Opinion ID: 1757470
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Dismissal of the Appeal

Text: First, we address the question of whether the Court of Criminal Appeals erred in dismissing the defendant's appeal upon the ground that it lacked jurisdiction because the appellate record did not contain a written order of the trial court denying the defendant's motion for new trial. The defendant filed a motion for new trial pursuant to Rule 33(a) of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure, which provides in pertinent part that [o]n its own initiative or on motion of a defendant, the court may grant a new trial as required by law. Tenn. R.Crim. P. 33(a). When the defendant's case came before the Court of Criminal Appeals, the accompanying record included a transcript of the hearing on the defendant's motion for new trial clearly showing that the motion was denied. However, the record on appeal did not include a written order denying the defendant's motion for new trial, and in the absence of such documentation, the Court of Criminal Appeals determined that it was without jurisdiction to hear the appeal and ordered that the appeal be dismissed. We hold that dismissal of the defendant's appeal was not warranted under these circumstances where the transcript of the hearing on the motion for new trial clearly indicated that the trial judge had ruled on the defendant's motion for new trial. Instead, pursuant to either Rule 24 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure or Tennessee Code Annotated section 27-3-128, the Court of Criminal Appeals should have ordered supplementation of the record to include an order disposing of the defendant's motion for new trial. Subdivision (e) of Rule 24 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure sets forth the procedure for the correction or modification of an incomplete record as follows: If any matter properly includable is omitted from the record, is improperly included, or is misstated therein, the record may be corrected or modified to conform to the truth. Any differences regarding whether the record accurately discloses what occurred in the trial court shall be submitted to and settled by the trial court regardless of whether the record has been transmitted to the appellate court. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the determination of the trial court is conclusive. If necessary, the appellate or trial court may direct that a supplemental record be certified and transmitted. Tenn. R.App. P. 24(e). Further authority for supplementation of the record is provided by statute at Tennessee Code Annotated section 27-3-128, which states as follows: The court shall also, in all cases, where, in its opinion, complete justice cannot be had by reason of some defect in the record, want of proper parties, or oversight without culpable negligence, remand the cause to the court below for further proceedings, with proper directions to effectuate the objects of the order, and upon such terms as may be deemed right. Tenn.Code Ann. § 27-3-128 (2000). This Court has stated on prior occasion that [t]he procedure for correcting or modifying the record reflects the dual goals of avoiding technicality and expediting a just resolution of the case on its merits. State v. Housler, 167 S.W.3d 294, 296 (Tenn. 2005). And, as we have further stated, any matter that the trial court has appropriately considered is properly includable in the appellate record pursuant to Rule 24(g) [2] of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure when the matter is `necessary to convey a fair, accurate and complete account of what transpired in the trial court with respect to those issues that are the bases of appeal.' State v. Smotherman, 201 S.W.3d 657, 661 (Tenn.2006) (quoting Housler, 167 S.W.3d at 298 (quoting Tenn. R.App. P. 24(g))). Accordingly, we conclude that the Court of Criminal Appeals should not have dismissed the appeal when it was evident from the record that the trial judge had denied the motion for new trial. Rather, the Court of Criminal Appeals should have ordered supplementation of the record pursuant to Rule 24 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure or Tennessee Code Annotated section 27-3-128, to include an order disposing of the defendant's motion for new trial.