Opinion ID: 2037158
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: Before reaching the legal issues presented for review, it is the duty of an appellate court to determine whether it has jurisdiction over the matter before it. State v. McCracken, 260 Neb. 234, 615 N.W.2d 902 (2000). The State contends that this court lacks jurisdiction over Beyer's appeal because at the time Beyer filed her appeal, jurisdiction was in the county court, rather than the district court. This argument arises out of the procedural posture presented in this case. After entry of the district court's order on May 17, 1999, Beyer had 30 days to appeal that order. See Neb.Rev.Stat. § 25-1912 (Cum.Supp.1998). However, the county court held the restitution hearing on remand on June 8, before the 30-day time from which to appeal the district court's May 17 order had run. After the restitution hearing was held, Beyer timely appealed the district court's order of May 17. The State argues that the district court no longer had jurisdiction over the case when Beyer filed her appeal because the county court had reacquired jurisdiction over the case by holding the restitution hearing on June 8. The State argues that this court did not obtain jurisdiction on appeal from the district court's order. Thus, we must determine whether the district court or the county court had jurisdiction over the case at the time Beyer filed her appeal. We determine that the district court had jurisdiction at the time Beyer filed her appeal and that the county court was without jurisdiction to hold the restitution hearing. After an appeal has been perfected to an appellate court, the lower courts are divested of subject matter jurisdiction over that case. Billups v. Scott, 253 Neb. 293, 571 N.W.2d 607 (1997). As a general rule, a lower court is not reinvested with jurisdiction over a case until the appellate court's mandate, or the functional equivalent thereof, is filed in the lower court. See, State v. Horr, 232 Neb. 380, 441 N.W.2d 139 (1989); Rehn v. Bingaman, 152 Neb. 171, 40 N.W.2d 673 (1950); State Bank of Beaver Crossing v. Mackley, 118 Neb. 734, 226 N.W. 318 (1929). In order for an inferior court to reacquire jurisdiction, it must take action on the appellate court's mandate. State v. Joubert, 246 Neb. 287, 518 N.W.2d 887 (1994). Neb.Rev.Stat. § 25-2733 (Reissue 1995) provides for the issuance of mandates from district court to county court. This section states, Within two judicial days after the decision of the district court becomes final, the clerk of the district court shall issue a mandate ... and transmit the mandate ... to the clerk of the county court.... This court has stated that when no appeal is taken from a judgment, that judgment becomes final for all purposes. Caradori v. Hamilton, 193 Neb. 500, 227 N.W.2d 850 (1975). See, also, State v. Jonsson, 192 Neb. 730, 224 N.W.2d 181 (1974) (judgment and sentence of district court becomes final 30 days after it is entered and no appeal has been filed). However, an appeal properly perfected under the provisions of Neb.Rev.Stat. § 25-1911 (Reissue 1995) and § 25-1912 prevents any final judgment or order from becoming final while the appeal is pending. Dewey v. Dewey, 192 Neb. 676, 223 N.W.2d 826 (1974). Accordingly, an order of a district court becomes final for the purpose of issuing a mandate under § 25-2733 only after the 30-day appeal time has run. In the present case, the earliest time at which a mandate, or its functional equivalent, could have issued from the district court was 30 days after entry of the district court's May 17, 1999, order. However, the county court held the restitution hearing before the 30-day time to appeal had run and a mandate could issue. The county court had no jurisdiction to act on the district court's order of remand prior to the issuance and filing of a mandate. The county court was without jurisdiction to enter an order on the restitution issue, and that order is a nullity. See State v. Dvorak, 254 Neb. 87, 574 N.W.2d 492 (1998). See, also, State v. Rieger, 257 Neb. 826, 600 N.W.2d 831 (1999). The State's contention that this court did not obtain jurisdiction on appeal because jurisdiction was in the county court at the time Beyer filed her appeal is without merit.