Opinion ID: 1744354
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: memorandum in support of state's motion for reconsideration

Text: The State respectfully requests that the Court reconsider its order changing venue because as a general rule, the right to a change of venue in criminal cases is provided by statute, and the extent and manner of its exercise is of legislative declaration. See Patterson v. State, 175 So. 371 (Ala. 1937); 22 CJS § 186 (where the venue of a criminal prosecution is fixed by statute, a court has no power to change venue unless it is authorized to do so by law, and it may act only on a proper showing and in strict conformity with the statute). The only vehicle provided by the Alabama State legislature for changing venue is § 15-2-20 of the Alabama Code 1975. Thus: (a) Any person charged with an indictable offense may have his trial removed to another county, on making application to the court, setting forth specifically the reasons why he cannot have a fair and impartial trial in the county in which the indictment is found. The application must be sworn to by him and must be made as early as practicable before the trial, or it may be made after conviction upon a new trial being granted. Consequently, the policy of our change of venue statute balances the inconvenience and administrative inefficiency of a change with the knowledge that certain crimes so arouse the public in a particular locality that a fair trial there is impossible. A study of the cases reveals that these crimes are invariably of a notorious or spectacular nature, involving violence to the person, specifically murder and rape. See Gillard v. State, 277 So.2d 901 (Ala.1973). The defendant has failed to provide this Court with the proper predicate for change of venue. Indeed, defendant himself admits in his motion that he does not contend that Dr. Hunte cannot receive a fair and impartial trial. Therefore, unless and until the requisites of § 15-2-20 are satisfied the Court is without basis to order a change of venue.