Court Opinion

ID: 9797773
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 04:29:04.977727+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:58:22.345113
License: Public Domain

LILE, Vice Presiding Judge:
concurs in part/dissents in part.
¶ 1 I concur in the decision and analysis concerning whether uniformed officers can use unmarked cars, equipped with combinations of flashing lights, to make routine traffic stops. However, I dissent to the decision and analysis regarding which section of 22 O.S.2001, § 1053 is applicable. The Opinion’s analysis and decision that the appeal is a reserved question of law is based on the determination that the trial court’s dismissal of the case bars further prosecution.
¶ 2 22 O.S.2001, § 1053(3) provides that an appeal may be taken by the State upon a reserved question of law. To pursue such an appeal, there must be a judgment of acquittal or an order of the court which expressly bars further prosecution. State v. Campbell, 1998 OK CR 38, ¶ 8, 965 P.2d 991, 992-993. In Campbell the trial court found Appellee’s double jeopardy rights were violated and held that further prosecution was barred. Id.
¶3 In the instant case, the appeal was taken from the trial court’s dismissal of the case for insufficient evidence subsequent to sustaining the defendant’s motion to suppress. The ruling of the trial court, sustaining the defendant’s motion to quash the information based upon insufficient evidence, *851did not expressly bar the State from further prosecution. State v. Hammond, 1989 OK CR 25, ¶ 9, 775 P.2d 826, 828; State ex rel. Macy v. Jackson, 1983 OK CR 23, ¶ 3, 659 P.2d 361, 362. As there was no judgment of acquittal or an order of the court which expressly bars further prosecution, the State could not appeal on a reserved question of law.
¶4 22 O.S.2001, § 504.1, provides for the filing of a motion to quash for insufficient evidence after preliminary hearing. 22 O.S. 2001, § 1053(4), allows an appeal by the State upon a judgment for the defendant on a motion to quash for insufficient evidence in a felony matter. Therefore, under the circumstances of this case subsection 4 is the appropriate section for the appeal, and there is no bar to further prosecution. Additionally, 22 O.S.2001, § 817 provides that an order of dismissal is not a bar to further prosecution. This defendant has received a windfall to which he is not entitled under the law.
¶ 5 I am authorized to state that Judge Lumpkin joins in this writing.