Opinion ID: 2466731
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Assistant Attorney General's Participation in the Trial

Text: Appellant's second point for reversal is that the trial court erred in denying her motion to have Assistant Attorney General Kent Holt barred from participating in the prosecution of her case. In support of this argument, Appellant relies on Ark.Code Ann. § 16-21-2004(d) (Repl.1994), which states that all deputy prosecutors for the Fifteenth Judicial District, of which Conway County is part, shall reside in the Fifteenth Judicial District. [1] The State argued below that because Mr. Holt was appointed by the prosecuting attorney and was administered the oath of office by the circuit court, he was entitled to participate in the trial as a special deputy prosecutor. Moreover, the State argued that because Mr. Holt was not being paid through the county's quorum court, the residency requirement for deputy prosecutors did not preclude his participation in the case. The trial court ruled that, although Mr. Holt, as a special deputy prosecutor, may not have had the authority to bring charges against anyone for crimes committed within the Fifteenth Judicial District, his assistance in Appellant's case was not precluded because the case was being pursued in the name of the prosecuting attorney for that district. On appeal, the State contends that Mr. Holt was a de facto official, and as such, Appellant's challenge to his authority to assist the prosecutor is barred because she failed to attack that authority in a direct proceeding. The State relies on the holdings in State v. Roberts, 255 Ark. 183, 499 S.W.2d 600 (1973), and Chronister v. State, 55 Ark. App. 93, 931 S.W.2d 444 (1996), to support its argument. In Roberts, 255 Ark. 183, 499 S.W.2d 600, the defendant challenged the authority of the deputy prosecutor to try him on the ground that he had not been reappointed after the elected prosecutor, who had originally appointed the deputy prosecutor, began his second term. This court recognized that the deputy prosecutor was a de facto official and that, as such, the defendant was required to challenge his authority in a direct proceeding, rather than in the criminal proceeding against him. Relying on a decision from the Supreme Court of Tennessee, this court outlined what constitutes a collateral attack: [There] can be gleaned several guidelines for determining whether a particular attack upon the title of a public official is collateral. By the very definition of the word if the attack is secondary, subsidiary, subordinate, i.e., related to the main matter under consideration but not strictly a part thereof, the attack is indirect and collateral. If the official's title is questioned in a proceeding to which he is not a party or which was not instituted specifically to determine the validity of his title the attack is collateral. If the title of the officer is questioned in a proceeding in which he is a party merely because he is acting in his official capacity the attack is collateral. Lastly if the attack is made because it is necessary to show the officer's want of title to lay a basis for some other relief the attack is collateral.... Id. at 186-87, 499 S.W.2d at 602 (quoting Smith v. Landsden, 212 Tenn. 543, 370 S.W.2d 557 (1963)). This court ultimately held that the deputy prosecutor was, through the acquiescence of the circuit court, at least a de facto official; hence, the attack made upon his authority to act constituted a collateral attack and could not be made under the law. In Chronister, 55 Ark.App. 93, 931 S.W.2d 444, the defendant challenged the authority of the city's prosecuting attorney to prosecute him for a state criminal violation. He argued that the city attorney of a first-class city was authorized to perform only such duties as are assigned to him by city ordinance, and that Russellville City Ordinance No. 988 authorized the city attorney to prosecute municipal violations, but made no mention of state law violations. He argued further that Ordinance No. 1411 prohibited the city attorney from engaging in the practice of law except for his duties as city attorney. He contended that the prosecuting attorney's written authorization, in compliance with Ark.Code Ann. § 16-21-115 (1987), authorizing the city attorney to prosecute misdemeanor violations of state law occurring within the city limits was without effect because the city had expressly limited the city attorney's authority. The court of appeals affirmed the trial court's judgment on the ground that the city attorney was a de facto official, holding: A de facto official is one who by some color of right is in possession of an office, and performs its duties with public acquiescence, though having no right in fact; the acts of de facto officials may not be questioned based upon of the lack of legal authority except by some direct proceeding instituted for the purpose by the State or by someone claiming the office de jure, or when the person himself attempts to build up some right, or claim some privilege by reason of being the official he claims to be; in all other cases, the acts of an officer de facto are as valid and effectual while he retains the office as if he were an officer by right, and the same legal consequences will flow from them for the protection of the public and third parties. Id. at 95, 931 S.W.2d at 445 (citing Faucette, Mayor v. Gerlach, 132 Ark. 58, 200 S.W. 279 (1918)). Relying on this court's holding in Roberts , the court of appeals held that the attack on the city attorney's authority constituted a collateral attack, as the prosecuting attorney had authorized the city attorney to prosecute misdemeanors in accordance with statute, the city attorney had acted under that authorization, and the circuit court had recognized the city attorney's authority. Here, the record reflects that the charges against Appellant were filed by the elected prosecutor for the district, Jerry Don Ramey, and that the investigation of the case was at the direction of the prosecutor's office. Mr. Holt was appointed as a deputy prosecutor by Mr. Ramey for the purpose of assisting Ramey in the prosecution of these murders. Mr. Holt was administered the oath of office by the circuit court as a deputy prosecutor on May 19, 1997; hence, the circuit court recognized Mr. Holt's authority to participate in the proceedings against Appellant. Based on the foregoing case law, Mr. Holt was at least a de facto official. As such, Appellant's challenge to his authority made during her criminal trial was a collateral attack, and as such, cannot be maintained under the law. Furthermore, Appellant has not demonstrated how she was prejudiced by Mr. Holt's participation in her prosecution. At trial, Appellant argued that it would prejudice her case if the jury were told that an assistant attorney general was participating in her case, asserting that such information would lead the jury to believe that Appellant's case was of more importance than any other criminal trial. This alleged prejudice never materialized, however, because the State agreed that it would only identify Mr. Holt as a deputy prosecutor, without mentioning his employment with the Attorney General's office. This court has repeatedly stated that prejudice is not presumed, and we will not reverse absent a showing of prejudice. Clark v. State, 323 Ark. 211, 913 S.W.2d 297 (1996); Solomon v. State, 323 Ark. 178, 913 S.W.2d 288 (1996). Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court correctly denied the motion, even if for the wrong reason, and we affirm its decision. See Huggins v. State, 322 Ark. 70, 907 S.W.2d 697 (1995); Hagen v. State, 315 Ark. 20, 864 S.W.2d 856 (1993); Register v. State, 313 Ark. 426, 855 S.W.2d 320 (1993).