t e v. Remy

,

_ _ Ga.

_ _ ,

_ _ (4 ) (8 40 SE2 d 3 8 5 ) (2 0 2 0 ). Th at au t h o ri t y

i s a c o r o l l a ry o f “ t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s p o wer t o co n t ro l pro ceed in g s w i t h i n i t s

ju ri s d i ct i o n .” S t a t e v. Fi o r en z o , 3 25 Ga. Ap p. 6 6 6

, 6 67 (1 ) (7 54 SE2 d 6 3 4 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

It is n o t wi t h o ut l i m i t at i o n

. Th e s t at e an d t h e m ajo ri t y are ri gh t t h at t ri al co u rt s m ay

n o t d i s m i s s cri m i n a l cas es w i t h p reju d i ce. S t at e v. Lu t t r el l

, 2 0 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 1 6 (4 2 7

SE2 d 9 5) (1 9 9 3 ). See al s o S t a te v. Al d r i d g e , 25 9 Ga. Ap p. 6 7 3

, 6 7 3 -6 7 4 & n .2 (1 )

8(5 7 7 SE2 d 8 6 3) (2 0 0 3 ) (t ri al c o u r t s m ay n o t in t erfere wi t h th e s t at e’ s ri g h t to

p ro s ecu te, s o g en eral l y , co u rt s m ay n o t d i s m is s accu s at i o n s wi th p reju d i ce).

An d I ag ree wi t h t h e m ajo ri t y t h at i n t h i s cas e t he o p erat i o n o f o t h er l aw, t h e

s t at u e o f l i m i t at i o n , ap p ears 1 t o m ak e t h e d is m i ss al at i ss u e fu n ct i o n al ly a d i s m i s s al

wi t h p reju d i ce. It do es n o t fo l l o w , h o w ev er, t h at t h e t ri al co u rt o v ers tep p ed h er

au t h o ri t y

.

In ci v i l cas es , t h e ru l e as t o d i s m i s s al s fo r wan t o f p ro secu t i o n i s t h e s am e. “ A

d i s m i s s al fo r fai l u re o f t h e pl ai n t i ff t o p ro s ecu t e d o es no t o p erat e as an ad ju d i cat i o n

u p o n t he m eri t s [.] ” OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 1 (b ). Nev ert hel es s i t i s wel l s et t l ed th at i n ci v i l

cas es a d i s m i s s al wi t h o ut p reju d i ce can , u nd er cert ai n ci r c u m s t an ces fu n ct i o n as a

1 Th e as s u m

p t i o n t h at t h e p as s ag e o f t wo o r m ore y ears m ea n t t h at t h e

s t at e w as b arred fro m re-accu s i n g t h e d efen dan t s m ay n ot b e co rrect

. A l t h o u g h

g en eral l y m i sd em ean o r p ro s ecu t i o n s m u s t be co m

m en ced wi t h i n t wo y ears aft er t h e

co m m i s s io n o f th e cri m e, OCGA § 1 7 -3 -1 (e), o u r Co de i n cl ud es cert ai n t o l l i n g an d

s av i n g s p ro v i s i o ns th at al l o w t h e s t at e t o p ro s ecu t e m i s d em ean o rs b ey o n d t wo y ears

o f th ei r co m

m i s s i o n

. OCGA § § 1 7 -3 -2

, 1 7 -3 -3

. See g en eral l y S t a te v. Ou t en , 2 9 6 Ga.

4 0 , 4 2 -4 3 (2 ) (7 64 SE2 d 8 4 8 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

In p art i cu l ar OCGA § 1 7-3 -3 p ro v i des

, “ If an i n d i ct m en t i s fo u n d wi t h i n t h e

t i m e p ro v i d ed fo r i n Co de Sect i o n 1 7-3 -1 o r 1 7 -3 -2

, o r o t her ap p l i cab le s t at u t e, an d

i s q uas h ed o r a n ol le p ro s eq u i en t ered

, t h e l i m i t at i o n s h al l b e ex t e n d e d s i x m o n t h s fro m t h e t i m e t h e fi rs t i n d i ct m en t i s q u as h ed o r t h e n o l l e p ro s eq u i en tered .” W e h av e h el d t h at OCGA § 1 7 -3 -3 ap p l i es t o accu s at i o n s

. Al exa n d er v. S t a t e , 1 9 2 Ga. Ap p. 2 1 1 , 2 1 1 (3 8 4 SE2 d 4 3 6 ) (1 9 8 9 ). Bu t we hav e fo u n d n o cas es t h at ad d res s wh et h er i t ap p l i es t o d i s m is s al s wi t h o u t p reju d i ce. An d t h at q u e s t i o n is n o t b efo re u s t o d ay

.

9d i s m i s s al wi t h p reju d i ce w it ho u t v i o l a t i n g t h at s t at u t o ry co n s t rai nt

. See H a t t o n v.

MARTA

, 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 14 1

, 1 4 1 -1 42 (1 ) (7 1 2 SE2 d 1 4 1 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (s t at u te o f l i m i t at i o n

b arred p l ai n t i ff’ s act i o n fi l ed aft er t ri al co u rt h ad d i s m i s sed p ri o r act i o n fo r h er fai l u re

t o ap p ear fo r co u rt -o rd ered m ed i at i o n ).

So I co n cl u de t h at t h e d i s m i s s al h ere was wi t h o u t p reju d i ce. “ Ab s en t ev i d en ce

t o t h e co n t rary , we p res u m e t h at t ri al ju d g es , as p u bl i c o ffi cers , fo l l o w t h e l aw i n t h e

ex erci s e o f t h ei r s t at u t o ry du t i es an d au t h o ri t y .” Br o oks v. St a t e , 30 1 G a. 7 4 8, 7 5 2 (2 )

(8 0 4 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 1 7 ). Here, t h ere i s n o ev i d e n c e t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o fo l l o w

t h e l aw. “ Th e co u rt d id no t s t at e t h e in co rrect [d es i g n at i o n ] i n i t s o rd er, an d n o t h i n g

i n t h e reco rd i n d i cat es th at t h e co u rt was un aware o f i t s res po n s i b i l i t y .” Pr ice v. S t a t e ,

3 0 5 Ga. 6 0 8

, 6 1 3 (4 ) (8 2 5 SE2 d 1 7 8) (2 0 1 9) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). So we m u s t p res u m e

t h at t h e tri al co u rt p ro p erl y di s m i s s ed t h e ch arg es ag ai n s t W al k er wi t h o ut p reju d i ce.

See Pr i ce , 3 0 5 Ga. at 6 1 2 -6 1 3 (4 ) (wh i l e t ri al co u rt o rd er di d “ n o t s p eci fi cal l y refl ect

t h at t h e t r i a l j u d g e ex erci s ed i ts b ro ad d i s cret i o n as t h e t h i rt een t h ju ro r, th i s [c] o u rt

m u st pres u m e th at t h e t ri al ju d g e k n ew t h e ru l e as t o t h e n eces s i t y o f ex erci s i n g h i s

d i s cret i o n , an d t h at h e d i d ex erci s e i t ”) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ); Br o o ks

,

3 0 1 Ga. at 7 5 2 (2 ) (g i v en t h e p res u m p t i o n o f reg u l ari t y , t ri al co u rt ’ s “ d en ial ” rat h er

t h an “ d i sm is s al ” o f an un t i m el y m o t i o n , wi t h ou t m ore, co u l d n o t b e as su m ed t o b e an

10i m

p ro p er d e c i s i on o n t h e m eri t s ); Di xo n v. S t a t e , 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1 1

, 2 1 4 (1 ) (8 2 8

SE2 d 4 27 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (g iv en p res u m p t i o n o f reg u l ari t y an d ab s en ce o f ex p res s s h o wi n g

o t h erwi s e, “ w e wi l l n o t read . . . erro r i n t o t he t ri al co u rt ’ s ru li n g ”).

2

. S t at e v. Ba n ks

.

Bu t th at d o es n o t en d t h e i n q u i ry

. Th e s tat u t e o f li m i tat i o n h ad ex p ired b efo re

t h e t ri al co u rt d i s m i s s ed t he cas e. So t h e s t at e arg u es , ci t i n g S t a te v. Ba nks

, 3 4 8 Ga.

Ap p

. at 8 7 6

, an d t he m ajo ri ty ag rees , t h at t h e t ri al co u rt l os t t h e p o w e r t o d i s m i ss

wh en i t ex p i red

. Th at i s i n deed o u r h o l d i n g in Ba n ks

. In Ba n ks we reas o n ed t h at an y

d i s m i s s al s en t ered aft er t h e ex p i rat i o n o f t h e s t at u t e of l i m it at i on w o u l d “ am o u n t [] to

i m p erm i s s i b le d i s m i s sal s wi t h preju d i ce,” b ecau s e t h e st at e wo u l d b e b arred fro m reaccu s i n g

. I d

. a t 8 80

. Bu t Ba n ks was wro n g l y d eci d ed

, an d we sh o u l d n o w o v erru l e

i t

.

Ba n ks ci t es t hree cas es , St a t e v. Lu t t r el l

, 2 0 7 Ga. A p p

. at 11 6 ; S t at e v. Gr i mes ,

1 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 6 (3 9 2 SE2 d 7 27 ) (1 9 9 0 ); an d S t a t e v. Ro ca , 2 03 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6 7 (4 1 6

SE2 d 8 3 6) (1 9 9 2). No t h i n g i n an y o f t hem warran t s s u ch a t ran sfer o f p o w er.

In Lu t t r el l

, 2 07 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 1 6

, we s i m p l y rev ers ed an ex p l i ci t d is m i ss al wi th

p reju d i ce. In Gr i m es , 1 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 73 6

, t h e s tat e ap p eal ed fro m a d i s m i s s al

wi t h o u t p reju d i ce, an d we s i m pl y reaffi rm ed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s au t h o ri t y t o o rd er s u ch

11d i s m i s s al s

. W e d i d o b s erv e i n Gr i mes t h at t h e st at e wo u l d b e ab l e t o re-accu s e t h e

d efen d an t p ri o r t o ex p i rat i o n o f t h e s tat u t e o f l im it at i o n. Id

. at 7 3 6 -7 3 7

. Bu t t h at

o b s erv at i o n was d i ct a an d n o t es s en t i al t o o ur h ol d i n g

. W e d i d n ot h o l d t h at t h e

s t at e’ s ab i l i t y

t o re-accu s e p ri o r t o t h e ex pi rat io n o f t h e s t at u t e o f li m i t at i o n i s wh at

m ad e t h e d i s m i s s al o n e wi t ho u t p reju d i ce.

In Ro ca , 2 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 6 7

, w e rev ers ed a d is m i ss al t h a t h a d b een en t ered

o n t h e bas i s o f d ou b l e jeo pard y

. Th e t ri al co urt ’ s fi n d i n g o f d o u b l e jeo p ard y h ad b een

fo u n ded o n t h e i n v ol u n t ary d i sm i s s al o f t h e fi rs t p ro secu t i o n . As t o t hat un d erl y i n g

i n v o l u n t ary d i s m is s al

, we h el d

, “ [t ] h e t ri a l co urt was au t h o ri zed t o d i s m i s s t h e

accu s at i on fo r wan t o f p ro s ecu ti o n , b ut s u ch d i s m is s al d o es no t a mo u n t t o a d i s mi s s al

wi t h p r ej u d i ce , o r an acq u i t t al .” Id

. at 2 6 8 (em ph as i s ad d ed ). It ap p ears t h at i n Ba n ks

we m i s co n s tru ed o u r us e i n R o c a o f t h e p h ras e “ am o u n t t o a d i s m i s s al wi th

p reju d i ce.”

3

. S t ar e d eci s i s

.

Pri n ci p les o f s tare d eci si s d o n o t p rev en t u s fro m o v erru l in g Ba n ks

. “ W h en we

co n si d er wh et h er an earl i er d eci s i o n ou g h t t o b e reex am i n ed

, we co n s id er a n u m b er

o f fact o rs , i n cl u d i n g t h e ag e o f t h e p reced en t

, t h e rel ian ce i n t eres t s i n vo l v ed

, t h e

wo rk ab i l i t y o f t he p ri o r d eci s i o n , a n d m o s t i m p o rt an t ly

, t he s o u n d n es s o f i t s

12reas on i n g .” S o u th a l l v. S t a t e , 3 0 0 Ga. 4 6 2

, 4 6 7 (1 ) (7 9 6 SE2 d 2 6 1) (2 0 1 7) (ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Reg ard i n g t h e ag e o f Ba nks

, i t was d eci d ed l es s t han t wo y ears ag o an d i t h as

n ev er b een ci t ed i n a p u b l i sh ed o p i n i o n

. Ba n ks d o es n o t i m p l i cat e an y “ s i g n i fi can t

rel i an ce in t eres t

, ” S o u t h a ll

, 3 0 0 Ga. at 4 6 7 (1 ) (ci t at io n an d p un ct u at io n o m i t t ed ),

b ecau s e i t d o es n o t affect ei t her t h e s t at e’ s o r t h e d efen d an t ’ s s u bs t an ti v e ri g h t s ; an y

b arri er to t he s t at e’ s ri g h t t o p ro s ecu t e do es n o t res u l t fro m t he co n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s n on -s p eci fi c o rd er of d is m i ss al as a l eg al d is m i ss al w i t ho u t p reju d i ce. As

fo r t h e p ract ical i t y o f Ba n ks

, ap p li cat i o n of it s ru l e i n t erferes wi t h t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

“ ri g h t to k eep it s cal en d ar an d det erm i n e t h e o rd er i n wh i ch cas es are t ri ed .” Gr i mes ,

1 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 3 7. Fi n al l y , a s ex p l ai n ed ab o v e, t h e m o s t i m p o rt an t fact o r, t h e

s o u n dn es s o f i t s reas on i n g , wei g h s ag ai n s t i t . So I wo u l d o v erru l e i t

.

Nev ert h el es s , th e m ajo ri ty fi n d s t h e ru l e s et ou t i n Ba n ks to b e g o o d p o l i cy an d

t h erefo re ad o p t s i t

. I s up p o s e we can d o t h at

. Tri al co urt ’ s au t ho ri t y t o d i s m i s s fo r

wan t o f p ro s ecu ti o n is fo u n d ed o n cas e l aw. See Remy

,

_ _ Ga. at

__ (4 ), ci t i n g S t a t e

v. Ba ch a n , 3 2 1 G a. Ap p

. 7 1 2

, 7 1 4 (7 4 2 SE2 d 5 2 6 ) (2 0 1 3 ), fo r t he p ro p o s i t io n t h at a

t ri al co u rt “ m ay d i s m is s cri m i n al ch arg es wi t h o u t p reju di ce fo r w an t o f p ro s ecu t i o n.”

13Bu t t h e co n s eq u en ce o f ou r d eci si o n i n Ba n ks i s t h at t h e s t at e is em p o wered

,

b y d el ay i n g p ro s ecu ti on s , to st ri p t ri al co u rt s o f s o m e o f t h ei r p o wer to co n tro l

p ro ceed in g s wi t h in t h ei r ju r i s d i ct i o n , s peci fi cal l y t h ei r p o wer t o d i s m i ss wi t h o ut

p reju d i ce. Th at an o m al y i s t o o m u ch fo r m e t o s wal l o w. So I res p ect fu l l y d i s s en t

.

I am au t h o ri zed t o s t at e t hat Pres i di n g J u dg e Barn es an d Pres i d i n g J u d g e Do y l e

jo i n i n th i s d is s en t an d t h at Pres i d i n g J u d g e M i l l er, J u d g e Ri ck m a n , J u d g e Bro wn ,

an d J ud g e M ark l e co n cu r i n ju d g m en t o n l y as t o t hi s d is s en t

.

14