Opinion ID: 1236089
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: withdrawal of the motion for mistrial

Text: The precise question to be dealt with initially is whether the defense may withdraw a motion for a mistrial after the motion has been granted but before the jury has been so notified and dismissed. The ability of the defendant to withdraw a motion for a mistrial has been expressly recognized by other jurisdictions. [13] The courts which have dealt with the question point to the dismissal of the jury as that court action after which the motion may not be withdrawn. In allowing a defendant to withdraw his motion for a mistrial before the court had acted on the motion, the California Supreme Court reasoned: While we have found no direct authority upon the precise question in this state, we can see no good reason why a party making a motion during the course of a trial may not, upon reflection, withdraw it at any time before the court has made an order responsive to the motion. Such authority as we have found in other jurisdictions fully accords with this view. If something had occurred to prejudice the opposing party by the motion's withdrawal, a different question would be presented; for example, it has been held that on a noticed motion, where the opposing party has incurred costs in preparing to oppose it, the motion may not be withdrawn without the payment of such costs. But the people can show no prejudice here, since the withdrawal of the motion would have allowed the trial to proceed and would have amounted to a waiver of any claim of prejudice from the incident by petitioner thereafter, either on appeal or on motion for a new trial or otherwise. [14] Even more explicit in defining the nature of court action which will preclude withdrawal of a defense motion for mistrial is the statement by the Colorado Supreme Court in Maes v. District Court: [15] True, initially, defense counsel did not object to the court granting the mistrial. However, the record is clear that petitioner changed his mind, and counsel restated his position to the contrary, objecting to the premature termination of the trial, before the jury had been discharged. We do not read into these circumstances an irretrievable binding consent to a mistrial and a waiver of the constitutional protection against double jeopardy. Had the court acted upon the initial position taken by defense counsel and discharged the jury, a different result would have obtained. While defense counsel in this case did not exactly ask to withdraw his motion for a mistrial, he nonetheless clearly conveyed to the trial judge the fact that he no longer desired a mistrial. The judge recognized this and decided to declare the mistrial sua sponte. These actions effectively served to withdraw defense counsel's motion for a mistrial. All this occurred before the jury was recalled and dismissed. Contrary to the opinion of the majority, I believe that under these facts, the mistrial was not at the request of the defendant. If there was manifest necessity justifying the declaration of mistrial, it must thus be sought in other circumstances of the case. It is generally agreed that a trial court judge may, in the exercise of his discretion, declare a mistrial without the consent of the defendant and even over his objection. [16] When such a mistrial is declared under proper circumstances, retrial will not be precluded by a plea of double jeopardy. Three aspects of the instant case are said to provide justification for a judge's sua sponte declaration of mistrial, and each is now considered.