Court Opinion

ID: 9586794
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:15:08.957289+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:32:51.944155
License: Public Domain

Carley, Judge,
concurring specially.
I concur in the majority’s determination that we must consider this case on the merits rather than dismiss the appeal. However, I do not agree with the majority’s conclusion at the beginning of Division 1 that such consideration of the merits is mandated by Evitts v. Lucey, 469 U. S. 387 (105 SC 830, 83 LE2d 821) (1985). Rather, this Court *575has jurisdiction because the trial court granted an out-of-time appeal.
I must opine that this Court has been less than clear and consistent in delineating when we will consider a criminal case on its merits rather than dismiss the same because of the late filing of a notice of appeal. For example, in Rimes v. State, 182 Ga. App. 721 (356 SE2d 897) (1987), a whole court case, the appeal was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction in view of an untimely filing of a notice of appeal. However, in Johnson v. State, 183 Ga. App. 168 (358 SE2d 313) (1987), another whole court case, the majority of this Court refused to dismiss an appeal for untimely filing and considered the case on its merits. However, neither Johnson nor Rimes is applicable to this case because in neither did the trial court grant an out-of-time appeal. Here, the trial court granted an out-of-time appeal and we must consider the merits.
I am authorized to state that Presiding Judge Deen and Judge Pope join in this special concurrence.