Opinion ID: 1996099
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Authority of the State of Maine to Appeal

Text: [¶ 11] In criminal matters, the State is limited to the appeal rights granted by the plain language of [15 M.R.S. § 2115-A (2009)]. State v. Hood, 482 A.2d 1268, 1271 (Me.1984). Section 2115-A(2) permits appeals from the granting of a motion for a new trial ... or from other orders requiring a new trial or resulting in termination of the prosecution in favor of the accused. [¶ 12] By its plain terms, this statute authorizes the State's appeal from the court's grant of coram nobis and audita querela relief in the present case. The court's judgment vacated two convictions, thus in effect granting Blakesley's request for new trials. See 15 M.R.S. § 2115-A(2). It also reduced his sentence for another crime, which result[ed] in a termination of the prosecution in Blakesley's favor. See id. The State's appeal is, therefore, properly before us.