Opinion ID: 1559997
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: The defendant initially challenges the Superior Court's jurisdiction, arguing that the charging statute does not apply to him. The defendant does not challenge the Superior Court's jurisdiction over criminal appeals from the District Court, which is clear under G.L. 1956 § 12-22-1. Instead, defendant's argument is a constitutional challenge to the laws and/or regulations relating to the issuance of a Rhode Island driver's license. A challenge to the constitutionality of the charging statute does not equate to a challenge to the Superior Court's jurisdiction. The proper recourse for a defendant charged under an unconstitutional statute is a motion to dismiss based on the statute's unconstitutionality. See, e.g., State v. Russell, 890 A.2d 453, 458 (R.I. 2006) (Superior Court granted pretrial motion to dismiss based on unconstitutional over-breadth of the charging statute). Thus, because defendant's arguments, though passionately made, do not address the issue of jurisdiction, we conclude that defendant's assertions concerning jurisdiction are without merit. Insofar as defendant has articulated a constitutional challenge under the misnomer of jurisdiction, we will address those arguments, as well.