Opinion ID: 1662320
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: stay of trial court proceedings

Text: Generally, an appeal divests the trial court of jurisdiction to proceed further in the underlying case. [50] An interlocutory appeal, however, generally only deprives the trial court of the authority to act further in the matter that is subject of the appeal, and the trial court is not divested of the authority to act in matters unrelated to the appeal. [51] Notably, KRS 22A.020(4) expressly provides that an appeal pursuant thereto shall not suspend the proceedings in the case. [52] Does this then mean that the trial court may proceed with the new trial during the appeal? We think not. The proceedings referred to in KRS 22A.020(4)(a) are proceedings after the attachment of jeopardy. [53] Consequently, once the proceedings commence and jeopardy attaches, the proceedings will not be suspended while the Commonwealth seeks review of rulings made during the course of the trial. Staying the trial or retrial while pre-trial and post-trial rulings and decisions of the circuit court are reviewed on appeal, however, will not run afoul of KRS 22A.020(4)(a). Thus, once a verdict is received by the trial court, the proceedings referred to in the statute have ended, and an appeal by the Commonwealth from a new trial order will stay the order. The new trial will not commence until a final appellate decision is rendered thereon; otherwise, the appeal may become moot before a decision is rendered in the appeal because, if the new trial results in an acquittal, any further prosecution against the defendant is barred by the doctrine of double jeopardy. [54]