Opinion ID: 1246024
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Waiver of the County Court Preliminary Hearing

Text: The judge of the county court advised counsel that the failure of the defendant to appear would constitute a waiver. The defendant's subsequent refusal to appear constituted an implied waiver and extinguished the defendant's right to a preliminary hearing in the county court. Moreover, the defendant's refusal to appear, under the facts of this case, operated as an admission that there was sufficient evidence to establish probable cause to believe that he committed the crime charged. People ex rel. Farina v. District Court, supra ; People v. Quinn, supra . Once a defendant knowingly waives his right to a preliminary hearing in the county court, the right is extinguished and may not be restored in the subsequent district court proceedings. People ex rel. Farina v. District Court, supra . Under the facts in this case, the district court did not have the power or authority under the Colorado Rules of Criminal Procedure to grant the defendant a preliminary hearing. Accordingly, the district judge exceeded the district court's jurisdiction in granting the defendant's motion for a preliminary hearing. The rule to show cause is made absolute. PRINGLE, C. J., does not participate.