Court Opinion

ID: 9664391
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 00:18:10.474258+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:06.007901
License: Public Domain

*692CUNNINGHAM, Justice,
concurring:
I concur with the excellent opinion of Justice Venters. Furthermore, it is my opinion that the trial court’s characterization of dismissing a criminal charge “with prejudice” is an unconstitutional invasion by the judiciary into an executive function, and is without any legal effect pursuant to Sections 27 and 28 of the Kentucky Constitution. The trial court has no constitutional authority to instruct the prosecution as to what crimes it can prosecute.
I would also point out for the benefit of the hapless Appellant-with whom I am sympathetic — that upon a showing of “extraordinary circumstances” there appears to be some wiggle room for expungement, in spite of KRS 431.076. Commonwealth v. Holloway, 225 S.W.3d 404 (Ky.App.2007). While the issue is not before us in this case, I would be in favor of adopting the balancing test when it comes to ex-pungement as mentioned in Holloway, and as set down in Diamond v. U.S., 649 F.2d 496 (7th Cir.1981).